OK, novice stuff here I know, but hopefully someone can help me. I've run my own shop for about 12 years now with digital presses, and about 3 years ago added an AB Dick 375 for spot colour work (standard dampening). Self taught on the 375 using poly plates and get good results, but very occasionally get problems with emulsification. Someone told me that adding some alcohol to the fount solution would help with this. Is this true? I have a large drum of premium IPA here which I aquired a while ago. Should I be adding this to the fount? Currently using Vanson rubber based inks and Vanson 20/20 fount. Sorry for such a basic question!!
An 8% solution ought to help you reduce the amount of damp you need, sharper print, cleaner solids etc. These days IPA has a bad press (no pun intended) due to potential skin issues like dermatitis, and the trend is for newer presses to reduce or eliminate IPA in the print process. But I'd try the 8% as a starting point, drop your damp by a good chunk and it should reduce your emulsification issue too.
you mentioned that the press has standard dampening. i take that to mean that it has a ducted cloth covered dampening system. although my experience is on much larger presses im sure the same rules still apply. its been a very long time since ive worked on anything that old school but i do remember a few of the finer points. first to answer your question about addition of ipa id say that as long as you have a working fountain solution it should not be needed. these systems were designed to run without alcohol. Finding a fountain soulution that will work in that situation may prove to be a challenge as my guess is the pressroom chemistry manufacturers have long gotten away from selling such a product in a pre mixed ready to run solution. that does not mean that you cant come up with your own working formula. id enlist a reputable chemistry manufacturer to partner with you in finding a solution that would work. a couple of names come to mind and if you pm me i will suggest someone. what i do remember about running a ducted system is that clean cloth coverings are a must. we also used to cover the water form roller with either a spiral wrapped paper type covering or a paper type sleeve that was shrink to fit. it was the slip to fit paper sleeve that allowed the press to run alcohol free. dont know if these shrink to fit sleeves are even made anymore but you inquire as it was a product manufacured by 3M. all that being said i would highly recomend that if your going to continue to run that press with any expectation of it being even remotely productive in our current business climate id suggest retrofitting a continuous flow dampening system. the first name i think of is a company called kompac. they make a very user friendly, reliable , and relatively maintence freee system that will make your job alot more productive and much more hassle free. good luck and keep us posted as to your progress
