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screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: balloonguy on November 06, 2023, 10:32:30 AM

Title: Ink mixer
Post by: balloonguy on November 06, 2023, 10:32:30 AM
I have been mixing my ink with an electric drill and a paddle. As I am getting older (48) I find this more of a PITA. I have watched a few youtube videos of ink mixers. Do any of you that use them think it was worth the cost? Is cleaning the mixing blades a fair trade off?
Thanks-
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: 3Deep on November 06, 2023, 10:59:23 AM
I've wondered the same thing, like you I use a drill but I use a long allen wrench very easy to clean and I only mix gallons, qts with a short allen wrench.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: balloonguy on November 06, 2023, 11:09:14 AM
I tried an allen wrench. I have torn through the side of too many buckets though.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: tonypep on November 06, 2023, 11:21:52 AM
Cheapest new (qts,gals) is probably the Revolvink from Ryonet sale price $999. recently. Or a used drill press setup also works (variable speed multi directional). Google around for different blades some suck to clean.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: farmboygraphics on November 06, 2023, 12:38:17 PM
I use these from Lowes in my gallons. I don't clean them, whatever color they go in that's where they live. (also used to scoop ink)
For quarts I have a piece of flat stock aluminum that I've had for years.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: screenxpress on November 06, 2023, 09:04:32 PM
I use a stiff piece of uncoated welding rod and bend the bottom into an inverted triangle and stick the top shaft in a drill.  Spin off the excess in the bucket and easy to wipe clean.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: balloonguy on November 07, 2023, 08:43:32 AM
I love the bend welding pipe. That looks perfect.
Do you guys think I could use something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Pneumatic-Machine-scenstar-Machine-Coating-Shipping/dp/B07GB51HH9/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=V1HKD09AFHYG&keywords=ink+mixer+5+gallon&qid=1699300759&sprefix=ink+mixer+5+gallon%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Pneumatic-Machine-scenstar-Machine-Coating-Shipping/dp/B07GB51HH9/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=V1HKD09AFHYG&keywords=ink+mixer+5+gallon&qid=1699300759&sprefix=ink+mixer+5+gallon%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1)
I would love to be able to run this at low speed and be able to walk away for 10 minutes.
Thanks again for all the insight.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: bimmridder on November 07, 2023, 09:25:03 AM
How is the container held in place?
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: 3Deep on November 07, 2023, 09:44:50 AM
I love the bend welding pipe. That looks perfect.
Do you guys think I could use something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Pneumatic-Machine-scenstar-Machine-Coating-Shipping/dp/B07GB51HH9/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=V1HKD09AFHYG&keywords=ink+mixer+5+gallon&qid=1699300759&sprefix=ink+mixer+5+gallon%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Pneumatic-Machine-scenstar-Machine-Coating-Shipping/dp/B07GB51HH9/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=V1HKD09AFHYG&keywords=ink+mixer+5+gallon&qid=1699300759&sprefix=ink+mixer+5+gallon%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1)
I would love to be able to run this at low speed and be able to walk away for 10 minutes.
Thanks again for all the insight.

Two questions about that mixer 1 is it strong enough to mix thick plastisol inks, (paint is already thin) 2 what's holding the bucket down, unless your going to stand there and hold it.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: farmboygraphics on November 07, 2023, 12:46:20 PM
The paint mixer gets the ink moving pretty good in the bucket. I hold it between my feet, only mix for about 5 mins. Works well for me.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: balloonguy on November 07, 2023, 03:03:06 PM
I am using my feet to hold the bucket too. I am getting to old to stand there and hold a drill for 5 minutes. I want something I can walk away from.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: Sbrem on November 07, 2023, 04:50:37 PM
Oddly enough, after reading this thread, i had some spam from AWT advertising their Tornado ink mixer...

Steve
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: OhNoPrinting on November 07, 2023, 07:08:19 PM
because i mix only small amounts of ink, this is perfect and pretty easy to wipe clean:

(http://oh-no-printing.de/siemens.png)
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: screenxpress on November 07, 2023, 08:02:45 PM
Oddly enough, after reading this thread, i had some spam from AWT advertising their Tornado ink mixer...

Steve

Scary no?  I see it all the time after Google searches, etc. 

Let me give u this interesting one.  Last week I was phone texting with someone and asked how their 401K was doing.  The reply back to me was not specific but said they were "a number"(K) below their highest balance.  My phone then offered a few one-click options that I could use for quick reply.
The very first one was.....Bummer.  So how the hell did the "network" interpret that the response was negative to offer that reply suggestion?  THEY ARE LISTENING EVERYWHERE FOLKS!  WATCH WHAT YOU SAY... AND TYPE! 
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: Rockers on November 07, 2023, 11:41:46 PM
You can get a pottery wheel of Amazon, add your own stand for the mixing blades plus a variable fan speed controller if you want to go below the 200 rpm the pottery wheel does. Cost no more then US 300 max.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: whitewater on November 08, 2023, 10:21:16 AM
I don't worry about things like this... I pay my staff mix it by hand.  LOL

f.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: T Shirt1 on December 04, 2023, 12:12:26 PM
We've got an M&R Turnabout, i believe. 20+ years old and I really like it. Not unusual to put a gallon on the mixer to get it moving before loading the screen.
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: Rob Coleman on December 06, 2023, 01:39:42 PM
M&R turnabouts are great. Not cheap but last a long time. As a distributor selling by customer colors, we have a fleet of them for mixing after dispensing formulas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: tonypep on December 06, 2023, 01:48:12 PM
there are at least 2 other mfgrs that have smaller versions for quarts and gallons which I would buy if I hadn't already made one
Title: Re: Ink mixer
Post by: bimmridder on December 06, 2023, 01:54:14 PM
Anatol has a small one. I don't know if it's any good. I haven't used it. Looks kind of nice though