Re-using water

[redwoodtees]

I am in the process of setting up a wash station with a filtration system (Blackline). As we are in the middle of a severe drought here in California, I am contemplating setting up a storage tank and re-using the filtered water. My thought is to use fresh water to degrease screens, run that through the filter into a storage tank, and then use the stored water to reclaim screens. I am planning to add a secondary filter on the output of the Blackline. The final filter on the Blackline unit is 20 micron, so I was thinking of adding a 5 micron filter after that. I am using waterbase inks (Virus) and FranMar chemicals.

Any thoughts on this approach?

Chris

[RGB]

     When I cook thinner, the liquid is separated from the solids in a still....The power gets spendy, but on a small scale like that (water non-the less) I would venture that a pressure pot would be a good friend to you.

[ebscreen]

I like your idea. We're up in Concord and are trying to save water any way possible. If you don't have one already,
I can't recommend a post-exposure dip tank enough.

[T Shirt Farmer]

X3 what Sean said dip tanks save a ton of water

[redwoodtees]

Post-exposure dip tank.. so, just a tank full of clean water?

[jvanick]

Yup.  Clean water, no chemical... replace the water every month to 6 weeks (it'll 'talk' to you when it's time to change)

BTW, Greg Kitson prefers to call it a dunk tank as dip tanks to most of us == chemical.

I've had one for a few years, it makes rinsing screens SO easy.

-J

[chubsetc]

Been using a natural sponge with warm water lightly over both sides of our screens just after exposure before we hit it with the power washer.   If you can't go with the dunk tank yet, this has helped speed up the washout process and we have yet to see any issues.  Not sure if I would do it any other way and takes minimal water usage.

[ZooCity]

I was really interested in this awhile back but never got a setup going.  Hydrokleen has some full recirc options.  I'm sure these are going to be looking like a more attractive ROI in the near future in some areas.
http://www.hydroblaster.com/HydrokleenFiltrationSystem.htm

I think your idea is great, even if your filters don't get everything from the degrease/clean washout booth it's not like a trace of degreaser is going to mess with your other chems at reclaim/dirty washout booth.  What I would watch out for is any surfactant left in the water accelerating the degrading of the seals, etc. on the pressure washer pump but I bet it would be minimal.  Speaking of, how would you get the water, post filter from degrease, pressurized to tap pressure?  Or can a press washer just suck water out of a tank?

And that resolving tank will save more than water; washouts are much faster and more thorough.  Dialed exposures are a bit more important when using the "dunk" tank.  We use a plain water tank and blast out with a pressure washer with a 40deg spray.  Would never do it another way...except maybe those agitator bath tanks that CCI makes, those look cool if you were doing 100s or screens a shift. 

[redwoodtees]

I plan to rely on gravity to supply the pressure washer. The outlet from the storage tank will be set higher than the inlet to the pressure washer. If that does not work, I can install a small booster pump between the two.

[jvanick]

You will likely need a booster pump... our gas pressure washer at home has issues at houses with low well water pressure.

[GKitson]

Yup.  Clean water, no chemical... replace the water every month to 6 weeks (it'll 'talk' to you when it's time to change)

BTW, Greg Kitson prefers to call it a dunk tank as dip tanks to most of us == chemical.

I've had one for a few years, it makes rinsing screens SO easy.

-J

Perhaps "Post Exposure PreSoak Tank" is a bit more descriptive.  Dunk Tank makes me think of a mid-west county fair fundraiser!  You know dunk the principal or 4-H leader by throwing a ball at a target.  3 balls for $5, watch 'em fall. Depending on the volunteer it could also be a wet t-shirt contest. 

~Kitson

[mk162]

we get a ton more time out of a dunk tank than that...add some dawn detergent to it, about 1-3 tablespoons depending on the size of the tank.

[jvanick]

Yup.  Clean water, no chemical... replace the water every month to 6 weeks (it'll 'talk' to you when it's time to change)

BTW, Greg Kitson prefers to call it a dunk tank as dip tanks to most of us == chemical.

I've had one for a few years, it makes rinsing screens SO easy.

-J

Perhaps "Post Exposure PreSoak Tank" is a bit more descriptive.  Dunk Tank makes me think of a mid-west county fair fundraiser!  You know dunk the principal or 4-H leader by throwing a ball at a target.  3 balls for $5, watch 'em fall. Depending on the volunteer it could also be a wet t-shirt contest. 

~Kitson

now I remember -- "Soak Tank" was what it was... vs dip or dunk...

[Sbrem]

I seem to recall a system called Hydroblaster; 1500 psi, no reclaiming chemicals at all, just water at a really high pressure, and the waste water was drained off, filtered and recycled right back into the pressure washer. It should work with the proper precautions and upkeep.

Steve

[bimmridder]

Greg, maybe you can set up a dunk tank at your next MEG GOG gig?