We always start on the substrate or t-shirt side when coating - and finish on the squeegee side of the screen. So 1x2 or 1 over 2 will be one coat on the T-Shirt side and 2 coats on the squeegee side. We than rack the screen having it lay flat with the squeegee side facing up. Using fans and a dehumidifier to evaporate all moisture from the emulsion.
I noticed when using this compared to other emulsions, my screens are getting clogged. After washing out, my image seems clear however, ink doesn’t seem to make it through. What is causing this and how can I rectify?
Are the other emulsions you use dual cure or do they not use diazo? Long Lasting uses Diazo which means it WILL take longer to expose compared to an emulsion that does NOT need diazo. With that said, it sounds like you are under exposed and "scum" is dripping into your image area. When underexposed, the top bit of emulsion on the squeegee side is not fully exposed and is still a little liquid (commonly referred to as scumming). So when rinsing out, the emulsion will drip along with the water, and end up in the image area. When the screen dries, this unexposed emulsion will also dry, creating a clog. I recommend using your 21 step greyscale calculator to ensure you are getting a full step 7 during exposure.
Hi @Christian Dunn. Simply put, you need to leave it in the drying rack until it dries. it will depend on the space and environment you are in. If you are somewhere humid, plan on it taking longer. if not, a warm dry space could see that screen drying in a couple hours. visually you'll see the emulsion change as it dries. You can also touch the emulsion on both side and see if it still feels tacky. If so, give some more time. Hope that helps!
Very detailed video thanks. I have 1 question. When i do the time measurement exposure do i have to use a different screen eveytime til get it dialed in?
You will cause you'll be exposing the screen each time but it's really helpful to place the calculator on a screen you're already exposing for print. Glad you liked the video!
Hi @Jackie Jackie, good question. Distilled is best practice because it keeps minerals, etc out of the mix that may interact. Filtered water is a decent 2nd place and better than just tap water. Be cautious though if you have hard water or well water, etc... filtered water may not be good enough. Also, drink lots of water, it's good to stay hydrated. 😜 Happy Printing!
If kept in a cool environment around 40° (in a refrigerator), you can extend your shelf life to ~12 weeks. The hotter your environment is, the faster the diazo will break down. At 90°-100°, mixed emulsion has a pot life of ~1 week. At 70° it's ~6 weeks.
No, we use lighting for the video quality but you'll need to mix it in a light safe room and only keep the lid off for the shortest amount of time possible! Good question!
HI! Scumming is a direct result of underexposure / The emulsion on the squeegee side not getting enough light to crosslink. The scum is un-exposed emulsion. As to why its happening, there could be a number of variables in your shop to create this. But if you feel nothing has changed - then typically its because the screen is coated thicker than before or your light source has changed / had a loss of power output. Let us know if you figure it out :)
I got some and it is so runny it doesn’t form a solid layer on the screen. I used tap water in the diazo and filled the bottle to the top to mix. I’ve tried coating three screens and it just a big mess and no screens to print
Good morning @Florida Sports & Outdoors! That stinks. seems like something may not be right. when you get time please give us a shout at 360-576-7188 or at success@ryonet.com and we'll get you taken care of.
There are videos on this channel that walk you through how to use one. Basically, you rinse it out until steps 1-7 are solid - you do not want to be able to rinse out step 7. Here is the link: www.screenprinting.com/products/screen-exposure-calculator-emulsion-step-wedge
Good morning, @J2ASON ! Pot life once mixed with diazo will be roughly 2-3 months depending on how it's stored. The stencil has more variables, like how it was coated and exposed. If exposed correctly, it will last quite a long time. Hope that helps.
Hi @Amanda Nickholds! it does not equate to 7 minutes. Check out the couple links i put below. they should help. The exposure calculator is a tool to tell you if you've hit a proper exposure and what to do if you have not hit that proper exposure time. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MJF3HK2s52w.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aZHndnaK42k.html
Is this one hard to reclaim the screen? I’m looking to get this one but I want to be able to reuse my screen once I’m done with my stencil . Please reply ASAP .
@Menace check out this video. Ryan uses a VERY similar emulsion, and details exposing in the sun. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kpN6kowoFXs.html
