Water-based printing has tons of benefits: a soft hand feel, decreased environmental impact, and easier cleanup. Printers can clean screens with just water. However, there’s a screen printing chemical that helps printers get every last drop of water-based ink out from their screens. Meet Sgreen® Aqua Wash. What’s so special about Aqua Wash? How can printers incorporate it into their process? Here’s a guide.
WHAT IS AQUA WASH?
Sgreen® Aqua Wash is a water-based ink cleaner designed to remove water-based ink without softening or damaging the stencil. Sgreen® Aqua Wash has excellent emulsifying and degreasing properties, helping to protect your mesh from deep stains or ghosting. It works especially well to open clogged mesh caused by dried water-based ink in the image area.
When doing a color change on the press, warm water and a shop rag will work great for water-based inks. When it’s time to clean or reclaim the screen, Aqua Wash comes in handy. It works to remove ink from the knuckles of the mesh, leaving the screen clean and ready for either reclaim or storage.
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HOW TO USE AQUA WASH
Using Aqua Wash is easy. Here are the three steps:
- Spray or pour a moderate amount onto the screen.
- Grab a blue shop towel or rag of your choice. Scrub both sides of the screen, re-applying Aqua Wash as needed, until the screen is clean.
- When the printer is done with the job/screen: Follow up by rinsing both sides of the screen clean with pressured water to help remove any residual pigment from the image area.
NOTE: Do not spray Aqua Wash onto water-based inks in an attempt to keep the inks wet in the screen for continuous printing. This will degrade the ink and cause possible cure issues long term.
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For shops using water-based ink, adding Sgreen® Aqua Wash to their cleanup arsenal will make a huge difference. Keep that bottle of warm water around for color changes, and use Aqua Wash when cleaning or reclaiming screens after a job is complete.