Cleaning screens?

[Logoman]

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.

[sqslabs]

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 at some point in the future for that.  Definitely easier to clean the smaller stuff in there, as well as big savings on chemicals.
 

[jsheridan]

We use this to scrape excess ink out of the screen



Then we pour this with water into a dip tank and add the screen with ink on it



This guy does his thing..



To get the image stain out we use this..



This guy again..



When all done they look like this

[Gilligan]

If that last pic was a random google image search, that's funny.  It's one of Alan's.

[Frog]

He has had a personnel change as well since first posting. Things move fast at Jakprints!

[jsheridan]

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

[jsheridan]

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.

[mimosatexas]

Do you round the corners of that knife?  Just curious

[Frog]

Do you round the corners of that knife?  Just curious

 He doesn't care it some get ripped! They're Alan's screens,LOL!

[jsheridan]

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.

[mimosatexas]

LIES!

[islandtees]

We use this to scrape excess ink out of the screen



Then we pour this with water into a dip tank and add the screen with ink on it



This guy does his thing..



To get the image stain out we use this..



This guy again..



When all done they look like this

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.

[Gilligan]

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.

[jsheridan]

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.

[islandtees]

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.