Uncoated Spray Powder causeing Mold Growth

[APP]

Has any one experienced mold growth in their fountain water due to un-coated spray powder?

thanks
APP

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

Back in the day when running newsprint we used to get lots of funky things growing in our FS tanks, we had to flush them with bleach. Sorry but I dont know what un-coated spray powder is, are you referring to offset spray powder that is applied in the delivery.
cheers

 

[APP]

Yes, I am asking about spray power that get applied at delivery.
I have been told that it gets into the fount system by way of the font pans and other openings and sometimes mod growth starts. I was just tryig to see if anyone had this happen.

thanks

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

If your offset spray is making its way into your fountain solution pans/tanks and forming some form of growth you must be putting a truckload of spray on your sheet and into the air. I guess if you were putting your sheet through your press multiple times and using excess spray each time some could wind up back in the pans but you would have to put so much on you would not be able to print on the sheet. I would look at other reasons,Fountain solution temperature, Stock, ink, cleaning procedures (regular drain and flush of your tanks and pans), Raw water cleanliness ( use RO or DI water if possible).
Cheers

 

[tamale]

Mold is forming because the micro-organisms present in your fountain solution feed on the powder (probably starch based) and grow.

Keep the food away and the mold will be under control.

If you cant control the source of the food then, the only way is by frequent maintenance of your fountain system.

Another path is to enquire upon your fountain solution supplier to see if he has one with added biocides.

Tamale

 

[APP]

Thanks for your feed back! it was and is very helpful.
Can I just ask ,what do you maintain your systems with?

thanks

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

We flush our system once per week or when our conductivity rises to a point we have decided is too high. Complete drain of the system and pans, fill with hot water and a product called Royal Flush, many fountain solution suppliers have their own brands of cleaner. Let the Flush circulate through the system for about 15mins to clean the lines, Give pans a wipe out and once per month remove them from the press to thoroughly clean them. Install new filters and refill with fresh FS. Takes time but poor quality is the result if you dont along with all the other issues of not maintaining your dampening system one of which is growing new life forms.
Good luck and happy printing

 

[APP]

Thanks, thats what i thought.
Funny how a lot of us don't think we have time to do the basic maintenance but have to make the time to deal with the issues the maintenance would have eliminated.

Old saying' you can pay for it now or really pay for it later"
thanks again.