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Improving How You Coat Screens

Have you thought about how you coat your screens lately? Maybe the way you’re doing it works, but it might not be the best way. Instead of just sticking with what you know, why not try to make it even better?

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why the right amount of Emulsion Over Mesh (EOM) makes better screens.
• How to coat a screen when it’s still wet.
• The difference between wet-on-wet coating and the usual way.

Important Things in Screen Coating

Anyone who wants to be good at coating screens should know these things:

• How fast you move when coating: This changes how much liquid you put on the screen.
• The angle you hold the tool: This changes how much liquid goes from the coater to the screen.
• How hard you push on the coater: This makes the liquid spread evenly or not.
• The shape of the coater edge: This can change how much liquid gets on the screen.

What is Emulsion Over Mesh (EOM)?

EOM is how far the liquid layer goes past the screen’s threads. It’s usually talked about as a percent of the total thickness. The right EOM makes sure the ink goes through the screen well, giving clear pictures.

Coating When It’s Still Wet

This way is about putting a lot of liquid on the screen while it’s still wet. It’s different from the usual way which takes more time and steps. Most people like this method better.

Here’s what to do:

• Start on the print side and end on the squeegee side.
• Make sure your screen is clean and ready before coating.
• Finish on the squeegee side. The last strokes here decide how much liquid gets on.
• Always dry your stencil with the squeegee side up. This lets gravity help spread the liquid evenly.

Looking at Other Ways

A common way is to put one coat on each side of the screen with a sharp edge. This makes a thin EOM layer. Even though a lot of people use this, it might not always give the best pictures, especially with tiny details. Also, just because you can’t see any mistakes doesn’t mean they’re not there. It’s always better to aim for a thicker layer.

To Wrap It Up

Coating a screen might sound easy, but doing it really well can make your work look way better. By knowing all the steps and being careful, you’ll always get great results.