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screen printing => Screen Making => Topic started by: Maxie on July 23, 2015, 08:20:10 AM

Title: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Maxie on July 23, 2015, 08:20:10 AM
We have been nicking our  emulsion coaters so I made a storage tube out of drain pipes.
After we coat we fill the tube with water (it has a plug on one end) and soak the coater for a while before washing it.
The emulsion comes off easily after soaking.
We then pour out the water and store the coater in the pipe.
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: jvanick on July 23, 2015, 08:33:01 AM
this is a great idea.
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Sbrem on July 23, 2015, 09:19:10 AM
nice share, thanks. It's hard to get folks to be careful enough to not nick the edges, but one just needs to slow down a hair and be careful... you might want to keep some 400 grit paper to lightly sand down the mild nicks...

Steve
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Frog on July 23, 2015, 09:35:38 AM
nice share, thanks. It's hard to get folks to be careful enough to not nick the edges, but one just needs to slow down a hair and be careful... you might want to keep some 400 grit paper to lightly sand down the mild nicks...

Steve

I also dress mine with the leading end edge of a wooden block (pine or something else fairly soft)
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: tonypep on July 23, 2015, 09:50:48 AM
I had my maintenance guy build a custom v-notched stand. Also used in between coats as a stand
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Maxie on July 23, 2015, 11:10:16 AM
I am going to try and fix the edges of the two with nicks.  I found a pad that looks like a scotch pad but it has what looks like sandpaper on the outside.
Hopefully the pipes will protect them now.   Soaking them makes a big difference.
My problem is that I have to import them from the USA.    When I was in Austin Alan gave me a Monster Max and I bought two simpler ones.
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Frog on July 23, 2015, 11:50:23 AM
I am going to try and fix the edges of the two with nicks.  I found a pad that looks like a scotch pad but it has what looks like sandpaper on the outside.
Hopefully the pipes will protect them now.   Soaking them makes a big difference.
My problem is that I have to import them from the USA.    When I was in Austin Alan gave me a Monster Max and I bought two simpler ones.

Careful with sandpaper that is too coarse as you could produce low spots that will create uneven EOM
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: ScreenFoo on July 23, 2015, 02:42:59 PM
^^I sharpen mine with 80 grit.
(I clean it up with 320 afterwards, of course)

I was going to do this, until I found a five gallon bucket that required no work to implement.  :)
I like Tony's stand idea though... 
Note to self:  Hey maintenance guy, make a stand.
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: Sbrem on July 23, 2015, 02:54:34 PM
Or lastly, wash the damn thing as soon as you're done coating. I always went that way because the emulsion would dry and be a bear to get off if I didn't. I do like the soaking tank idea though, I'll mention it to our screen guy.

Steve
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: mimosatexas on July 23, 2015, 03:35:54 PM
I just sponge it off and spray rinse after coating and lean it on my drying rack for a few minutes.  Otherwise it just lives on my coating table.  Haven't ever had a knick in a coater that I can remember.
Title: Re: Storing and washing emulsion coaters
Post by: GaryG on July 23, 2015, 03:41:40 PM
We have a plastic v-shaped strip that came with coater for the edge.

Note to self:  Hey maintenance guy, make a stand.

So funny, once upon a time we were fortunate to have one of these helpful guys.
He lived to make wooden things in a big shop long ago.
He breathed so much sawdust, I think his lungs were filled with pine. I swear sap was coming out of his eyeballs.  :o