A couple of questions from a novice..

[herdsofbirds]

Hey ya'll

I'm pretty new to the screen printing scene, and just wanted to pick your brains about a couple of things..

1: I'm doing a print run of 100 posters at the moment, and after about 40-50 prints, the emulsion starts to break down in places, leading to lots of taping up of the stencil as I go along. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong?

2: I wanted to ask about quality control - if there's the odd lil speck of ink in the wrong place, I tend to let it pass, but i'm just interested to see what you guys do - should every print be immaculately perfect? If there's a fingerprint on the reverse side of the poster, do you bin it or go with it?

Thanks a bunch,
Mx

[squeegeethree]

Since you are new I well let you know that you can search the forums for any problem you are having. There are many threads devoted to your current problems and those that will follow. To the point, your emulsion should not be breaking down. The main culprits are underexposed emulsion, brand new screens (that need to be broken in) and the wrong kind of emulsion. No odd specks or fingerprint are allowed, sorry.

[danieldanger]

are you using speedball emulsion? if so, theres your problem.

as for messy prints, i dont allow that shit, some people relish in it.

[herdsofbirds]

Cheers all.

I'm UK based, and using an own brand emulsion from Wicked Printing Stuff. Anyone else use this? Seems to do the job pretty well, but maybe I should try a different brand...

[DRG]

Hello fellow denizen of our tiny, cursed Island of fear.

I use Azocol emulsion and have never had any problems with it at all; it's readily available online.

As for ink marks or fingerprints, as long as it's not excessive I usually don't bin stuff like that. I print with my hands, so it's understandable that my hands my actually touch the things I am printing.

I am not, alas, one of those swanky no-hand printers.

[B-DROID]

I print with my teeth, but you Brits wouldn't dare do something like that.

[andydiesel]

I print with my teeth, but you Brits wouldn't dare do something like that.

no shit, their teeth would probably just fall right out!

[vastagh]

Forget emulsion, let's talk karaoke...

[Andymac]

Forget Karaoke, you better get the bubble bath.

[herdsofbirds]

Thanks DRG, I shall check that emulsion out.. I also hand-print - maybe I just need work cleaner. Man, I had ink all over the place today.. not good.