The Science of Doctor Blades

Solution: According to Ritz, hard-coated or thicker-tipped blades will decrease the wear on coarser rolls. However, printers can prevent many problems by buying the right kind of doctor blade for their operation. "Using the very best quality steel material, proper storage, and giving a detailed description of your exact process and expectations when asking for a blade type to be recommended [will usually correct printing problems]," said Steve Wilkinson, president of ARC International's (Charlotte, N.C.) West Coast Division. "In most cases a prehoned blade will not only eliminate many of the issues, but is safer for the operator."