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screen printing => Screen Making => Topic started by: bimmridder on June 04, 2013, 11:29:00 AM

Title: Post wash out drying?
Post by: bimmridder on June 04, 2013, 11:29:00 AM
We process a fair amount of screens in a day. 120-150 a shift. My bottleneck is getting them dry so we can tape them up. After developing, we squeegee excess water off and set in front of a bank of fans. I'm curious what others do to get through the process quickly.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: jesterapparel on June 04, 2013, 11:41:56 AM
We process a fair amount of screens in a day. 120-150 a shift. My bottleneck is getting them dry so we can tape them up. After developing, we squeegee excess water off and set in front of a bank of fans. I'm curious what others do to get through the process quickly.

I don't think you can do much more than what your doing.
I've seen videos where people use a shop vac to get excess water and to help dry quicker.  Never have done it myself.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Zelko-4-EVA on June 04, 2013, 11:42:42 AM
we use a shop vac with one of the attachments that are made to suck water off the screen...  then a bank of fans...

if needed right away - we use an air gun regulated to 30 PSI.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: GKitson on June 04, 2013, 11:47:44 AM
We process a fair amount of screens in a day. 120-150 a shift. My bottleneck is getting them dry so we can tape them up. After developing, we squeegee excess water off and set in front of a bank of fans. I'm curious what others do to get through the process quickly.

Not that I am cheap but this whole set up cost about $100.   By the time the racks are full the first ones are dry and ready to use, about 15 minutes.

~Kitson
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Printficient on June 04, 2013, 11:50:54 AM
I would look at emulsion, coating technique and a sealed room with a massive de-humidifier.  I am not a big fan of fans as they introduce dust.  Brent would advise to put a bathroom ceiling fan in a corner to pull the dust and moisture out.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: ericheartsu on June 04, 2013, 11:52:50 AM
we washout, blow out with an air gun, then we put outside in the sun, dry in about 10-15 mins.

Greg your racks look pretty good. We have a simliar wooden one, with fans on each side. maybe it's time to rebuild with fans on top
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: bimmridder on June 04, 2013, 12:22:24 PM
Sonny, I'm talking about after I've developed them, not after coating.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Printficient on June 04, 2013, 12:36:36 PM
Sonny, I'm talking about after I've developed them, not after coating.
Dave I am talking whenever they are wet. :P :P  Maybe a developed screen drying room.  Wouldn't need to bee much bigger than a small walk in closet.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: mk162 on June 04, 2013, 12:40:21 PM
i don't have a problem with shop lint of dust on them post expose, but if I set them outside they get the really grainy dust on them that I don't want in my ink.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: tonypep on June 04, 2013, 12:41:05 PM
Dave pm me
tp
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Admiral on June 04, 2013, 12:44:20 PM
Compressed air after washout to get rid of water in the image / easily blows off 50-75% of the water on the screen right after washout.

Then it goes on a wooden rack with 2 fans on top like Greg's setup. 8 total spots for screens, screens are usually dry before 4 more are on that rack to dry. Then they are taped up right next to it, then checked for pinholes next to that and finally put on screen ready racks next to that.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: ebscreen on June 04, 2013, 12:46:34 PM
Greg's rack makes sense, gravity, duh. Start at the top though so you aren't dripping on the dry ones...

One time in this California sunshine and we're good to go, post exposed to boot.

Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Mark @ Hurricane Printing on June 09, 2013, 01:37:56 PM
I hit it with air compressor in the image area mostly...I do blow off the whole screen but mainly the image area...then I set it up against my fence and let the sun beat down on it or I will throw it in my drying cabinet with the heater on if I am not drying any screens with emulsion on them.

I plan on one day building a post exposure screen drying cabinet...just like my emulsion drying cabinet but instead of a heater I will put a small fan in it.
Title: Re: Post wash out drying?
Post by: Evo on June 09, 2013, 01:54:06 PM
Old school:
Newspaper. Spread a sheet of newspaper across the emulsion surface and it will blot/wick most of the water away. (DON'T WIPE) Repeat on the other side. Take the now damp paper and give the frame and corners a good swipe then set the screen in the sun or in front of a fan.

New school:
Shop vac then into a bone dry dehumidified room with filtered air.