Stubborn Stencil

I have a 75 wood frame screen that I can't get all of the emulsion to wash out of. It is just in some certain spots and i have hit it with stencil remover several times now. Any advice? :(

Location: 
United States
Greg hamrick's picture

Do you have a pressure washer? Even so, I've found that if a screen is under-exposed then let alone to dry, it will not come out. Even a super-pressure washer won't get the emulsion out.

At the edge of dreams lay the far-flung ideals of true creation.

So, if it doesn't come out, then it is basically trash, right? Or should I try to re-screen a wooden frame.

Greg hamrick's picture

Sorry to say it, but it sounds like it's trashed. I've had quite a few screens do that. None of them would reclaim. That's when I looked for the reason and found that if I under exposed them and let them dry slowly in the shadows, the reaction of the emulsion was not good.
I started taking them outside after I exposed them and washed them out and let the sun and the wind take over. The loss went way down after that.
Victory Factory makes great screens and will restretch old ones for a decent price.

At the edge of dreams lay the far-flung ideals of true creation.

Calibrated's picture

Quote:
So, if it doesn't come out, then it is basically trash, right?

Not always so, there are quality haze removers that will work on emulsion residue. Sounds to me like the real issue may be that you allowed some of the emulsion remover to dry, or did not get it all out on the first try. Emulsion remover will only work once, so you have to get it all out on the first reclaim.

I have a haze remover that if used with hot water at say a do it yourself car wash it will remove virtually all emulsion and stains. Runs about $30.00 per gallon....allot less than remeshing screens.

if you feel that you are under exposing screens, try post exposing after washout and dry. this makes reclaiming a little bit easier. Also try Franmar Strip E Doo for reclaiming screens. I've been using for almost a year and it works great!!

jr_sanford's picture

Hey everybody, try OVEN CLEANER.
It's pretty aggressive towards stubborn hazes (inks, emulsions, etc.)

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And you shall be boundless!