what fountain solution are you currently using?

[Albert Noel]

i'm looking to try some other chemestry. not very pleased with our current etch/sub combo. we've been using it for years but it seems to just be getting worse. i'm not going to get into the issues that i am having but i am looking for a change.

we're using fuji/anchor emerald jrb etch and ars-61 sub and i've just become unhappy with the products. nasty back cylinders at the end of the shift regardless of how well set/shimmed rollers are. quick ink/water balance at the beginning but after short running, it's like playing the piano in the console. i know it's the chemistry as we've tried a low end single step duplicator fountain solution/alcohol and the problems went away. we are not going to switch over to alcohol, its just the problems with our current chemestry outweighs the benefits.

looking to do a little poll, so to speak.

what fountain solution are you using? using it with IPA or a sub? which sub?
RO or tap water? how many oz per gal.? starting cond.? cond. of your water before mixing? durometer of your water forms and meters?



i'm looking at trying a few products from unigraph
(the one step, 2 in 1) lithofount 97 g-2 sf
lithofount 96g and alcofount 1 combo
lithofount 5 star sf and alcofount 5 star combo.

anyone using any of these?

[arfamoe]

We are using Unigraph Lithofount 96G R.O with Alcofount-1 Alcohol replacement. Kodak Plates and Flint ink. Seems to run problem free except some of our operators were never really trained on measuring and controlling Conductivity. I found their Conductivity meter had been dropped in the tank and had 'drowned' and they never even missed it.

[Albert Noel]

we use fuji brillia plates and hostmman inks. we keep very close eye on conductivity (we have a continously monitoring/always on probe/meter.

i'm just wondering what mix are the guys using? have ever tried it with tap water?an RO system isnt in the budget right now.

[nhprinter]

We use Prisco's 2451 +2g. We use 4 oz to a gallon with tap water. We like to keep our conductivity at around 1500. We're using Superior's Biolocity ink (mid tack) and we don't have any problems.


Dave

[Bigbadlee]

Hi,

We use Agfa digital plates imaged on the Excalibur system. On press we use Saphira soft fount at 3% and IPA at 8%. Our water goes through an RO unit via a softener with an operating conductivity (RO) of 4 microsiemens. The conductivity in the Beta D chiller is around 1300 microsiemens.

You've seen my post about 2 in 1 fount so I will keep you updated when we change over!

[Albert Noel]

Hi,

We use Agfa digital plates imaged on the Excalibur system. On press we use Saphira soft fount at 3% and IPA at 8%. Our water goes through an RO unit via a softener with an operating conductivity (RO) of 4 microsiemens. The conductivity in the Beta D chiller is around 1300 microsiemens.

You've seen my post about 2 in 1 fount so I will keep you updated when we change over!

i may try this one if it works out well for you. we're mixing the etch at 3oz/gal and the additive at around 3oz/gal.
like i said in a previous post, we dont have the option for an RO system, so our tap water starts off at around 280 microsiemens, and we run at around 1600 in the techontrans.

in fact, i think we have the same techotrans unit on our press as you have (ours is also a beta D).

my boss is getting me some samples of the unigraph 5 star etch and sub to try and if it doesnt work well, we will try the uni 97g2 and unifount1. and if that doesnt work i will try the 2 in 1 that you are planning to try, bigbadlee.
anyone else have any suggestions?

[Albert Noel]

We use Prisco's 2451 +2g. We use 4 oz to a gallon with tap water. We like to keep our conductivity at around 1500. We're using Superior's Biolocity ink (mid tack) and we don't have any problems.


Dave

we tried a couple of different prisco products a few years ago without any luck. is it a single step or are you using it with IPA or a sub?

[nhprinter]

Hi Albert,

The 2451 +2g is a single step solution. We switched over from the 3451 and alcohless 3000 2 step a couple of years ago.


Dave

(we are currently using Agfa plates, but we're switching to Fugi's in the next couple of weeks.)

[Albert Noel]

Hi Albert,

The 2451 +2g is a single step solution. We switched over from the 3451 and alcohless 3000 2 step a couple of years ago.


Dave

(we are currently using Agfa plates, but we're switching to Fugi's in the next couple of weeks.)

well, i'll add that one to the "to try" list
we've got unigraph lithofount 5 star and alcofount 5 star samples coming. i will also try the 97g if it doesnt work.

if neither do the trick, on to the 2451 +2g !

[Erik Nikkanen]

quick ink/water balance at the beginning but after short running, it's like playing the piano in the console. i know it's the chemistry as we've tried a low end single step duplicator fountain solution/alcohol and the problems went away.

Albert,

If your problem is controlling density and you are in the Toronto area, why not think about testing the Ink Transfer Blade (ITB) technology. It would show consistent print density regardless of fountain solution. No piano playing required.

Erik Nikkanen
Toronto, Ontario
nikkanen@globalserve.net