Scoop Coating a 23 X 31

[Circa779]

I have some new aluminum 23X31 screens. Problem is i still only have my 15" scoop coater. Will i be able to make two passes side by side without compromising the coat? Or do i need a larger (say 18") scoop coater. I hope not, since there not readily available locally and i need to get started on these posters ASAP.

Thanks Guys!

[boatdreams]

I coat my 30x40" screens with like, a 12" scoop coater and they're always fine. I have no problems doing it, other than that it takes a bit longer.

[squeegeethree]

How about you buy the correct sized scoop?

[crosshair]

Will i be able to make two passes side by side without compromising the coat?

Yes but it's tricky to get it right.
If you're coating both sides (you should be,) the coats on the inside will clean up some of the mess from where the outside coats overlap...then a single scrape down the middle on the first side with minimal pressure will get the rest of the excess without messing up the coat.

I coat big (44x56 I think) screens with a 20" scoop all the time, without any ill effects on my stencil, even when printing fine detail and halftones.

As Luther says, I could just get the proper sized scoop...but so far, the credo If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It has served me well.

[boatdreams]

Yeah, buying a bigger scoop coater has been on my to-do list for a while now, but only because it would save me some time coating screens. I've used scoop coaters that were sized to coat a screen in one pass, and it was kind of awesome. I should just order one today.

[oldbox]

1. Try to do it in 2 runs tilting it slightly sideways, so you wont have an thick edge of emulsion in the middle of screen.
2. If you use the screen weekly- buy a biger coater
3. BRG