Screen Splitting

[lil_tuffy]

After years of not tearing or ripping or splitting a screen, I am suddenly plagued by it! 6 screens in two months. I've checked my squeegee, scrubbed my table, resurfaced my table and still the splits keep coming!

Today, I watched as a small slit opened.. I rushed to try and stop it and possibly tape it up but I was too late and the whole screen split wide open.

I am at a loss as to what else has possibly changed. I am coating the screens at my old studio and printing at my new. Could a slight change in temperature or humidity cause the screen to stretch? Maybe I'm getting dust or dirt in my emulsion?

Frustrated.

[Pedini]

you sir, are cursed. plain and simple.

[Quinine]

Scoop coater?

[andy_schmidt]

We had been having this problem at the shop I work at in Minneapolis. We were having a shitload of pressure washer problems forcing us to use a garden hose for a while. I just figured it was because we were scrubbing them more before we sprayed them.

[Dan Black]

Jes blames this on the plastic spiders that make the mesh. They have their bad days too.

[Grzeca]

Definitely the curse.

[Dan Black]

Oh...I was just corrected...I guess the spiders are actually sneaking in to EAT the mesh, not excreting it for our benefit. Look for those tiny spiders and kill them. Problem solved.

[squeegeethree]

If you are using glued aluminum screens the build up of old glue can become very sharp and brittle and sometimes can cause ripping along the edge of the frame. I got a tool for scrapping out grout and I scrape off the glue before sending them to get restretched.

We also had a series of brand new screens start ripping on us because the bolt of mesh they used had a tiny stab wound in it.

I seriously doubt that moving the screens to a new location to print is causing this.

[lil_tuffy]

I am using aluminum frames but I tape the gutter and back seems with white duct-like tape and then use plenty of clear packing tape when I print. The rips seems to usually start a couple of inches from the frame.

Grr.

[Andymac]

Are they in one general spot? The two things that have killed screens for me are scoop coaters that develop a sharp burr where they meet the cap - they either cut or wear the screen in this area - and the other is where my stock corners and tabs are - if I am printing the same stuff/same size, over and over, I wear small holes in the screen where it contacts either the paper or the register tab.

and you know Tuffy, screens eventually wear out. Did you get them all around the same time? 15 years is a long time for screens to last. Warranty is up, dude.