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screen printing => Newbie => Topic started by: redwoodtees on June 11, 2015, 06:17:19 PM
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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
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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.
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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.
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X3 what Sean said dip tanks save a ton of water
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Post-exposure dip tank.. so, just a tank full of clean water?
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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
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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.
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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 (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.
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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.
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You will likely need a booster pump... our gas pressure washer at home has issues at houses with low well water pressure.
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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. ;D
~Kitson
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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.
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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. ;D
~Kitson
now I remember -- "Soak Tank" was what it was... vs dip or dunk... :)
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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
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Greg, maybe you can set up a dunk tank at your next MEG GOG gig?
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<snip> 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. ;D
~Kitson
((Speechless....))
Okay, nearly speechless.
We MUST have been twins in previous life.
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I'd pay to see a to see a screen printing guru get dunked.
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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.
Same here. We fill ours using water from the dehumidifier tanks in the screen room as it gets low.
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I wonder if it's a difference due to the ink jet inks that we use in the I-Image... the water definitely gets stinky after 6 weeks or so...
gonna try the dawn trick tho... anything to make it last longer, as it's kinda a pita to empty it out.
Somebody else told me bleach, but after talking to Greg and Richard, I learned that's not a good idea due to bleach and emulsion remover being somewhat close chemically.
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I was talking to the guy who manages our residential water system about my plan to store/reuse water. He suggested that I get an aerator for the storage tank. He said that adding oxygen to the water would prolong the amount of time I could store the water without it turning "nasty". Something to do with the oxygen helping to break down hydrogen sulfide in the water. Anyway, I have no direct experience, but perhaps this technique would help prolong the life of the water in the presoak tank. If/when I get a presoak tank I will give it a try.
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i think the inkjet ink does funk up the water faster, but dawn really helps cut that. Also, get a cheap clean water pump from Harbor Freight. Empties in about 10 minutes or so(our tank is pretty big).
never thought about an aerator, makes sense though.
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I wonder if it's a difference due to the ink jet inks that we use in the I-Image... the water definitely gets stinky after 6 weeks or so...
gonna try the dawn trick tho... anything to make it last longer, as it's kinda a pita to empty it out.
Somebody else told me bleach, but after talking to Greg and Richard, I learned that's not a good idea due to bleach and emulsion remover being somewhat close chemically.
I've put bleach in mine before when it got funky, actually started getting mildew around the edges and I've seen no issues. I probably put a few cups worth in...just splashed it around really.
I figured a few cups to 30 gallons or so isn't really much.
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My tank isn't very big, just enough for one 23x31 screen (actually it just BARELY fits a 25x36 also), but I put maybe 3 cap fulls of bleach in and only switch the water once every two months or so. It definitely will suddenly start to smell when it's time to change it. I've seen no issues with the bleach and my emulsion.
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Well, I am learning. I probably should have waited until I had more experience before trying to reinvent the wheel.
My idea of diverting "clean" water from de-grease into a storage tank and then re-using it is not practical. There a significant amount of water in the system between the drain of the sink and the diverter valve. So you can't flip the valve and start de-greasing -- the water you are diverting into the storage tank will be the water from what you were doing previously (probably reclaiming or dehazing). Without having separate sinks, there is no practical way I can think of to avoid accumulating a tank of nasty-looking water full of chemicals from all phases of reclaim. I have such a tank, and it does not look like water I want to run back through my new expensive pressure washer.
So.. I am now thinking I will change my approach, and try using the filtered water to water the garden. Not quite as efficient as re-using the water, but it will still help me keep my overall water consumption lower. I asked FranMar about this -- they said there was nothing biologically toxic in their chemicals, but they were concerned that the soy content might "suffocate" the plants. Does anyone using FranMar chemicals have firsthand experience with using filtered waste water to water plants?
Chris
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I would probably limit my recycled water use to plants I am not planning on eating, but that's just me.
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i would send anything from the shop down the drain. i don't know if anything would make it down to groundwater, but I wouldn't chance it.
I have often thought about putting rain barrels out back and collecting rain water for reclaim or ink removal. I doubt I would use it for degreasing, but it might work...or just use that to water your plants. ;)
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I'm on a septic system, so it will end up in the groundwater one way or another.
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at least through the septic it would breakdown a bit. all the bacteria and microbes in there.
but yeah, still going to make it there eventually.
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I am about to start using a "post exposure soak tank"
I think I"ll use the same air pump I have in my fish tank to add oxygen. The fish tank water lasts forever without smelling.
I might also put a small fish tank filter in it, it won't filter to the bottom of the tank but will filter anything that floats to the top.
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I am about to start using a "post exposure soak tank"
I think I"ll use the same air pump I have in my fish tank to add oxygen. The fish tank water lasts forever without smelling.
I might also put a small fish tank filter in it, it won't filter to the bottom of the tank but will filter anything that floats to the top.
I've been reading about this as I'm adding a dunk tank to our shop as well. Does the air pump really makes a difference? I've seen people swear by it and others say it won't make a difference. I hate spending money on useless crap
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an aerator is $5 at walmart. and you can use it for minnows from the bait shop ;)