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Anyone want to weigh in on whether you think someone could remove ink CARTRIDGES and put them on a paint shaker set to shake every now and then over weekends and holidays? (Paint shaker plus external Radio Shack automation is what I would use).
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Matt,
My vision of your concept is a paint shaker they have at Home Depot / Lowe's for mixing ink. If this is what you were thinking, then I would recommend against it. You never want to aggressively shake the ink in cartridges or liters. You would be much better off rolling the ink (i.e. think of a hot dog cooker / roller - without the heat turned on!). I believe this is the recommendation from Dupont for their distributors when they purchase the ink in 20 Liter pails. Now rolling cartridges would be a little harder than a bottle of ink. But you should get the concept.
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Mark,
Sounds like the ink itself doesn't like to be shaked vigorously. Is that the problem? (I found a unit that I like but since it does not have an agitator I'm looking for some way to keep it from getting ruined).
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Correct. From what I have been told, too much shaking can lead to the ink separating and could also cause bubbles in the cartridges. The best concept that I have heard was the hot dog roller. Just need to find a case that you can put some cartridges in and then let them roll for 15 minutes or so.
Maybe others can come up with some creative alternatives as well.
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Mark,
To be clear, I (now) think you're talking about a "rotisserie" style motion. (I can't picture a way to use the roller style method with cartridges). Is that what you meant?
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Consider a rotating rock tumbler. You can find ones that is large enough to fit a bottle of ink inside. It tumbles and rotates slowly, perfect for agitating ink
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
A rotating tumbler is veryy slow, it doesn't really 'tumble' it. You just might have to be a bit more cautious with catridges but it should work, if maybe you add some padding.
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
I've been trying to find a cheap lab stirrer for just this purpose. They have electromagnetic ones that you drop metal stirrers into the solution and the stirrer keeps them revolving. I just haven't found one that I consider economical enough yet... I also looked into lab shakers but most of the cheaper ones only have 1-30 minute timers, I was hoping for something that I could just plug in and every couple of hours it would shake for a minute or so.
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfalk
I've been trying to find a cheap lab stirrer for just this purpose. They have electromagnetic ones that you drop metal stirrers into the solution and the stirrer keeps them revolving. I just haven't found one that I consider economical enough yet... I also looked into lab shakers but most of the cheaper ones only have 1-30 minute timers, I was hoping for something that I could just plug in and every couple of hours it would shake for a minute or so.
Ted,
As far as lab stirrers go, the white ink will demagnetize the metal stirrer. And as for lab shakers, the movement will probably be too violent for the ink, which should be lightly agitated, not shaken.
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Hi Matt, Zhenjie and all
We have had one of these running for about six months
Simple way to build this
Two pieces of aluminium tube place about 2 inches apart and mounted with bearings to a piece of angle.
You now have two rollers
Small motor with rubber wheel on shaft so it pushes against one of the tubes. Or use timing belt et,rubber band etc
Run on lower voltage or get speed controller
get a length of 4,5 or 6 inch plastic plumbing pipe
Put cartridge inside put pipe on rollers and turn on
can also use this for 1 litre bottles of white if you have bulk fill cartridges
Shouldn't have to do it for colour inks unleess they have been around for 4 months
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Markc,
Maybe you should sell something like this, even if just to test the idea. Never know. Maybe Someone led you into this biz to succeed in a way that's different from what you expected...
Matt
Re: Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend?
Hi Matt
Actually we intend to be selling one with our systems early next year, we currently use this for when we take litre bottles off the shelf, run them for a day before opening.
Do the same for cartridges now.
We are adding a few control systems and make it look a bit prettier, and try to keep the price down.
This is a discussion about Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend? that was posted in the Direct to Garment (DTG) Inkjet Printing section of the forums.
Use Paint Shaker to Shake Ink Over the Weekend? 
