New Press Coating

[mk162]

So we are getting the new press installed soon and I've been racking my brain on how to put down a coating on the press to help keep it clean.  The press we have now is flat out nasty.  I tried cleaning it, but the gunk was baked into the paint(that was left), and trying to take it off only stripped the paint worse. 

I was thinking of using something like Nu Finish car polish, I wouldn't use it on my car, but a press is industrial and I care less about the paint on that.  I was thinking it might make a decent barrier between gunk and spray glue(fleece only) that might help it wipe off easier.

We do work for a car detailing supply company and I'm checking with the owner to see if he has any ideas.

I would use WD-40, I just don't like the greasy film and to me if it's stays greasy then anything oil based might just combine with the WD40 and gel, making a bigger mess.

[whitewater]

I think if you can hire a crossfitter to wipe it down once a week you would be all set.... 

[Homer]

I think if you can hire a crossfitter to wipe it down once a week you would be all set.... 

naw, their inflated ego won't let them fit in the door.


what about a wrap. We have some really aggressive vinyl we use for car wraps that would stick to anything. Wrap the arms where the spray comes in contact, once a year, rip it off and do it again....

[Nation03]

Silicone spray isn't quite as oily as WD40. I'd go with that and then wipe it down once a week or month and reapply a coat as needed.

[kingscreen]

I've seen a number of people use pallet wrap to cover the base and the arms.  I assume it gets changed periodically.
We do weekly WD-40 wipe downs and don't mind the residue.

[mk162]

My car wash guy emailed me back saying they have some sort of ceramic coating that might be perfect.

I'm going to check out what he's got, worst case I have a gallon of WD laying around, I can always use that.

[domineight]

Regardless you still have to find time to get in there and hit it with a rag anyway.
I'd be inclined to stick to a religious schedule of 20-30mins for a couple people at the end of the week, alternate the schedule

Week One - Palette arms and print carriage
Week Two - Print carriage arms and print carriage
Week Three - Lower extremities of the whole lot and mop around under the machine

rinse/repeat.

In saying that I set these tasks for myself and don't manage to follow them, even though I know if I did I wouldn't be standing around for 5 hours every few months making it all clean again.
When I do manage to keep on top of it though I'm pretty pleased with the system.
I've used a regular furniture polish to good effect, again, you just have to stay on top of it though so I'm not entirely convinced it's any more effective than just getting in there once a week and doing what's required to the regular painted/powdercoated surface it came in with.

It's an odd conundrum for my OCD, and a real battle.. I cant do the wrapping the machine in something to cover the surface, that's even worse to me because it looks like crap, and eventually it looks like dirty crap.

[Maxie]

After 2 years our press looks like new.
1 don’t use spray on glue for your pallets, the glue gets on everythiing and makes it impossible to clean.
2 Keep your carousel clean.     We use WD 40, it makes it much easier to keep the machine clean.

[mooseman]

look into Cosmoline, Google it,  it is the substance that is sprayed on your new brake drums at the parts store, raw steel to keep it from rusting etc.
You might even try looking into PVA Poly Vinyl Alcohol, water based water cleanup used in the fiber glass molding process.
Murphy's oil soap
RainX the junk you put on your car windshield
Pam cooking oil
I will quit there
mooseman

[mk162]

I think this press will be easier to keep clean since it's clean to begin with.  The old RPM needs to be stripped and repainted.  It was that bad.

Thanks for the tips, I think we'll try and do a weekly wipe down...I am trying to avoid a situation where 3 months go by before we know it and the press looks like crap.  Alternating what gets cleaned each week makes perfect sense.

[ixpoz]

Kind of on topic...I acquired a used press several months ago and the gentleman I purchased it from must have owned stock in in a spray adhesive company.  Does anyone have any trick to removing lots of spray adhesive from all over a press?

[Biverson]

Silicone spray isn't quite as oily as WD40. I'd go with that and then wipe it down once a week or month and reapply a coat as needed.

I also use the Silicone WD40 and find it works well. We also use WB adhesive so that eliminates alot of the overspray. We also tape the top of the arms with pallet tape. Works well but when you pull it off there is some tape residue. Still haven't found a perfect solution for web spray. I'm in WI so lots of hoodies and it's the only thing I've found that is fast and effective versus recoating with the WB everytime.


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[mk162]

That's how our press was.  Its terrible.  We ended up taking off some of the paint too. 

I'd start with WD40, let it soak in for a bit.

[Biverson]

Kind of on topic...I acquired a used press several months ago and the gentleman I purchased it from must have owned stock in in a spray adhesive company.  Does anyone have any trick to removing lots of spray adhesive from all over a press?

I have a manual that was pretty hairy when I got it. I found Simple Green or WD40 and steel wool worked really well. Just make sure the steel wool doesn't strip your paint. It grabs onto the fibers well versus a normal rag.


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[SEPSINK]

I second Simple Green! Soak the press down and let it sit for hours.