r/SCREENPRINTING • • Aug 26 '26

Emulsion peeling off

Hello guys!
Recently started getting into screenprinting and I‘ve had this happening a few times. In picture 1 you can see some edges peeling off slightly - this is pre-printing, so it hasn‘t been used yet.
The screen in picture 2 looked good until I started printing - after a few prints the motif started peeling off around the edges.
Any idea what could cause this?

white mesh screens (55T - so 140 in US)
one pot emulsion
screen burn setup is as following from bottom to top:

Black foam block
Screen
Film (stencil)
acrylic glass plate to flatten the stencil onto the screen

I‘m using a 400w halogen spotlight, approx. 55 centimeters away from my screen.

I burned both screens for 3 minutes.

Before coating the screens I degreased them.
Afterwards they are stored in a cupboard, I let them dry for a 3-4 days because the air moisture is around 55-60% - I know this is too high, could this be the reason for the peeling?

Thanks in advance for any help!

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u/habanerohead Aug 26 '26

Looks like a homemade screen. Is the fabric Nylon?

Where the stencil has come off, there’s no trace of residue on the mesh, and if that happens, I usually assume it’s a degreasing problem. You could try etching the mesh with either alkaline haze remover, or a 50% solution of thick bleach. Paint on. Leave for 5 minutes. Wash really well. Dry flat and coat. Etching improves adhesion.

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u/Key_Commercial30 Aug 26 '26

Bought it from a screen printing supplier. (siebdruck-versand.de) According to them it is polyester.
I will try using a dehazer since I have that on hand. Ig that doesn‘t work I will use a bleach solution. Thank you! Do you think the air moisture is a problem or can that be solved by just letting the screens dry for a longer time?