Mixing containers for discharge

[ebscreen]

So we've been using the same Delitainers that we use for plastisol to mix discharge.
They're nice, but I'm wondering if there is something better. We can usually only
get 2-3 uses out of them before they get scratched up and dingy.

I know that metals and discharge are a no no, but I'm wondering if some nice stainless
mixing containers would be attacked in the lifetime of a discharge ink, 4-6 hours or so.
I'd really like to just have a set of ten or so that are easily cleaned and reusable forever.

[DanK]

I don't know about metal, but how about some sort of glass container?

[ebscreen]

I was wondering that as well. Nice Pyrex mixing containers. I personally don't get
along very well with glass though. I've run through it, had sheets of it dropped on my head,
got it in my eyeball, etc.

Supposedly 316 stainless is hard to beat for corrosion resistance. I'd hate to find out though.

[DanK]

Yeah, I would be pretty nervous about trying it in metal.  I hear you about the glass, however, Pyrex is probably the way to go, that stuff is pretty tough.  Mason jars come to mind too, but they're a bit more fragile than Pyrex and whatnot...

[ZooCity]

Black vapor locks perhaps?  Also, us plastic makes a super cheap but sturdy set of clear jars. They aren't vapor tight but seal up pretty good.

[squeegee]

We've been using these, I like them because the screw lids seal well.  We use them for WB mixes and discharge.

http://www.uline.com/BL_8176/White-Round-Wide-Mouth-Jars

[Frog]

Supposedly 316 stainless is hard to beat for corrosion resistance. I'd hate to find out though.

My experience is that the today's Stainless steel itself is fine, it's the damn inclusions in the cheap stuff that corrode and even disappear when the right stuff comes in contact.
I have ended up with pinholes in thermos bottles and measuring cups.

[ebscreen]

What you putting in your Thermos Andy?

One hell of a cup of coffee.



I think I'll get a couple and dump some ink in them and let them sit overnight then print
some rags just to be sure. I've seen some gnarly stuff in stainless.

[ZooCity]

What you putting in your Thermos Andy?

I was wondering the same thing.  Thought my morning brew was tough but it ain't burning holes through the thermos. 

These are the containers I just got in, cheaper than the similar ones I got before and very nice for the price.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=66719&catid=604

We only have a couple of quarts of textile wb in the house right now but a pretty big spread of TW flatstock inks and I like the black vapor locks for those best.

[Frog]

The thermos was just regular foods and beverages over time, rusting through the contaminated speck.
The measuring cup was an almost instant fail with a diluted peroxide mixture, once again, just the tiny impurity went bye bye, (only visible when held to a light)
The good thing about the measuring cup was the damage was made instantly apparent by the subsequent leak. The thermos merely lost efficiency and started to stink as the former vacuum chamber was breached and took on various liquids.

The bottom line, is that some crappy stainless can contain impurities that don't share its resistance to corrosion.

[ebscreen]

Those do look nice.


Main issue is that discharge has a shelf life so the same container can be used over and
over. All plastics (we've tried them all) eventually scuff up and get grody. Right now after being
used for discharge our containers are downgraded to lowly plastisol use.


In the beer industry I learned all about the various stainless grades. Stainless China isn't a city.

[ZooCity]

Keep digging around that plastics catalog, they have labware and some of that has got to be formaldehyde resistant and vapor tight but likely a little pricey. 

Problem with glass is that it would be absolutely horrifying every time you dropped that jar.  I drop ink jars all the time when slippery after wiping them down.  But you could just wrap in duct tape I suppose. 

[brandon]

This is a great subject and something I must look into for our shop. Every other month I head to the transfer station (aka Dump) to properly dispose of discharge waste and the plastic containers. Seattle lets up to 200 pounds a month for free so that is great for us. However, I feel like a dolt bringing in all these plastic containers. We have a 5 gallon bucket for the leftover discharge ink we scoop out of mixing cups, but those cups add up quick. Can't throw them in the garbage, and after a couple of uses they just don't hold up. So yeah, we need to switch to stainless steel or something. I am gonna' head to the restaurant  supply store this weekend and see what I can find. Should be awesome. Don't know why I didn't think of this before since that is where we get a lot of our supplies like the squeeze bottles.

[ebscreen]

It's not the chemical resistance so much, but the abrasiveness of mixing tools and ink knives, etc that makes
the containers start to get grody. Discharge agent is a bit like sand at first as well.

Let me know how it goes Brandon and I'll do the same. I'm thinking old fashioned milkshake machine type containers.

[Frog]

It's not the chemical resistance so much, but the abrasiveness of mixing tools and ink knives, etc that makes
the containers start to get grody. Discharge agent is a bit like sand at first as well.

Let me know how it goes Brandon and I'll do the same. I'm thinking old fashioned milkshake machine type containers.

Sounds like you have your new mixing method figured too! And a possible side business.
Remember to be a real traditional fountain shake or malt, a glass smaller than the mixing container must be used. A real psychological gimmick.