Home Built Screen Printing Wash Out Booth And Drain Filter
After you finish your printing run you have two choices. You can store the screen and reuse it when you need to do some reprints. Or you can reclaim your screens. I choose to reclaim my screens due to my limited storage space and the extra money involved in more screens. Basicly reclaiming screens involves applying a emulsion remover to the screen. (I use Franmar Products) Scrub the screen and rinse. Sometimes the emulsion can be a little tough to get off and you need some extra horse power. Thats where the pressure washer comes in, it gets the emulsion out of all the tiny holes in the screen mesh.
I started out in a small laundry sink and a garden hose with a sprayer. It didn't take too long to realize I needed a larger place to work and allot more power. So I decided to build a large wash out booth complete with a pressure washer.. talking about going from a Pinto to a Mercedes. It's a sweet thing.
After pricing out commercial wash out units that were in the $1000+ price range. I decided to build my own. I wanted to be able to control lights, pressure washer and shop vac or air compressor from the front of the unit. I decided on a $74 cheapy shower stall from Menards (Econo Shower Item # 6713825). This unit was perfect for the butcher job to follow. In a nut shell I built a 2x4 frame, measured the shower stall about 30 times before cutting. Installed lights, switches and plugs. The unit is mounted on wheels for easy moving.
The unit has a pressure washer mounted on the shelf below. I will be getting a compressor or small shop vac to dry screens and blow out or vacuum scum before it drys. This will plug into a switched receptical installed in the back of the unit. As for the filter system. I used a cat litter bucket and 1/2" PVC pipe to create frames. Installed frame stops in the bucket and dropped frames in. I also installed a 1st stage course frame on the top of the bucket. This should filter out all the crap before it gets to the drain.
Hopefully this will give someone some ideas. It seems to work well for my needs. The complete unit came in at about $200-$225 less the pressure washer. The pressure washer is a Karcher Model 2.45, 1400psi picked up from Lowes for $98.
*Click on image For Larger View*
2 x 4 frame ready for shower enclosure. This unit is self contained with wheels so it can be moved easily.
Shower pan installed in frame.
Shower enclosure cut and installed.
Lotsa wires for switched lights and plugs.
Lights installed to back light screen.
This shower enclosure is so thin, it was not necessary to cut out an opening and install plexi-glass.
$2.00 clear shower curtain installed on top of shower frame to keep water in. Note bead of sealant.
Another view of frame top.
Unit installed and ready for action.
Bucket with PVC frame installed to hold filter screens.
Frames made out of 1/2" PVC with screen screwed to frame. I have three screens installed in bucket and one outside bucket. The crud would need to get through four stages to get to the drain. The pink frame screen is from a screen I used for an another filter I had assembled. As you can see, reclaimed emulsion is nasty stuff. You do not want this stuff to get to the drain, It will plug in no time.
Three frames installed minus top outer frame.
All Frames in place.
2" shower drain worked well for this Sam's Club cat litter bucket.
