Screen Printing Tips / Reclaiming and Degreasing Screen Printing Frames

Reclaiming a screen is a basic step in the screen printing process, but learning the basics can sometimes feel overwhelming when it comes to screen printing. Equip yourself with the right screen printing products, and the right knowledge, to avoid frustration when reclaiming a screen. Step by step to reclaim and coat screen printing frames STEP 1: Wet The Screen The first step to reclaiming your screen is to wet the screen on both sides. Clean off any excess ink from your screen using Chroma/Screen Wash 920. If your screen is already clean, then simply wet your screen with water. STEP 2: Apply Screen Reclaimer Next you will want to remove the emulsion from your screen using a screen reclaimer. Apply Chroma/Strip Screen Reclaimer to both sides of the screen and let soak for 15-30 seconds. Pro Tip: Never let screen reclaimer dry on your screen. STEP 3: Scrub Emulsion Scrub both sides of the screen with a brush until you can see the emulsion start to break down. We don't recommend using a scrub pad, which will start to break down and will leave little particles in your screen. Instead, we recommend a soft nylon bristle scrub with no metal on it. STEP 4: Remove Emulsion with Pressure Washer Remove the emulsion by rinsing both sides of the screen with a pressure washer. Without the proper pressure you will have a hard time getting the emulsion to wash out completely. You need around 1000-1500 PSI to properly blow the emulsion out of the mesh after the emulsion remover has been applied to the screen. When using a pressure washer, always wear ear protection. Pro Tip: If some parts of your screen are washing out fine, but other areas are being stubborn, your screen may not have been coated evenly. STEP 5: Apply Degreaser or Dry Screen After you have removed all the emulsion from your screen you can add a degreaser, such as Chroma/Clean Degreaser, to the screen and degrease the screen. Or just dry the screen and degrease when you are ready to use it next.