How do you dry your screens?

[Shanarchy]

I've always used a (Hix) drying cabinet. I was considering picking up another. I was watching Greg Kitson's video of his screen production.

Mind's Eye Graphics CTS Screen Exposure & Washout Workflow- May 2013 60 + per hour

I see he dries his screens sideways with a box fan blowing down on them. Greg Kitson is a person who I view as really having his stuff together. So, I'm wondering what are the advantages to drying screens Standing vertically (as in this video) as opposed to horizontally (as in my drying cabinet). And what is the better way to dry them for speed and overall results (drying cabinet or box fan).

Main reason I ask this is that I am in the process of moving my shop (same building, just a few doors down). I am setting up the screen room/area now. My gut says if Greg's doing them this way I should set myself up that way too.

[Frog]

I've always used a (Hix) drying cabinet. I was considering picking up another. I was watching Greg Kitson's video of his screen production. Mind's Eye Graphics CTS Screen Exposure & Washout Workflow- May 2013 60 + per hour I see he dries his screens sideways with a box fan blowing down on them. Greg Kitson is a person who I view as really having his stuff together. So, I'm wondering what are the advantages to drying screens Standing vertically (as in this video) as opposed to horizontally (as in my drying cabinet). And what is the better way to dry them for speed and overall results (drying cabinet or box fan).

Main reason I ask this is that I am in the process of moving my shop (same building, just a few doors down). I am setting up the screen room/area now. My gut says if Greg's doing them this way I should set myself up that way too.

I would be interested to measure the thickness, and compare the EOM of his stencils from one end to the other.
I'm a big believer in things like gravity, and its affect on things like liquids.

Oh, and to answer your question, I use a cabinet with a dehumidifier, and dry horizontally , substrate side down.

I can also assure you that my screen throughput is absolutely minuscule compared to Greg's.

[mimosatexas]

I actually tested the effect of vertical vs horizontal early on, and for something like a 110 mesh with 2/2 it simply doesnt work.  The stencil thickness is visibly different from top to bottom.  I also tested drying squeegee side up vs. down, and again, huge difference in the actual result on something like a 110 2/2.  Squeegee side up creates a sharp edges pocket below the mesh for the ink to fill, making it so you can get great coverage without blurring.  It honestly may not make a difference on something like a 280 1/1 due to the mesh holding so much of the emulsion, but I would think it still isn't ideal.

We dry our screens in this: http://imgur.com/a/q2GU2  It can dry 27 23x31 screens, regardless of coating style and outside temp/humidity in an hour or less.  Occasionally if I need a weird mesh or coating style, I can throw a single screen in and it is dry within 20 minutes.  I've been told adding a little desk heater would speed everything up as well.  Having it against a wall creates a semi closed loop of air, with the dehumidifier exausting dry air into the wall and the fans sucking some of that up and back into the unit.  I did some test prior to the final build with just a box and the fans and dehumidifier sucking or blowing air in different configurations with and without a closed system, and this was the quickest configuration for whatever reason.

edit: after exposure, i don't think it matters how you dry them as long as it isn't blowing dust on them and is efficient.  What is shown in the video should be fine.

[Binkspot]

Greg racks them horizontally after coating, vertical after he blows the image out.

I rack them in the screen closet which is kept around 30% humidity and 85 degrees until I'm out of room then anywhere I can lean them inside and outside the closet. Summer they go out side. In a rush they go in front of a box fan and heater.

[inkman996]

I've always used a (Hix) drying cabinet. I was considering picking up another. I was watching Greg Kitson's video of his screen production. Mind's Eye Graphics CTS Screen Exposure & Washout Workflow- May 2013 60 + per hour I see he dries his screens sideways with a box fan blowing down on them. Greg Kitson is a person who I view as really having his stuff together. So, I'm wondering what are the advantages to drying screens Standing vertically (as in this video) as opposed to horizontally (as in my drying cabinet). And what is the better way to dry them for speed and overall results (drying cabinet or box fan).

Main reason I ask this is that I am in the process of moving my shop (same building, just a few doors down). I am setting up the screen room/area now. My gut says if Greg's doing them this way I should set myself up that way too.

I would be interested to measure the thickness, and compare the EOM of his stencils from one end to the other.
I'm a big believer in things like gravity, and its affect on things like liquids.

Oh, and to answer your question, I use a cabinet with a dehumidifier, and dry horizontally , substrate side down.

I can also assure you that my screen throughput is absolutely minuscule compared to Greg's.

It's usually a good idea for posters to distinguish which drying process they are referring to.

In our case we stand them up in front of a fan after a quick blast with the air hose. The reason for us standing them up is because the water runs off versus sitting on the screen possibly creating more scum.

[Frog]

Greg racks them horizontally after coating, vertical after he blows the image out.

So glad to hear that. (Unfortunately, I do know of at least one fairly well known printer who does the vertical thing with emulsion, and has shown that in videos as well)

I also usually dry recently cleaned screens vertically.

[Shanarchy]

I was wondering about both drying processes. But I guess it would make sense that a coated screen is horizontal. I never thought of keeping the exposed screens vertical for scumming. But that does seem to make sense.

Keep the answers coming please. I guess the main question now would be how do you dry you exposed screens. Horizontally or vertically? If there re true advantages to vertical than I should probably set up a rack similar to what Greg has in his video.

For the people doing them vertically, how are you storing them? I'm a pretty small volume shop so I do not need anything crazy.

[GraphicDisorder]

2 Vastex drying cabinets. 

[Northland]

So glad to hear that. (Unfortunately, I do know of at least one fairly well known printer who does the vertical thing with emulsion, and has shown that in videos as well)
[/quote]

I can respect his BBQ technique... but his printing had to suffer from that particular practice.

[Gilligan]

Vertical can also CREATE a scumming problem. As your scum will run down into the image area... This is how I first experienced scumming (under exposed screen of course).

The best thing is to get all the water off to start with.  With have a badass squeegee and then hit with the air hose in the image area.  A vacuum attachment might be better and I've been meaning to spring for it.  Might do that right now.

[beanie357]

Assorted drying cabinets that we buy used when price is right.

[TCT]

A vacuum attachment might be better and I've been meaning to spring for it.  Might do that right now.

I was in a pretty high production shop a few months ago the screen guy was showing me their DTS, he sprayed it out and after he used a vacuum. It was a wet/dry vac with maybe a 12" wide attachment on it, but it also had a small squeegee incorporated into it. Pretty friggin' sweet!

[Gilligan]

A vacuum attachment might be better and I've been meaning to spring for it.  Might do that right now.

I was in a pretty high production shop a few months ago the screen guy was showing me their DTS, he sprayed it out and after he used a vacuum. It was a wet/dry vac with maybe a 12" wide attachment on it, but it also had a small squeegee incorporated into it. Pretty friggin' sweet!

Good job not getting a picture of that. :p

[TCT]

Got a great mental picture, full color and all!

[mimosatexas]

I would think something like this would work: http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Wet-Nozzle-Squeegee-Accessory-VT2510/100046467#.UqSR2uIXm50

I have a major scumming problem in my shop right now, due to purposefully underexposing on my tube unit to prevent undercutting (i post expose, then do a second pressure wash).  I'd imagine a properly exposed screen could be squeegeed off on both sides pretty quickly without hurting the stencil.