Industrial Product
GT 870 General Purpose Cleaner
Strong Solvent
Flammable (Class 3)
Fast Drying
Professional Screen Printing Solutions
Screen Colour Systems
Screen Preperation Products
Screen Preparation Overview
Screen Colour Systems offers two screen cleaning ranges: the Aquarius and Industrial. The Aquarius range is safer to use and less polluting to the environment. Products in this range are prefixed with the letters AQ. The Industrial range requires careful handling and can be polluting to the environment. This range is for experienced screen printers who are familiar with these products and are prefixed with the letters GT.
Basic Principles of Screen Preparation
Screen cleaning and preparation can be divided into four stages. For a new mesh, only the final stage, mesh degreasing, is necessary. The following steps should produce a mesh free of contaminants and ready for stencil medium reapplication. After the print run, all ink should be removed from the mesh and washed with the appropriate cleaner to help prevent ghost images.
Stage 1 Ink Cleaning
Remove all ink from the frame. If appropriate, add ink to the original container or dispose of it in a waste container. Wash the ink from the screen using the recommended solvent. Place the screen on a clean surface and wash it with a rag on the squeegee side. Be careful when cleaning the substrate side of the screen as it is delicate and can easily damage the stencil if rubbed too hard. Dry the frame before commencing Stage 2. This stage should always be completed at the end of a print run. Cleaning the mesh after printing will help prevent ghost images and extend the screens’ longevity.
Quick Guide To Cleaning Solvents
Aquarius Product
AQ 950 Bio-Screen
Environmental Friendly
Non-Flammable
Slow Drying
Aquarius Product
GT 900 Easy Wash
Environmental Friendly
Non-Flammable
Slow Drying
Stage 2
The next step is stencil removal. Two products are available for this purpose: Aquarius Strip and Clean and Aquarius Photo Solve Gel.
Aquarius Strip and Clean is designed for use in dip tanks. The concentrated solution can be diluted with water to a maximum of 10:1 ratio. It can also be applied directly to the screen using a brush or pad. For this method a dilution of 1:5 is recommended. When applying Aquarius Strip and Clean to the screen follow the method below as you would with Aquarius Photo Solve Gel.
Stencil Removal
1. Remove all blocking tape from the screen.
2. Wet the screen with water.
3. Apply PhotoSolve Gel directly from the pot. Brush small amounts onto the screen until it covers both sides. This is the method used to remove stencils from customer screen mesh. The gel should be agitated on the screen to help it penetrate the old stencil medium. It should never be allowed to dry as this will make stencil reclaim more difficult. After five to ten minutes agitate the old stencil and then rinse.
4. Always rinse the screen before high-pressure washing to prevent stencil and cleaning products from becoming airborne. When using a high-pressure washer, begin at the bottom of the mesh and move the jet across the surface. Then move the washer head up and across again. This method is the most effective for removing the old stencil. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the screen, starting at the bottom and up.
The advantage of the gel is its ability to remain on the mesh dissolving the old stencil medium without running to the bottom of the frame. This should make it more economical to use. If a stencil is difficult to remove this is usually caused by under-exposure of the stencil when it was originally made.
PhotoSolve Gel (AQ 1020)
Gel Stays on Mesh
Easy Application
Can be used with Bio-Screen
Strip n Clean (AQ 1054)
Dip Tanks dilution up to 10 to 1
Direct Application
Dilution up to 5 to 1
Stage 3
At this stage, inspect the mesh for small holes or if the mesh is coming loose from the frame. Then the mesh should be replaced, but if the mesh appears in good condition but is blocked with ink residue, the third step may be necessary.
Dried Ink Removal
Aquarius Mesh Cleaner is applied to both sides of a dry screen using a pad or brush. Agitate the cleaner thoroughly into the mesh. This product is non-damaging to the mesh and can be left on overnight for maximum effect. If left overnight, reapply mesh cleaner in the morning. The best results are achieved with a high-pressure washer of at least 160 bar. We use a 180 bar unit. Always rinse the screen before high-pressure washing to prevent stencil and cleaning products from becoming airborne. When using a high-pressure washer, begin at the bottom of the mesh and move the jet across the surface. Then move the washer head up and across again. This method is the most effective for removing the old stencil. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the screen, starting at the bottom and moving upwards.
Step 4 Degrease
The fourth step is always required before coating or applying a stencil film.
Dried Ink Removal
Before coating or applying a stencil film, the screen should be degreased. This process also applies to new clean mesh. This step removes any dust or fingerprints. Apply the degrease gel to both sides of the screen using a pad or brush. Then gently rinse the screen starting at the top of the frame and working downwards, ensuring the frame itself is washed to prevent drips from contaminating the mesh. Dry the frame with a cloth to prevent any drips from contaminating the mesh. Finally, vacuum the mesh until completely dry. The screen is now ready for its new stencil once it is dry.
