Help - ink buildup on the rollers

I have been running a press and sometimes I get an ink buildup on the rollers. I have the adjustments for the ink set and if I turn them any lower I lose the color depth that it starts turning lighter. Even at times I know I have printed while the color is not as deep as it should be and I still get this ink buildup. The other problem is when this happens the print starts getting washed out from too much ink. I must roll paper through the rollers or clean them to get going again. However I have the water set doesn't seem to affect it.
Any ideas on what to do???

 

You might have a calcium build up in your rollers or rollers could just be old and hard. you could try running some CLR or other such calcium eliminator into your rollers for awhile then wash up with a little press wash and alot of hot water.

VARN makes a really good rinse that i like called triple threat cleaner desensitizer, you wouldn't belive how much **** it pulls out of your rollers

 

is it one spesific colour? I know that happens when running 032 on my press. if that is the case try using a little tack reducer. I pefer the varn paste reducer. Have you made any changes latly ? ie differant ink, fountain soloution?

 

I never gave calcium buildup a thought but we did that just last week for other reasons.
As for specific color, not really, I just had it today running a green and yesterday it was red. Other colors too further back. The ink is the same and we have tried stuff mixed in the ink like lith ease and the paste. I am fairly new at this so I don't remember or know all the products. My buddy who has been doing printing for years is having problems too. He just put on new rollers too and still has problems.
I noticed today when I started it wasn't long until I had problems. After running some paper through to take some of it off I was able to start back up only for the same thing to happen about 10 minutes later after doing it again it went fine. After lunch I had the same problem. Like it happens when the rollers get so hot but clear up later. I don't really know for sure. My buddy thinks it is the water solution but the ink build up on the ink rollers not water or plate. (The boss changed the water solution to something more ecofriendly several mnths ago and I just noticed the problem about a month ago)
Maybe this more info will help someone identify what is wrong.

 

Hi,

It sounds like the ink is emulsifying on the rollers. It could be the new fount solution is not compatable with the ink you are using or the mix % is not correct.

Regards.

 

The ink is emulsifying. I have the answer to this problem without washing up the press in my book here.

http://www.printshoptips.com/

 

What type and brand of plates... metal, poly, silvermaster etc...?? What type and brand of ink... rubber base, oil base etc....? And what brand and type of fountain solution... glycerin base, alkaline base etc....?? Using any additives in the solution? Also what type of press and water system?

I agree with Mr H it sounds like the new solution is the culprit. Bosses are often dumb asses looking to save a few pennys rather than being eco friendly. No offense to any dumb *** bosses here!! LOL But if he's seeing all the problems, crappy printing and downtime this is causing he should leave well enough alone. Once you find a good combination don't change it. And do measure the amount of solution to water with any additives and always make it the same mix. I've seen some guys eyeball it which is all fine and good. But I like to be a little more precise and never have any water/ink issues once I nail down a good mix. Also stick to a brand of ink that works well.

Now are you also sure your hard rollers are not glazed and stripping ink? You can use putz only on the hard rollers cleaning by hand with a little wash, water and putz on the rag. Don't use anything abrasive if you can help it. If you just put putz on the entire roller train like the directions say to (LOL) it gets into the pores of the soft rollers. Not good. You'll see a gritty haze on the rollers and it'll take few washups of putting ink on the rollers to get it to go away. If not your ink will be emulsifying on the rollers.

Good luck!!! And keep us posted.

G.

 

We do use metal plates and the new fountain solution is supreme font 7086. I don't know what kind of ink but the brand is Branden Sutphin. The press is a Halm As I stated I am new at this and really do not know details but I do know where others have had similer experiance. It is also confusing that nothing is consistant. sometimes I get the buildup and other times not, even on the same run.
It was also brought up about the ink emulsifying, I'm not sure what this means but if it is the water mixing in the ink I really do not know. All I can say is it can buildup heavy. Sometimes maybe just an inch long on the roller other times it may be more. I also still can't see how that much ink can fit between the rollers, I'll swear it seems like it must be up to 1/32 if an inch.

 

Hi,

Can you go back to your old fount solution and see if that clears the problem.

Regards.

 

I doubt it. I wish I had more experiance with the old stuff to make comparisons.

 

try roller adj.

Check the chrome roller-make sure you aren't pulling too much water. Check the stripe from chrome to water form. Sometimes when you switch your solutions(fountain) your water and ink stripes may run different than you' re used to. I've been dealing with the halm's now for about 17 years and sometimes the things just need tweaking.

 

I recently tried tightening the chrome roller and so far all is well. I don't want to "jump the gun" because it didn't do it all the time. Presently the ink stripe is a little over 1/4 inch. That is over twice what it was at 1/8 but whatever works. The past few days it has been running beautiful this way. We'll see what this week is like.

 

jets

jets can make you think outside the box sometimes. hope it keeps going good for you.

 

i have the exact same problem with my press, but i run a 2 colour heidelberg gto an it only ever does it on the delivery unit (on most colours),the feed unit is fine every time.
my boss said it was emulsifing aswell. people say its the fount solution but we have had the same varn an ipa water mix for as long as i can remember (4yrs) but only got this problem a few months ago. an now i have to put the most important colour on the feed unit so i know it will be conssistent an not emulsify half way through the run.
But as we had a print enginner in one day he and i noticed that the delivery units rollers were not oscallating (moving side to side) as much as the feed unit was, which we think is causing the problem so you could check to see if your rollers are oscallating, because i think that is why my press does this on one unit. hope this helps an please write back if you have any luck.

 

On the GTO you can adjust the oscillation of the rollers.

 

Fountain Solution is the Key, make sure the conductivity and pH are correct. When its correct, you'll be able to run with less ink and solution on the plate.

 

Chemistry problems can drive you nuts!!! start off with checking roller pressures and cleaning the rollers with some febo-clean ,compound X, or similar product that deep cleans and re-moves calcium.also are you using tap water? if you are get a gallon of distilled h20. and see what happens.
Are your rollers all glossy and shine? cut back on the amount of fountain solution or try running just H20 and adding fountain solution untill you are able to print.