SmartWasher

[DonR]

A few questions for those of you using a SmartWasher.

1) Would you buy it again?
2) Which Ozzy Juice do you use?
3) Other than squeegee and flood bars what do you clean in it?
4) Which model do you have?
5) Do you leave it on or turn off on nights and weekends.

Thanks in advance for any response.

[Frog]

If you haven't already, you may also want to check out these threads that popped up in a simple search here. These things have been discussed a few times.
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?action=search2

[cclaud3]

1) yes, b/c it's the best thing available for the price. Have the shurloc squeegee cleaner and didn't care for it
2) SW-1
3) Hands, ink knives/spatulas. Mixing custom ink colors are nice because it knocks the ink off quickly. Wipe off then go to next pigment.
4) The larger, non-rolling version that Graphic Solutions sells
5) Have to leave on so internal heater stays on to keep microbes alive

Had it about 10 months and have bought 2 or 3 additional jugs of solution.
General evaporation and residue on cleaned parts reduces the tank supply. If solution reduces enough it eventually shuts off heater and solution doesn't work.

Negatives are the orange, oily residue that has to be wiped off. I've been unable to air-dry or fan-dry the solution off. Can use 1 rag to wipe off residue for weeks though.
Also, the metal drains in sink are a mess to deal with when clogged.

[Stinkhorn Press]

we use it. Been, what - three years? replaced the stupid auto garage solution safety-kleen bullshit (can lock up stuff, is hazardous, is expensive).

tank is cheaply made. supply line shutoffs especially. but easy to dismantle/replace if need be.

works. works BEST if you manually remove as MUCH ink as possible beforehand with cleanup cards or rags.
our is situated right next to a industrial washout sink with dish sprayer to rinse everything after cleaning - no residue (if no sink - let dry and wipe with rags before use not hard).
SW-1 is expensive! and it evaporates quickly! if you have a NAPA nearby - order from them - free shipping, usually same day delivery.
we leave it on. the bio doesn't DIE if you let it cool down, but it doesn't work either.

our biggest complaints:
crap disappears quick (evap or leaving on each item being washed, dunno)
not terribly cheap to run
after three years we STILL haven't found a good brush for the thing - the KIWO brushes don't do crap. The blue/red rectangles with white handles work GREAT but the bio eats them and they dissolve really really quick.
need oil filter wrench to get the damn 5 gallon containers open.

[Doug S]

We actually won ours at last years iss Long Beach.  I really like it over safety Kleen.  You do have to wipe squeegees and flood bars with a rag after cleaning.  If you decide to buy, like mentioned before, get your ozzy juice from napa or oreilly's.  Stinkhorn, when I got my unit, it came with a oil filter looking wrench that fits those lids perfectly.  It's much better then using a large pipe wrench.  Sorry for the iPhone typing.

[screenprintguy]

considering it, but would like to TRY it for a month or two first to see if it makes things cleaner, more efficient, better for our tool cleaning girl ect. But not sure if that's even an option. We have the shurlock squeegee cleaner, it does a great job, but we still have to make sure and really dig in between squeegee rubber and holder, bolts ect to make sure there is no chance of candy stripping inks later on, plus then there is the sludge to deal with from the shurlock thing. It's a great tool, but is this smart washer a better way?

[ericheartsu]

I might be selling ours, if anyone wants to PM me. I'll know in the next week!

[mk162]

rinse things off in the sink...works great. 

[DonR]

Thanks for the info! I will put in a sink next to it so I can rinse everything off. Which Ozzy Juice is everyone using?

[dirkdiggler]

we love ours, it works great.

[FleekT21]

What's the rough price for one of these?

[DonR]

$2,200

[Stinkhorn Press]

Thanks for the info! I will put in a sink next to it so I can rinse everything off. Which Ozzy Juice is everyone using?

i didn't look much, but was told to use sw-1 and haven't heard of anyone using any of the others (for screen-printing wash-up purposes)

[Doug S]

I'm using SW4

[IntegrityShirts]

1) Would you buy it again?
2) Which Ozzy Juice do you use?
3) Other than squeegee and flood bars what do you clean in it?
4) Which model do you have?
5) Do you leave it on or turn off on nights and weekends.

1 - Yes
2 - SW1
3 - car parts, carburetors, anything greasy
4 - SW-23
5 - I leave mine OFF whenever I'm not at the shop. It only get's turned ON when I'm there. If you leave it on all the time it eats fluid at a rate of close to 5 gallons a month. The fluid still cleans even when cold and works great once it has been on for about 30-45 minutes. Are my microbes dying? I don't know. If they were dying I would think it would stop cleaning well. My fluid is reddish in color and isn't dirty when running. I know I'm saving about $90 a month in fluid! Now I put in 5 gallons every 4-5 months. I'm not a full-time printer though, just a couple nights a week.