Foamy Fountain

[mikebrady2.0]

Hello.

I'm running a 3302 with crestline dampener system. I mixed new fountain the other day and the press ran great for about an hour. Today when I fired it up the fountain was very foamy in the tray in the first unit. Any ideas?

 

[Meny]

could be lot's of things as:
a. some chemoical in the water (washing agent ?)
b. air coming in to one of the hoses / conectors ?
c. air coming in at your R&R unit

Nothing elss i can think of
Good luck

 

[mikebrady2.0]

Thanks for the input. The solution inside of the main unit on the floor (Where you pour in the fountain and where the condenser is) is also very foamy. Is this normal?

 

[Di Nut]

Like Meny correctly stated it could be several things. If you cannot locate the problem
just buy a small pint of de-foam solution for the fountain and it works like a charm. Many
suppliers carry it. We buy ours from Anchor.

 

[Meny]

Foam is not new in the business - you did not dicover America , it was discovered before you
the foam can be from Air coming in or your chemistry - look at all your chem labels to find if any change.
make sure what's in the can is what's writen on it and/or try to take a new can.
Check also if your plate maker has changed his gum for the plates - gum can be a reason for a lot of foam too.
I have seen peaple put wash solution in the R&R sys by mistak....check your Alcohol , could be a manufactoring error too...
Foam eliminator will sort you out just right if you do not find the reason , but it is not good for your plates - will make your image fade from plate faster.
And check your R&R system - 95% of times it is air getting in to the system

 

[mikebrady2.0]

Thanks for your input. I've learned a lot. I only had about a gallon of solution in the tank. The sprayer inside the unit was spraying above the solution level and was causing the solution to get foamy. I added more solution, another two gallons, and it worked much better. I just need to keep it nice and full I guess.

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[aqazi81]

use Anti foam agent to prevent foaming...

 

[Meny]

Anti foam is only good for short runs - it will damage the plate surface and in long runs will force you to chaneg the plates.

 

[aqazi81]

we have no such issue it..... our plates remain good over 50,000 impressions....and these are Chinese plates...

 

[Meny]

CTP plates or conventional ones ?
The old UV plates are much better of press .....

But put a drop of the anti foam on your plate and look at the result...

 

[aqazi81]

Conventional plates.....

 

[Meny]

THis is like :
I keep apples out side the refrigerator for 5 years and they do not rot or go bad......
Oh yes , my apples are made of plastic.....