Author Topic: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength  (Read 2859 times)

Offline Rockers

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Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« on: October 02, 2015, 07:56:58 PM »
Would that be possible by removing all the sludge from the bottom of the dip tank? Really don`t want to throw away the stencil remover solution already after 6 month.


Offline mimosatexas

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2015, 08:25:52 PM »
yes.  Syphon it out into buckets topped with screen mesh.  Once you have the liquid out, take out the sludge and toss the mesh filters, then put the liquid back in.  You may need to give it a little new solution to bring the power back up.  I know multiple people have commented on doing this on the boards before.

Offline TCT

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2015, 10:19:57 PM »
Just use a hoe.

Not for the siphoning.... ;D
Alex

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Onewithpez

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2015, 12:20:31 PM »
Nice


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Offline IntegrityShirts

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2015, 02:04:26 PM »
Just use a hoe.

Not for the siphoning.... ;D

Great idea

Offline GKitson

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2015, 02:12:01 PM »
Just use a hoe.

Not for the siphoning.... ;D

When it comes to hoes, ya gotta think Alex is an expert...... ::)
Greg Kitson
Mind's Eye Graphics Inc.
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Offline ABuffington

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2015, 05:45:07 PM »
I have heard it is possible over several of these attempts to make your reclaiming solution so strong it won't work anymore.  Billy from Easiway has pointed out that if you keep adding reclaiming powder to reactivate the solution you can wind up with too acidic a solution that won't reclaim well at all.  It will form a crystal on the bottom of the tank faster, and the solution can be so acidic that it hardens the screen instead of reclaiming it.  Can anyone confirm this?  We were at dinner in Panama City after many Balboas when I heard this so I need confirmation of this happening to make sure I got it right!
Alan Buffington
Murakami Screen USA  - Technical Support and Sales
www.murakamiscreen.com

Offline screenprintguy

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2015, 06:41:38 PM »
we keep several of the 5 gal chem containers aside and every month I have my screen guy drain the tank down using the valve at the bottom, we have an easyway tank. I think it takes about 8 or so of the containers. He puts a peice of plastic sheeting outside, takes the tank out there, puts it upside down and usually a 6 inch tall or so hunk falls out, rinse the container, leave the hunk in the sun for a couple days and it dries into hard rubber. Dump all the original solution back in the tank, top it off with a gallon of fresh juice and good to go. We are on almost 2 years of the original juice doing this method and out of all the dip tank juice I've used, the only one that will do this is CP-2 by KorChem. We get it through Screen Process of Alabama, they relabel it as SPA ink/emulsion remover. Rockers you are in a different country, there must be a distributor by you that can get it to you. I've tried just about every other dip tank solution and this one is the best that we've tried. It lasts and lasts. Granted, we don't remove our ink in the dip tank, we do that before hand. Using the tank to also loosen your ink is going to kill that juice fast man. See if you can get some of this stuff, it's awesome. I think we pay about 130 per 5, something like that. Takes 10 gals and the rest water to get started in the 37 gal tank.
Evolutionary Screen Printing & Embroidery
3521 Waterfield Parkway Lakeland, Fl. 33803 www.evolutionaryscreenprinting.com

Offline IntegrityShirts

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2015, 09:49:15 AM »
we keep several of the 5 gal chem containers aside and every month I have my screen guy drain the tank down using the valve at the bottom, we have an easyway tank. I think it takes about 8 or so of the containers. He puts a peice of plastic sheeting outside, takes the tank out there, puts it upside down and usually a 6 inch tall or so hunk falls out, rinse the container, leave the hunk in the sun for a couple days and it dries into hard rubber. Dump all the original solution back in the tank, top it off with a gallon of fresh juice and good to go. We are on almost 2 years of the original juice doing this method and out of all the dip tank juice I've used, the only one that will do this is CP-2 by KorChem. We get it through Screen Process of Alabama, they relabel it as SPA ink/emulsion remover. Rockers you are in a different country, there must be a distributor by you that can get it to you. I've tried just about every other dip tank solution and this one is the best that we've tried. It lasts and lasts. Granted, we don't remove our ink in the dip tank, we do that before hand. Using the tank to also loosen your ink is going to kill that juice fast man. See if you can get some of this stuff, it's awesome. I think we pay about 130 per 5, something like that. Takes 10 gals and the rest water to get started in the 37 gal tank.

I love cp2 and have tried two or three other brands before it. I think your ratio might be off though. I know I buy a 5 gallon jug for my 37gal tank and leave about an inch or so of liquid in the cp2 jug after diluting the tank.

