What's in your dip tank

[alan802]

I am using Supra in my tank but feel it doesn't do a great job breaking down ink, I always clean the ink first then dip to reclaim the stencil, am I doing something wrong?

Nope, it just doesn't have the ink degradent properties that you'd think.  I've used probably 6 different dip tank chems that were for ink and emulsion breakdown and none of them have done much to the plastisol ink.  It's better to hit the ink with something like Easiway 701, scrub it for a few seconds and spray away with water, then put in the dip tank.

[chubsetc]

I am using Supra in my tank but feel it doesn't do a great job breaking down ink, I always clean the ink first then dip to reclaim the stencil, am I doing something wrong?

Nope, it just doesn't have the ink degradent properties that you'd think.  I've used probably 6 different dip tank chems that were for ink and emulsion breakdown and none of them have done much to the plastisol ink.  It's better to hit the ink with something like Easiway 701, scrub it for a few seconds and spray away with water, then put in the dip tank.

Well it's good to know I'm not an idiot, well at least in this case!  Thanks

[ebscreen]

Nope, it just doesn't have the ink degradent properties that you'd think.  I've used probably 6 different dip tank chems that were for ink and emulsion breakdown and none of them have done much to the plastisol ink.  It's better to hit the ink with something like Easiway 701, scrub it for a few seconds and spray away with water, then put in the dip tank.

Which is exactly the reason we ditched the all-in-wonders and go for just an emulsion remover. CCI GemZyne is $40 for my 37 gallon tank and lasts
a seemingly long time.

[screenprintguy]

we use SPA ink/emulsionremover, same original fill from 2 and a half years ago. Once a month we drain the tank down to containers, clean out the solids, put the fluid back in, and top it off, it never loses it's strength. Stuff is awesome, and cheap from Screen Process of Alabama.

[snuggles]

I have been using the easiway dip tank products for years...first the easistrip then the SUPRA (more concentrated)  these products last forever!!! And I love the fact they are green.  I tried all the others and they die in the tank before I even get to the 3 month point. 

[screenprintguy]

That's what we love about the SPA products, they never lose potency, we used to use Easyway, but the SPA was more cost effective and is also "green", both suppliers are great

[alan802]

Damn Mike, that is impressive that the chem can last like that.  I've had my guy keep numbers on how many screens he's reclaimed with the latest tank refill and we are at 700 screens.  That's not bad but if I can find a chemical that all I have to do is recharge every once in a while then that's obviously better than what we are doing now.  Thanks for the info.

[Rockers]

We've tried some CCI and I hated it. We've been using the Fran Marr one step clear for like 3 to 4 years. It's awesome we get about 600 screens

At least I can say for sure that CCI Microwash 2 won`t be in our dip tank for much longer. It just stopped having any effect on the emulsion, after maybe 150 screens and 2 1/2 month in the tank it`s a pretty bad performance.

[screenprintguy]

@--Alan----- I know what you mean man. We were told when we first got set up with it that we would push it if we went past 10 months, but here we are on the same original stuff. I think the major thing is that we drain the tank, remove the gunk, wash the tank, and then re-pour the solution and top it off. Another thing we do, is we don't let the screens sit in the tank long enough to make everything come off in the tank. The strength of the SPA ink/emulsion remover is strong enough that after 3-5 minutes of soak, the emulsion layers are still on the screen, but are liquified when the pressure washer hits them. My guy Scott has a rhythm, working with 3 screens at a time. If he hits a stubborn screen, say one that got hit with hardener and tape glue all over it, he will hit it with the pressure washer to get as much off quickly and set it aside to keep the flow going with the others. We are about to do another gunk flush and top off this weekend. I just ordered another 5 gall of SPA ink/emulsion remover, it's $144.00 for the 5 gal, great stuff!!

[RICK STEFANICK]

we use easi-strip..works great

[Gilligan]

... If he hits a stubborn screen, say one that got hit with hardener and tape glue all over it, he will hit it with the pressure washer to get as much off quickly and set it aside to keep the flow going with the others...

Explain this further, where does he put it, I'm missing something because I'd be concerned about emulsion locking in with reclaimer sitting on it and drying up.

[screenprintguy]

If a screen is stubborn, do what you can with the pressure washer but once you've rinsed all of the reclaimer off of it and emulsion is still locked on, it's not really going to make much of a difference. Better to set that one aside rather than spending 30 mins on 1 screen and potentially locking up a few others that are dripping. We have a rail that we attached to a wall that can hold up to 5 frames. It's angled so we pull screens out of the tank, set them on the rail, the top side of the frame is leaning on the wall, the rail angles down into the tank so that the chemical runs down the rail back into the tank, helps lesson the mess and conserve chemical. Like I said he works with 3 so by the time he's shot the emulsion off of 1, 2 is dripped down enough to move to the booth. When he get's to the 3'd screen on the rail, he dips 3 more screens in the tank. It's a pretty smooth system. Once in a blue moon we will hit a stubborn screen that maybe tape glue came off on, say if you used blue tape to block out with, that stuff will leave residue after a couple days on the screen, the glue keeps the reclaimer from getting to the emulsion so it needs more attention. Rinse that bad boy off and move on to keep the flow moving forward. People have their systems, this has really worked out efficient for us, not only on the output, but on the cost as well.

Happy Friday!!

Mike

[Gilligan]

I gotcha.

Hey, I'm not knocking anyone... I'm observing and taking notes on all of this so when I get my tank I can start working as efficiently as you guys!

[screenprintguy]

I hear ya Gil. I was originally told, oh, you'll have to do a total change over of chems every 6-12 months. Do the math, on a big tank, that's alot of money. We don't dilute the chems, so it's 40 gals of straight chem in there, kind of expensive to change over. So we decided, let's test it out, see how it goes, and when it loses it's potency, empty and start fresh. Haven't had to do that yet, just clean the gunk out ever couple months, and then top it off. If it starts to take 10 mins to break down emulsion on a screen, then we will know it's time to start from fresh, but so far, 2 and a half years down the road, and the process we have been using is working issue free. I think the key is good solution, and keep the tank from building up too much gunk at the bottom with a fresh top off, that's what's working for us. 

[RICK STEFANICK]

I have been using the easiway dip tank products for years...first the easistrip then the SUPRA (more concentrated)  these products last forever!!! And I love the fact they are green.  I tried all the others and they die in the tank before I even get to the 3 month point.

that is exactly what we have been using but im going out on a limb and ordered some franmar one step clear for this round in the tank. we'll see i guess