[ItsNnicholas]

I'm thinking of building my whole screen printing press (except for flash dryer). I found plans online I was thinking of using an old fridge as a drying cabinet. Is this a good idea? Maybe I can find one big enough to fit a screen. No humidity. No light. Premade "racks." I would probably have remove the light bulb (duh!) So... is it that easy? hahah!

 

[Fauxfax]

I would probably think not. The moisture in the emulsion has to go somewhere. Easier with a simple metal or wooden box especially made for your screens. Put ribs along the insides for your screens to sit on. If you want to step it up then then blow filtered air through it - but make sure no light gets in. If don't have much money then have a look at what is for sale and then work out how you can build something like it. Mine is home built and has a photographic negative drying unit attached to it to blow warm air through. I'm not sure a fridge is such a good idea though - there's a lot of stuff in and around a fridge that you don't need. It doesn't need to have walls three inches thick.

 

[Celtic]

I would probably think not. The moisture in the emulsion has to go somewhere. Easier with a simple metal or wooden box especially made for your screens. Put ribs along the insides for your screens to sit on. If you want to step it up then then blow filtered air through it - but make sure no light gets in. If don't have much money then have a look at what is for sale and then work out how you can build something like it. Mine is home built and has a photographic negative drying unit attached to it to blow warm air through. I'm not sure a fridge is such a good idea though - there's a lot of stuff in and around a fridge that you don't need. It doesn't need to have walls three inches thick.

I agree completely.

 

[ItsNnicholas]

Dang I thought I could get out of this one... oh well

 

[GHEENEE1]

If ventilated properly, seems like it would work. I heard some original racks are coated with cadmium. ( a heavy metal ) I used one for a smoker and was warned about this. Mike

 

[PositiveDave]

If ventilated properly, seems like it would work. I heard some original racks are coated with cadmium. ( a heavy metal ) I used one for a smoker and was warned about this. Mike

Why would you coat them with cadmium! If nothing else it would be expensive.
I agree that ventilation is the problem, I had a customer complaining that film stuck to his screens, he had a heated drying room, but NO exhaust. Or a sauna as we call it.

 

[GHEENEE1]

Dave, the cadmium coating comes from manufacters on some refridgerators. Mike

 

[PositiveDave]

Mike, that's who, not why.

 

[PositiveDave]

Apparently it was once used as an anti-corrosion coting on steel, but given it's toxicity I doubt whether anyone would use it in fridges!