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screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: Logoman on October 07, 2014, 08:18:27 AM
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We currently use Crystal Clean (like a safety clean unit) to clean ink from screens before we reclaim them. It is costing me around $100 a month. What are some of you using for this? I am sure there is a better way.
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We currently use Crystal Clean (like a safety clean unit) to clean ink from screens before we reclaim them. It is costing me around $100 a month. What are some of you using for this? I am sure there is a better way.
We just got rid of our Crystal Clean unit and are now cleaning our screens in the washout booth w/ a filtration system. It's quick and easy, and being able to use the pressure washer is a plus as well.
I do miss the parts washer for squeegees/ink scoops/etc, and am planning on getting a Smartwasher (http://www.chemfree.com/) at some point in the future for that. Definitely easier to clean the smaller stuff in there, as well as big savings on chemicals.
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We use this to scrape excess ink out of the screen
(http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/1362627/17965498/0/1294276688/two_color_plastic_putty_knife.jpg)
Then we pour this with water into a dip tank and add the screen with ink on it
(http://roederindustries.com/images/full/EAS-Supra-5.png)
This guy does his thing..
(https://0.s3.envato.com/files/30830491/pressure-washing-front_hardhat_PRVW.jpg)
To get the image stain out we use this..
(http://www.rivercitygraphicsupply.com/public/uploads/files/products/EW701.jpg)
This guy again..
(https://0.s3.envato.com/files/30830491/pressure-washing-front_hardhat_PRVW.jpg)
When all done they look like this
(http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr211/alan802/ezscreens.jpg)
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If that last pic was a random google image search, that's funny. It's one of Alan's. :)
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He has had a personnel change as well since first posting. Things move fast at Jakprints!
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If that last pic was a random google image search, that's funny. It's one of Alan's. :)
hahha... gotta love image search for shur loc easyframe
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He has had a personnel change as well since first posting. Things move fast at Jakprints!
yeah we had to let the first guy go... he wasn't wearing his PPE and was kind of standing around with his hands in his pocket.
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Do you round the corners of that knife? Just curious
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Do you round the corners of that knife? Just curious
He doesn't care it some get ripped! They're Alan's screens,LOL!
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Do you round the corners of that knife? Just curious
nah.. I just put in the hands of some kid off the streets and hope for the best.
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LIES!
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We use this to scrape excess ink out of the screen
([url]http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/1362627/17965498/0/1294276688/two_color_plastic_putty_knife.jpg[/url])
Then we pour this with water into a dip tank and add the screen with ink on it
([url]http://roederindustries.com/images/full/EAS-Supra-5.png[/url])
This guy does his thing..
([url]https://0.s3.envato.com/files/30830491/pressure-washing-front_hardhat_PRVW.jpg[/url])
To get the image stain out we use this..
([url]http://www.rivercitygraphicsupply.com/public/uploads/files/products/EW701.jpg[/url])
This guy again..
([url]https://0.s3.envato.com/files/30830491/pressure-washing-front_hardhat_PRVW.jpg[/url])
When all done they look like this
([url]http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr211/alan802/ezscreens.jpg[/url])
Do you have city or septic?
I was wondering about the ink going down the drain.
We have a septic and would like to go that route but we worry about ink in the septic.
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Island, would it be practical to build a separate system for the ink/washout booth?
I had this issue come up when I was trying to buy a building and we were discussing ways to handle this situation. Lots of good info came out of that discussion including pictures and maybe even drawings.
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We have a septic and would like to go that route but we worry about ink in the septic.
septic.. if you're not hooked up to city sewer then the last thing you want in that hole is printing chemicals.
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Island, would it be practical to build a separate system for the ink/washout booth?
I had this issue come up when I was trying to buy a building and we were discussing ways to handle this situation. Lots of good info came out of that discussion including pictures and maybe even drawings.
That's what we use now. Separate recirc tank for ink cleaning and 2 tanks for stencil removal and degreasing.
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We have a septic and would like to go that route but we worry about ink in the septic.
septic.. if you're not hooked up to city sewer then the last thing you want in that hole is printing chemicals.
You have septic and doing it this way?
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We use the plastic drywall/putty knives, and do round the corners. I'd bet the metal ones work better
and are probably easier to clean but I don't know how we wouldn't rip screens with them around here.
Drop one and you're done son.
I'm largely interested in reducing chemical and water usage as well as exposure to the screen dude.
Greg's video the other day was eye opening in that regard, more akin to how I use to clean flatstock
screens rather than textile.
Do automatic screen reclaim machines actually work? It seems like that would be the area to invest in...
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We started seeing weird worm like lines in our mesh once coated. Under a loop you could see slight abrasions in the area.
After much discussion and pondering we came to the conclusion it was our plastic ink scoops (the good ones) that was causing this as the corners were scoring the mesh when we carded off ink.
We no only use rounded plastic spatulas and Business cards to card off ink
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Gilligan, thanks, I was wondering what was causing those worm like lines on the screens.
We use plastic spatulas, now I have the answer.
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even with the metal knife you should round the corners and break the edges of the blade.
We hit them with a disc sander to bust down the corners then hand sand them with 220 grit wet dry silicon sandpaper, the automotive (black) kind.
Also if you are using a scrub pad to spread around your reclaim check it for dried and hardened reclaim gook. That crap will cut a screen faster than a putty knife!!!!!
mooseman