When it comes down to the screen printing process, reclaiming the screen is a fundamental step. However, starting to learn the basics can feel overwhelming when you are down to screen printing.
Nevertheless, you will have to equip yourself with all the quality screen printing products and the knowledge, so you do not get frustrated. People out there want to know how to reclaim a screen without pressure washer.
We have compiled this article for you if you are among them.
Table of Contents
Reclaiming a screen without pressure washer
When faced with how to reclaim a screen without pressure washer, there are some steps you will need to follow. They are:
Step One: Remove the ink from the screen
You are to eliminate all leftover ink from the screens and frames. You can make use of an ink degradent to do this. This will assist you in breaking down all the ink to the point where you can rinse it off your screen.
Also, you can use a plastic scraper to successfully wipe off the excess ink when your screen is on the press. When finished, the screen should be placed in the washout booth or sink.
Then, you can apply plastisol screen wash on the two sides of the screen. After the application is made, scrub the screen wash using a rag, brush, or non-abrasive pad. Finally, use water to rinse your screen, beginning from the bottom and working your way up.
Step Two: Cleaning off the emulsion
You can begin this step by spraying an emulsion remover on the screen, then leave it to soak for a few minutes. Leaving it to soak will help break down the emulsion before using the scrub pad to easily remove it.
Step Three: The Dip Tank
Bear in mind that there are two options you can use for this step. While the first option is to use a pressure washer, we are here to show you how to reclaim a screen without pressure washer instead.
So, the next step will be to remove the emulsion by placing the screens inside a dip tank. The dip tank will be filled with dip tank emulsion remover. You will finally take it out when it soaks in the dip tank for roughly two to three minutes.
As you do this, ensure you add fresh chemicals if your emulsion remover does not completely remove the emulsion. Since you will not use a pressure washer, you must use the manual method.
This manual method entails cleaning and reclaiming the screen printing frames and screens. Though the job is hard, it can get done. You should use a spray bottle, brush, and elbow grease to clean off the emulsion.
Step Four: Dehazing
When you remove the emulsion and ink, you are to check around for any remaining stains. If you find stains, you must proceed with this step: dehazing the screen printing mesh.
To dehaze, you will need to make use of dehazing chemical products. Since they may likely be toxic, you will have to search for eco-friendly products for your safety and the environment.
Get the materials you will be using ready. The materials are:
- Water
- A spray bottle
- Chemical products for removing leftover stains or the dehazer
- A brush
- A scrub pad
The steps to dehaze include:
- You will need to wet your screen using water in the washout booth.
- Make use of the dehazer-containing spray bottle. You are to reach all the leftover stains on the screen.
- Now is the time to use the scrub pad or brush to clean off stains. Ensure you do this carefully, so the chemical does not get glued to the frame. If it gets glued, it will likely weaken and even break down the glue holding the screen to the frame.
- When you are done scrubbing the screen, allow the screen to rest for a few minutes. The dehazer will be doing its job as it rests, weakening and breaking down the leftover stains.
- Finally, you are to rinse off the dehazing agent from your screen and ensure the chemicals do not get into your eyes or skin. Begin rinsing from the top and work your way down. While this should be easy to do, if it is not, keep repeating the process till the stains come off.
You can repeat the entire process on the other screen for those with more than one screen.
Step Five: Degreasing
When you are done dehazing your screen, you need to degrease it. Understand that degreasing is a vital step, and you must treat it as a top priority.
When learning to reclaim a screen without pressure washer, you will need to use a tiny quantity of soap to wash out the chemicals from your screen. Degreasing is vital as it helps prepare the screen for the next project.
Note that if the screen preparation is poor, the emulsion will have pinholes. This is why you must ensure you spend up to one or two minutes carrying out this last step. When you are done, allow the screen to dry before using it again.
Remember that when degreasing, you will make use of a degreaser. The degreaser will assist in cleaning dirt or oils from your screen. While the degreaser and haze remover is not necessary, we still recommend getting the screen properly cleaned.
Other Items Used in Screen Cleaning
Some other items you can make use of when cleaning your screen include:
A hose with a nozzle
You can use a garden hose or shower nozzle when cleaning the screen.
Faucets
Though cleaning emulsions with a faucet can be challenging, it is still one of the items you can use.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Can I reclaim a screen without pressure washer at home?
Yes, you can, and the five-step process we discussed above is the best method for screen reclaiming without pressure washers. Firstly, you will need to remove all the ink from the screen using an ink degradent. Then you will clean the emulsion by using an emulsion remover and soaking it. Thirdly, you will use a dip tank with fresh chemicals. Finally, dehaze and degrease to reclaim your screen without a pressure washer.
How do you remove emulsion from a screen?
To remove emulsion from a screen, you will need to do two things. First, you will use an emulsion remover and soak the screen for a few minutes. Soaking helps break down the emulsion, so you can use a scrub pad to remove it. Next, you will place the screen in a dip tank full of emulsion remover. You might have to do it a few times, so use fresh chemicals each time.
What tools do I need to reclaim a screen without pressure washer?
To reclaim a screen without pressure washer, you won’t need anything too expensive or unique. In fact, the most unique thing you will be needing is emulsion remover. All the other things are basic such as a dip tank, scrub pads, dehazer, and degreaser.
What is the average number of times I can reclaim a screen?
There is no definite number of times you can reclaim a screen without pressure washer or with a pressure washer. There have been times when I was able to reclaim a screen over 80 times without any issues. But there were also times when I could reclaim a screen only ten times. In the end, I can say that, on average, you might be able to reclaim a screen without pressure washer between 10 to 100 times.
Conclusion
If you want to have great prints, you will need to begin by properly prepping the screens. We have all the steps for those wondering how to reclaim a screen without pressure washer. Ensure you read through and carefully carry them out to avoid ruining your screen. Pressure washing a screen is much different from how you might pressure wash a deck or pressure wash a balcony, but the benefits are somewhat the same.