Offline screenprintguy

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2015, 11:12:11 AM »
we keep several of the 5 gal chem containers aside and every month I have my screen guy drain the tank down using the valve at the bottom, we have an easyway tank. I think it takes about 8 or so of the containers. He puts a peice of plastic sheeting outside, takes the tank out there, puts it upside down and usually a 6 inch tall or so hunk falls out, rinse the container, leave the hunk in the sun for a couple days and it dries into hard rubber. Dump all the original solution back in the tank, top it off with a gallon of fresh juice and good to go. We are on almost 2 years of the original juice doing this method and out of all the dip tank juice I've used, the only one that will do this is CP-2 by KorChem. We get it through Screen Process of Alabama, they relabel it as SPA ink/emulsion remover. Rockers you are in a different country, there must be a distributor by you that can get it to you. I've tried just about every other dip tank solution and this one is the best that we've tried. It lasts and lasts. Granted, we don't remove our ink in the dip tank, we do that before hand. Using the tank to also loosen your ink is going to kill that juice fast man. See if you can get some of this stuff, it's awesome. I think we pay about 130 per 5, something like that. Takes 10 gals and the rest water to get started in the 37 gal tank.

I love cp2 and have tried two or three other brands before it. I think your ratio might be off though. I know I buy a 5 gallon jug for my 37gal tank and leave about an inch or so of liquid in the cp2 jug after diluting the tank.

So you think maybe we are running it too strong? That's what our rep told us to do, maybe he was trying to sell us extra juice at the beginning, lol. Either way, from the orignal fill, it's just a little boost here and there. I can dig up invoices, but I know off hand we usually reorder a 5 of cp2 every few months so it's over that amount of time and screens that we add a little here and there. Great stuff!
Evolutionary Screen Printing & Embroidery
3521 Waterfield Parkway Lakeland, Fl. 33803 www.evolutionaryscreenprinting.com

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2015, 11:22:04 AM »
So you think maybe we are running it too strong? That's what our rep told us to do, maybe he was trying to sell us extra juice at the beginning, lol. Either way, from the orignal fill, it's just a little boost here and there. I can dig up invoices, but I know off hand we usually reorder a 5 of cp2 every few months so it's over that amount of time and screens that we add a little here and there. Great stuff!

It's really hard to find the recommended mixing ratio, but I found an image of it. I guess when I refilled it last time I figure it was super strong when brand new in fresh water, so I ran it a little weak, but 6:1 is the ratio KorChem says. It softens screens in under 3 min but doesn't sludge emulsion off into the bottom of the tank. That's the balance I was trying to get without going too strong. I topped it off with the rest of the jug last week when I noticed it was a little weak, added more water and back in business. You're probably running a bit strong, but I probably only do 20-30 screens a week on mine.

Offline jvanick

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2015, 11:27:09 AM »
I have heard it is possible over several of these attempts to make your reclaiming solution so strong it won't work anymore.  Billy from Easiway has pointed out that if you keep adding reclaiming powder to reactivate the solution you can wind up with too acidic a solution that won't reclaim well at all.  It will form a crystal on the bottom of the tank faster, and the solution can be so acidic that it hardens the screen instead of reclaiming it.  Can anyone confirm this?  We were at dinner in Panama City after many Balboas when I heard this so I need confirmation of this happening to make sure I got it right!

Richard Greaves may be able to weigh in on this... we had a midnight discussion with Keith Perkins about this where Greg Kitson's tank got too hot during the slow winter months and did this...  After they dumped the tank and started over all the problems went away.

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2015, 11:45:38 AM »
Oops I had my Korchem's mixed up. I switched to KorChem COMPLETE and it's supposed to be 9:1 ratio, so THAT'S why a 5 gallon jug filled my 37gal tank with some to spare. Complete works flawlessly, but I think I had CP-2 before and it's what switched me to Korchem.

Offline GKitson

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Re: Restoring dip tank solution back to it`s full strength
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2015, 01:25:27 PM »
I have heard it is possible over several of these attempts to make your reclaiming solution so strong it won't work anymore.  Billy from Easiway has pointed out that if you keep adding reclaiming powder to reactivate the solution you can wind up with too acidic a solution that won't reclaim well at all.  It will form a crystal on the bottom of the tank faster, and the solution can be so acidic that it hardens the screen instead of reclaiming it.  Can anyone confirm this?  We were at dinner in Panama City after many Balboas when I heard this so I need confirmation of this happening to make sure I got it right!

Richard Greaves may be able to weigh in on this... we had a midnight discussion with Keith Perkins about this where Greg Kitson's tank got too hot during the slow winter months and did this...  After they dumped the tank and started over all the problems went away.

Guilty as charged, if you don't monitor the tank it can get really out of whack and turn into a very effective emulsion hardening tool.
Greg Kitson
Mind's Eye Graphics Inc.
260-724-2050