Video Overview: How to Reclaim Screens with the Poly-Pro Dip Tank

Reclaiming screens is often the most dreaded part of the screen printing process, but using a dip tank can turn a messy, time-consuming chore into a streamlined routine. By letting chemistry do the heavy lifting, you can significantly reduce the physical labor and chemical waste associated with manual cleaning.

Here is a quick breakdown of how to use the Poly-Pro Dip Tank to refresh your screens:

The Dip Tank Process

1. Soak: Submerge your inked screens in the tank for 5 to 20 minutes. This allows the chemicals to penetrate and break down both the ink and the emulsion simultaneously.
2. Scrub: Once the soak is complete, pull the screen out and give it a light scrub to loosen any stubborn residue.
3. Rinse: Use a pressure washer to blast away the dissolved emulsion and ink.
4. Final Touch: If you notice a "ghost image" or faint stain left behind, apply a haze remover like ID-360 to clear the mesh completely.

Recommended Solution

For the best results with this system, Lawson recommends using One Step Concentrated Dip Tank Solution. This formula is a "one-stop shop" because it includes a built-in degreaser, saving you an extra step in the reclamation process.

Pro Tip: To fill the Poly-Pro tank, you only need one 5-gallon bucket of the concentrate; simply fill the remainder of the tank with water to reach the proper dilution.