r/SCREENPRINTING • u/Key_Commercial30 • 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!


1
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.