Answered by Douglas Grigar
QUESTION: I have read on the
Internet that I may be able to use commonly available chemicals for
degreasing my screens. For example, some people suggest janitorial degreasers
for degreasing screens. Can I actually switch to locally available chemicals
and save a little money?
ANSWER: The answer to this question
is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no, or the recommendation
of chemicals from a local home-improvement store. As far as degreasers
for screen cleaning, yes there are over-the-counter (OTC) chemicals
such as janitorial products that will work in a pinch for limited use.
The complicated part to this answer is that none of the OTC products
work as well as degreasers made specifically for processing screen printing
screens. I have worked with and talked to many large shops, consultants,
and industry advisors about their testing on this subject. That research
combined with my own testing leads me to the conclusion that the products
available have several levels of usefulness. At the bottom are dishwashing
detergents that have so many additives for pleasant home use that they
are, for the most part, a waste of time to use in this role. In the
mid-range are the janitorial chemicals, with some of the citrus-based
products performing the best out of these choices. The best
chemicals are the modern formulas made by reputable chemical companies
specifically for the purpose of cleaning screens.
The third and final part of this answer
regards saving money and using safe products. Often, alternative chemicals
seem less expensive up front, but when you add in the fact that they
often must be used full strength and in large amounts for reasonable
results, the expected saving trickle down the drain. Many OTC chemicals
are less “green” than industry-specific versions, and often
have chemicals that are quite harmful, tightly controlled, or even illegal
for repeated industry use.
So, my final answer is both a yes and a
no. But, as with all the individual phases of the screen printing process,
there are many deeper and unexpected factors that must be considered.
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