220 Lettra “dust”

Hi there. Does anyone else have any issues with 220# lettra “dust” (for lack of a better word) sticking to photopolymer plates while on press? Aside from taking a shop vac to the edge of the paper, does anyone have any suggestions on fixing this issue?

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I had my cutting blade sharpened on my paper cutter. That helped quite a bit. There is still dust though.

sharp blade and a tack cloth. Most all pasted cotton sheets will give you this problem.

I think the vacuuming is almost required of any fairly soft paper (Somerset, BFK, Lettra, etc.). Also thumbing through the edges (all the way around) to try and remove as much of the dust as you can.

I do suspect the main issue is most always the cutter blade needing to be sharper along with using a fairly serious amount of pressure when holding down the paper prior to cutting. Clearly, you need enough waste top sheets to protect the paper from the pressure. If the stack is too loose the paper will have more of a tendency to sort of tear during cutting and a lot of times you are trying to not impress the paper when preparing to cut.

when you cut the stock always be sure to use the back of the blade on the side of the stock you will be printing on(as well as a sharp blade).
the beveled side of the blade leaves the most fuzz. You will have to trim everything slightly larger then “backtrim” the edges that are fuzzy. Any fuzz that is left I have had good luck removing with a clean artgum eraser.

I must admit I have never heard of paper dust as a consequence of paper cutting. Always assumed it to be a natural part of the printing process. Paper dust being generated by the rubbing mechanics of the press. Ever see the dust generated by offset presses?

As far as removing it from photopolymer plates, that is their Achille’s heel. Some solutions, precautions pointed out here:

http://bielerpressxi.blogspot.com/2006/03/photopolymer-plate-longevity-p...

Gerald