Argghh, darn drying screen stains!

[eric]

I had about 10 sheets left on my Oriental Seagul 11x14 fiber/mg/glossy. Made some prints, looked good, me happy. I been printing RC for a while and this time, I took out the old homemade drying screen. This morning...after drying overnight...arghhh, I had stains on my prints from the screens. Guess I should've cleaned the screens cause I haven't used them in a while.

Do you think I can rewash the prints? Stains are "in" the emulsion aren't they?

Well, I know I'll be picking up some screen door mesh screens this afternoon at the hardware store. Cheaper to restaple new ones that clean those.

I should listen to myself sometimes..."make it nice..not twice".

 

[Peter Schrager]

screens

Eric-you might just want to clean those with soap and water. Are you drying face up? I always dry face up even though I'm sure that you can do it face down. I never have a problem face up and my screens are practically on the floor of my darkroom all the time
Peter

 

[Claire Senft]

Try it and find out.

I would guess that the stains are there to stay but rewashing in very inexpensive. You will either see them or not when they have redried.
What I do is to buy the fiberglass screening and use thumbtacks to attach it to the ceiling joists in my basement. Because the most likely contaminant is fixer, I bleach them in household every other time I use them and give them a good rinse. Household bleach will neutralize the fixer.

 

[eric]

Peters -- Face up? I always did (for some strange habit), do fiber face down and RC face up. Lately, I've been lazy, and drying RC on a towel in the kitchen

Claire --Bleach? Can you tell me your process? Cause...bleach is liquid and screens ...well..they have holes. Do you put bleach on a cloth and wipe? Put it in spray bottle? How do the prints stay on the screens up on the ceiling?

 

[gainer]

Stay away from metal screens of any sort except possibly aluminum.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Face up to it!

Eric-face up no problem; just put another screen on top for the curl effect and then put under some weight when dry.I used to do face down cause that's what I was told. Seems too simlple. I second Claire for the bleach process-don't forget to hose down with clean water afterward
Peter

 

[blansky]

In my opinion washing softens the emulsion, therefore I would never place anything on the face of a drying print, fiber or RC.

On top of that metal screens are not a good idea. As for trying to get the stains out you could try washing again but it may not work.

We've all learned these things the hard way and I think that now you have as well.

Michael

 

[Claire Senft]

My process

I am using fiberglass screen. I pull out the thumb tacks, fold up the screen, pour some bleach and water into a bucket. Then I use the highly technical process called sozzling, I bleach them, rinse them and hang the screen up to dry. OF course being brave but not a damn fool I do this when my spouse is not likely to catch me. If you wish to keep clean your screen between uses fold it up and put it into a plastic bag.

 

[eric]

Ahhhh, I get it. The screens are rolled up! I built something that looks like the old Zone VI stuff...with 1"x2" wood. I went home for lunch today, and I can't find my heavy duty stapler...must've got lost on the move with my enlarger lenses. Dope!