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Squeegee Selection
Having the right squeegee is integral to achieving the best print
possible for your silkscreen.
There are several factors that affect the performance of your
squeegee blade. Abrasion against the mesh slowly blunts the
squeegee reducing the ability to shear
ink from the screen. Solvents will also
degrade the squeegee material, this is
mainly seen in Solvent based inks and UV
inks. These can cause the blade to soften
or swell on the press which can affect
print quality.
Squeegees are commonly supplied in 3 hardnesses and 2 section
sizes. The values of hardness are typically 60-65 Shore (Red),
70-75 Shore (Green) and 80-85 Shore (Blue). Usually the substrate
and screen mesh determine the hardness required. If the
substrate is an irregular or rough surface and requires a coarse
mesh a softer squeegee is required (60-65 Shore Red). If the
substrate has a smooth surface and a high mesh count is being
used a harder squeegee is required (80-85 Shore Blue). The most
common squeegee used is 70-75 Shore Green as this blade is
rigid yet soft enough to adapt to the contours of the screen.
The two most common profile size used in screen printing are
50mm x 9mm and 25mm x 5mm. The 50mm x 9mm profile is used
for general screen printing (glass, graphics and textiles). The
25mm x 5mm profile is used for bottle, cd printing and high speed
automatic presses.
In this section we aim to answer any questions you may have
regarding the frame, mesh, squeegee or artwork you require.
FAQ’s