Screen Printing Tutorials

Reclaiming Your Screens to Reuse Them

Index

Martin D.
Martin D.
reclaiming a screen printing screen using a pressure washer

When you no longer need to print an image that is already on a screen, you can reclaim the image to get a brand new one.

Material Needed

For this reclaim step, you will need:

  • A clean screen with no ink residue
  • Emulsion remover
  • A pair of gloves, as the emulsion remover is a fairly corrosive product, so we recommend that you wear protective gloves
  • A sponge to apply the emulsion remover to the frame to remove the emulsion properly
  • A Kärcher (pressure washer)

For those who don't have a Karcher at home, or simply because you live in the city, it's possible to overdose the emulsion remover so that it's easier to rinse your screen with a simple shower head or hose. If you're using the Mekanika kit, we've already overdosed the emulsion remover to make it easier for you.

How to Reclaim a Screen

As you can see in the video, for this step, it's best to stand outside and proceed as follows:

  • Apply the emulsion remover to both sides of the screen. Ideally, use a bottle with a spray cap.
  • Rub with a sponge to ensure that the product spreads evenly over the entire surface of the frame.
  • Leave for a few minutes, then clean with a karcher. To avoid damaging your screen, always start the karcher outside the screen and bring the jet back onto the screen after a few seconds.

If you think you've cleaned both sides well, check that this is the case by inspecting the screen in the light.

Next Step

If you want to start the process all over again, see our article How to prepare a stencil.

About Mekanika

Mekanika is a Belgian company based in Brussels whose ambition is to make local production more accessible thanks to a 100% open-source approach.

We design and produce high quality machines for CNC milling and screen printing, which have been recognized for their reliability and ease of use. Our tools are delivered as kits and fully documented, allowing to easily adapt them to specific needs.

Visit our shop to find out more, or check out our online resources and tutorials to continue learning.

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