Photopolymer Plate Cleaning

Using mineral spirits should not be a problem.

I use California Wash and have never had a problem.

Yeah, heard about the California Wash. Once I use up the Mineral Spirits I think I’m going that route. However, if the ink arrives today I would love to start printing and Mineral Spirits is all I have to clean base and plate with.

Mineral spirits will work fine. Much cheaper than California Wash.

Tyler

There is a difference between a press wash and a type/plate wash. Type/plate washes are fast dryers. Press washes are slow dryers. There is a good reason for using one rather than another for these various duties.

Mineral Spirits nor California Wash, while perfectly fine as press washes should not be used to clean your photopolymer plates. They leave a residue which can interact badly with the ink (if you are cleaning them during an edition run—doesn’t matter what you clean them with when you are done printing.).

I’d suggest specific solvents recommended for type or plates as a wash. In lieu of that, Coleman’s Lantern Fuel (white gas) is quite good, and cheaper than the various washes out there.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Thanks I appreciate all the helpful insight!

Tyler

Some things to consider —

White gas is highly flammable and may pose some health risks. Offset shops used to use it as a press wash (I know one that still does), but the fire department frowns upon it. A spark from an electric motor could cause a fire.

Fast acting solvents like type wash, white gas, and alcohol can cause swelling, hardening and cracking on rubber rollers. If you wipe rollers with any of these you should follow-up with roller wash, which is formulated to prevent swelling and cracking.

I like to use IPA as a final cleaner on type, poly plates, base, ink mixing surfaces, ink disk, and ink knife (99% isopropyl alcohol, available where you buy printing supplies). Apply IPA with a cotton pad or small wipe. A large rag will soak-up and waste a lot of alcohol (or other fast cleaner).

n/a

What about Acetone?

n/a

rwarnoldjr,Acetone in the main ingredient in finger nail polish remover,and I’m pretty sure it disolves plastic.What about going with the info Bieler provided, his advice is sound and true.best james

n/a

they sell gasoline for around $2.50 a gallon.

n/a

i’ve used gas for years, now i buy press wash and mix it half and half with gas, always wear gloves, and never store it near the wood stove. haven’t had any problems yet. everything is bad for you, even the oil based ink is bad. good luck dick g.

n/a

Devils Tale Press, I googled actone and this was my 1st hit
at wikipedia,”Acetone is a good solvent for most plastics” The acetone that I have purchased comes in a metal can.
It kinda sounds like your homework wasn’t done either.
best james

I think what this means is that it will MELT most plastics.

n/a

Devils Tail Press, The metal can of Acetone that I’m holding in my hand from Ace Hardware,States on the side of the can In bold letters “IMPORTANT:Acetone may soften
or damage plastics,synthetics,and many other finishes”
Also bear in mind that finger nail polish remover is not pure
acetone.If you scroll down on the acetone page on wikipedia middle of the page “As a solvent” it states again
“acetone is a good solvent for most plastics” All plastics
are not create equal. When I do my homework I read the whole book not just the fist line or two.best james

i can’t find anything on the gas pump that says it is bad for you, the can i pump it into just says 2 1/2 gal. i don’t believe everything i read regarding solvents, if its printed on the can it must be true? i think they put stuff on the can to help sell their product. most of what paul says i believe is true, you can go crazy over all these chemicals, for now i’ll wear gloves, keep the fumes to a minimum and hope for the best, how about carbon tet. the lino machinists swore by that stuff, sure smelled like it could do some damage, it evaporated almost before it hit the rag. dick g.

According to a “Solvent Resistance” list I have for photopolymer plates, ketones like Acetone and MEK are not recommended for cleaning of photopolymer plates because they can damage the adhesive layer, as can toluene and xylene and methyl, ethyl and butyl acetates. Some other solvents can cause swelling of the plate material itself, specifically methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. Melting is not a concern on this list. Kerosene, gasoline, light oil, isopropyl alcohol and various glycols are all listed as having no reaction.

I should add that while isopropyl alcohol is not listed as having a reaction, it does generally draw moisture out of things, and plates change hardness with changes in relative humidity.

n/a

Devils Tail, Actually the post is about what to clean
photopolymer plates with.Hurling insults?gosh your tone was
a bit above it all even though you have only used acetone once in 1983. “Once again” “I think you may be the one who needs the luck,Dick.” arrogance doesn’t come from experience it comes from ego. I feel most people here
give advice based on experience too.Lets say rwarnoldjr
gives his photopolymer plate a good wash with acetone
and it melts his plate can he come and cry on your shoulder
when he has to buy a new plate?The post reads clearly
and yet you come up with “solvents as they relate to the printshop?” maybe acetone will dissolve egos or maybe just clean them.best james

n/a

Paul

Paul

That quote of $54.95 for a gallon of Coleman Lantern Fuel is a bit odd, especially since part of your argument is based on it. I have never had to pay more than $15 for the stuff, whether from a hardware store, and recently, from the local grocery store. Coleman Lantern Fuel is white gas (unleaded gas) and I suspect deodorized. Napha is not gasoline and is one of the chemicals they are trying to remove from printing solvents. Those Wikipedia articles you quote, by the way, are not necessarily written by authorities on the subject matter. Per example, take a gander at the entry for Letterpress.

Gerald

n/a

n/a

Paul

Thanks for all the links. You certainly seem to have an awful lot of time on your hands.

Whatever Coleman Lantern Fuel is, it works quite well as a type/plate wash, is far less offensive than similar products used for that purpose, and is quite cheap compared to industry solvents, at least, in my part of the woods. And, I recommend it. It works, it’s cheap, and it is available just about everywhere. That was the point, I hope, in my post to the OP.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

n/a

Thanks All.

Went with the Coleman Fuel (Coleman Camp Fuel). Got it at the worst place in the world (Walmart) and it cost $8.88/gal.

I either got a deal or the wrong product. Guess the best way to find out is trial and error!

Regardless thanks for all the help and input.

Tyler

n/a

tyler, always wear gloves, keep contact with the skin to a minimum, good advice from paul about the proper storage can, for a guy that can’t type he really knows his stuff when it comes to these chemicals, i enjoy his posts and have learned a lot from him. good luck dick g.