Screen Printing - August/September 2013 - (Page 20)

slam-Dunk solutIons for Make the most of your screen-reclaiming efforts by following the tips presented here. Gregory markus rhinotech I t’s time to swear off the carwash, the backyard hose, and the bathtub. Now is the time to transform your screenprinting shop into one that incorporates a streamlined screen-cleaning, reclaiming, and reuse operation. In doing so, you will convert a time-consuming and undesirable task into one that is a much more satisfying job. And, you will be able to institute a system that will let you effectively reuse frames. By embracing the latest screen-cleaning systems and techniques—ones that offer a simplified way to quickly and efficiently remove ink, emulsion/stencil, and haze/ghost images—you will be able to produce screen frames that look like new and are ready for reuse. The tangible benefits of this approach show up on the positive side of the balance sheet. They are revealed in the impact on our environment, including the elimination of harmful chemicals released into septic and drainage systems. Benefits become evident in concerted efforts to conserve water resources when you institute a filtration system in conjunction with a no-splash-back washout booth. With that said, the following offers a step-by-step approach to the most effective and economical solutions for screen-frame cleaning, reclaiming, and reuse. How to choose necessary equipment It makes sense to purchase a group of systems. This way, the guesswork is taken out of piecing together what you think you need and which systems/chemicals will be compatible for the entire screen-cleaning, reclaiming, reuse operation. Washout booths constructed of polypropylene or stainless steel are the norm with a polypro booth generally being 20 screenprinting the standard. This is because of their durability and ability to withstand chemicals, drains that are easy to clean, aluminum bases for stability, and, most importantly, space for a recirculation and/or filtration system. Some smaller booths are UPS-shippable. A filtration system is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. Choosing one that fits underneath a washout booth enables every screen printer the opportunity to easily and responsibly meet city/county/state regulations for proper disposal of waste particles. Choose a system that is properly designed to offer this function. The end result will be that all residue will be left behind and the remaining water will test as drain safe. A recirculation system is another environmentally sensitive piece of equipment that helps to eliminate harm to our environment and cuts down on product cost. This is due to the system’s ability to filter out the ink pigments coming off of the screen during cleaning and then filtering the pigment out of the screen wash. As a result, the printer reaps the benefit of using the screen wash many times over. Choose a recirculation system that is constructed of polypro or stainless steel and will hold 15-20 gal of eco-friendly screen wash. Ideally, it will include an air pump system that will circulate the chemical through a rolled filter media, circulate it through a baffled cleaning chamber, circulate through a canister filter with final recirculation back through an applicator brush with a trigger action. A drum-pumping station can be a great add-on, depending upon the quantity of screens you are cleaning/reclaiming and the hours you spend per day in this function.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Screen Printing - August/September 2013

Screen Printing - August/September 2013
Contents
Editorial Insights
New Products
The Social-Media Revolution
Color Management for Screen Printing
Slam-Dunk Solutions for Screen Cleaning
Tools and Techniques for the Inkroom
Distributor/dealer Directory
Classifieds
Ad Index
Shop Talk

Screen Printing - August/September 2013