Summary for flexible dies rusting Discussion
Stopping carbon steel flexible dies from rusting is the central concern here: John Park asks for a way to protect high-carbon steel flexible dies used in label printing without changing their dimensions, and says VCI oils and papers have only partly helped. He asks specifically about waxes or touch-dry coatings. Raúl Silvestre replies that rusting cannot be prevented without some kind of chemical coating or similar product, and notes that some manufacturers leave dies uncoated while others apply only a few microns of coating that does not affect the knife. The thread then shifts to a later question from Brian Dullaghan asking what grade of steel is used to etch flexible dies, but no answer is shown in the excerpt.
Q. I am a user of flexible dies in the label printing industry and would like to know how to stop them rusting. I believe that they are made of high carbon steel, and anything that I use must not dimensionally effect the plate. I have tried VCI oils and papers with some success, but would like to know of any waxes or touch dry coatings that I could use.
John Park
printer – York, Pennsylvania
2004
A. Dear Sir,
The rusting of flexible dies is not possible to stop without a chemical coating or other product. Some flexible die manufacturers don’t coat the dies, then in a short time become rusted. Other companies produce flexible dies and put some microns of chemical coatings on top, not affecting the knife.
regards,
Raúl Silvestre
– Alicante, SPAIN
December 31, 2008
Q. What grade of steel is used to etch flexible dies?
brian dullaghan
etcher – rothwell northamptonshire uk
April 24, 2009
