Semi Automated Reclaim

[ZooCity]

Is anyone using a simple semi-automated system for reclaim?

What about dip tanking for both ink degrader and emulsion remover and just having an enclosed press washer unit to put the screens in after each step? 

Seems like that would keep the chem from atomizing, be affordable, simple and take up the least amount of space.  You would just line up like so:

ink degrader dip tank > press wash > emulsion strip tank > press wash unit>backlit booth for final check.

Or you could just use one press wash unit and go back and forth from the tanks, or add a third press wash unit and a dehaze tank.  This setup might shine with a 2 chem system as well. 

Lower tech, not fully enclosed or automated but something you can multi task with that keeps the water and chem out of the air and frees up your reclaimer from standing at the booth a little bit.

An idea I've been kicking around, we spend serious time each day standing holding a press washer and that feels silly.  You only really need eyes on the screen at the end before sending to degrease (or to coat if you don't degrease) in my opinion.

[Homer]

we do. I have 2 dip tanks. One filled with CCI IW107 mixed 50/50 with water, this tank has an air line with tiny holes in it connected to a ball valve. second tank is CCI gemzyme. With plastisol, the steps are : from press -> into tank 1 (sit approx 5 minutes) -> rinse with water / garden hose -> into tank 2 -> powerwasher -> degreaser -> rinse -> rack it up.

with waterbase, we rinse ink after printing then right into tank 2.


we haze zero tape removal because we don't use it. we do have to use a degreaser because the IW107 is a bit oily. this is by far, the best system I have used. with the IW107, we drop the screen in the tank, let it sit, pull it out to rinse and the ink stays on the screen until you hit it with water. then it rinses down the drain right into out settling tanks. that stuff is amazing. it smells a bit rough but it works very well.

[ZooCity]

Nice.  A big part of this idea is having the press washing done in an enclosed, semi auto tank, is that what yer doing?

[Gilligan]

with waterbase, we rinse ink after printing then right into tank 2.

Off topic, but what happens if you don't rinse the screens out and let them sit for say... About a week?

[Homer]

for the ink removal part, all we do is drop the inked screen into a CCI dip tank, no lid - crack the ball valve a little to general air bubbles, leave them for around 5min, pull out and rinse...we can do 5 at a time. no scrubbing, no spraying on chems, just hit with water and go.

Gilly, I don't really know, never had that before. my next investment is a 3rd tank to drop the wb screens in and walk away instead of rinsing.