Ryobi 3302 with crestline

[jimas67]

Can anyone tell me what kind of fountain solution you use in your 3302? I have only 2 choices Varn Superlene (which we use on the smaller ryobi's) or Hostman Steinberg's Sbustifix- AF which is used on our larger press. I'm having a hard time getting either one to mix right, and I'm having to mix with tap water...any suggestions?

[Londen]

You should start by trying distilled water. What kind of problem do you have?

[jimas67]

I'm having a problem with the inks emulsifying on the water rollers, which is causing the plates to have a water build up especially when running a solid, or a metalic ink.

[graficworx]

Crestlines are sort of known for this. Whats happening is there is too much ink in the ink rollers, and is getting transferred up to the water. Once that happens, better to clean everything and start over. You can either increase the fount solution a tiny bit, or just back off on the ink. Also, use distilled water. For metal plates, I like FC-1000 concentrate. You can also check your PH, but if you use distilled, it should fix that too. Hard water is killer in Crestlines. So is soft. So best to go with distilled, NOT CARBON FILTERED like from a Brita pitcher. The carbon causes its own problems.

[jimas67]

Thanks I'll try the distilled water. We have a filtration system for the big press so I will get some from that, I'll let you know what happens!!

[graficworx]

If it's better, but still not great, you may need to clean all the rollers really good with a pumice like paste. Calcium can build up on the rollers.

[Al Ferrari]

Thanks I'll try the distilled water. We have a filtration system for the big press so I will get some from that, I'll let you know what happens!!

Just to be clear: although it can be filtered, distilled water is NOT the same as filtered water.

Al

[RGPW17100]

Are you using metal or Poly plates. To help the ink piling you are seeing use and alcohol substitute made by Anchor call ARS-X. You use about 1 to 2 oz per gallon. In your case you are not using this as an alcohol sub but as a piling agent. The sub will break the ink down and make it go back into the roller train. Do not exceed the amount I have given. To do so may cause plate scumming and drying issues. This has been a problem with the crestlines since the beginning. There are other subs out there but this one seems to work the best