[Leadfoot]

I am in desperate need of a DIY dip tank but have no carpentry skills nor anyone that can do it for me locally. I have been trying to find anything that might be big enough but still cost effective. The only thing I can seem to find is a 63 gallon deck box which runs about $60-70:

Inside dimensions are very close height wise but a 20x24 screen would fit laying on the long side:
43 1/4" W x 15 1/2" D x 22 5/8" H

My main question would be if the plastic could hold up to the solvents (would also be using green chemicals so they might not be as harsh as others) and if the box is watertight. I would assume so being an outdoor storage box but you never know. Anyone have one or any insight?

 

[Decal_Designs]

I don't think that would be your best choice. In order to submerse the screen you would have to lay it flat unless you wanted to use a whole lot of chemical. But, the problem with laying it flat is that you will soon find that you are laying it into a bunch if crud from previous screens. This will cause more trouble than it's worth. Keep looking for something that will work with the screen standing up. I know it's not easy to find, and I myself gave up looking and just bought a dip tank.

 

[Leadfoot]

I know it would be a ton of solution to stand them up but as I said I need something that will work and economical on my small budget until I can purchase a proper one...any ideas for something else I am missing?

 

[Decal_Designs]

I haven't found anything when I looked that was "just right". If it was wide enough and deep enough it always tended to be too big in every other way. And you mentioned that you were not going to make one, so it gets tricky finding something.

 

[Leadfoot]

I would like to make one but without the proper tools and know how that could be a bit hard. I can follow directions and do easy to moderate things but without the proper stuff I just don't know what to do. If I can just get a piece of plywood cut at Home Depot in the dimensions needed then I can do it but how to make it watertight and resistant to the chemicals seems to be the trick I am not sure of from everything I have read.

 

[Celtic]

Yeah, you have to have the right kind of plastic, otherwise it'll breakdown/melt.

I can't think of the proper type of poly off the top of my head.

 

[Mortifier]

I don't know if you'd want to DIY something like that, you could have a real mess on your hands. There's people selling used dip tanks, I think we bought ours new with starter chemicals for about $250.

Best to buy one at your next trade show if you go to them.

 

[garagegirl]

Dip tank best money we ever spent, second to a conveyor dryer. Now we all get bitter if we have to reclaim a wooden screen. Good luck. Save your change. I think brand new with the stand, I got mine for about $750 delivered.

 

[Mortifier]

Did you see this:
Ryonet Eco Dunk Tank w/ Strip Solution

$319.99 with chemicals, $240.00 without.

Saw a DIY on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i0Ksb-HqOw

But I think it's better to buy one, time is money and instead of spending time building one that may or may not work, you could be printing and making money!

I wouldn't skimp on it as it is a timesaver in the long run.

 

[Leadfoot]

Appreciate the tips and advice everyone, that's why I posted it. My business is small but big enough to generate a good amount of screens sometimes. But I end up having to put a lot of the profit back into more printing supplies and such to build up my supply. I really only have about $100 to spend right now on a dip tank. I know they are a good investment but was hoping for a cheap alternative until I got my capital built back up to buy a proper one.

 

[Mortifier]

The chemicals aren't cheap, usually about $25-30 a gallon so most of your money will just get eaten in chemicals. I just wouldn't trust a DIY, our dip tank bows outward from the pressure/weight of the liquid inside and have a strap around it to keep it from bowing more, and if you don't have something made properly, it will burst and you'll have a big mess and be out all the money in chemicals. Honestly if you can't afford one right now I would just wait until you can.

 

[phatdaddy]

I made a developer tray out of this stuff:
Urethane Liquid Plastic Casting Resin from Smooth-On, Inc

I'm thinking about making a dip-tank out of it too... But it's not cheap. My tray cost me about a hundred bucks in plastic, but it's hard as a rock and just the size I was looking for.

I have since been looking at this :
Ryonet Eco Dunk Tank w/ Strip Solution
and I don't think I could make it for much less than that... My issue would also be with the bulge. I know that if I cast one it wouldn't bulge, but I don't know about that ryonet thing.

Fiberglass is another option...

 

[sben763]

I made a developer tray out of this stuff:
Urethane Liquid Plastic Casting Resin from Smooth-On, Inc

I'm thinking about making a dip-tank out of it too... But it's not cheap. My tray cost me about a hundred bucks in plastic, but it's hard as a rock and just the size I was looking for.

I have since been looking at this :
Ryonet Eco Dunk Tank w/ Strip Solution
and I don't think I could make it for much less than that... My issue would also be with the bulge. I know that if I cast one it wouldn't bulge, but I don't know about that ryonet thing.



Fiberglass is another option...

The Ryonet thing is actually a CCI tank. They don't bulge. I have had one for the for almost 2 years but just set it up a few months ago. Its easier but honestly no faster for me and I don't like how the emulsion blows in chunks. when I just sprayed the Stripedoo and light scrub then do 5 more, then do a light scrub again with a little water the emulsion would be all liquid. Makes me have to clean the washout booth and my filter much more often, once the chemicals expires I'm going to try the Franmar one step Id like something that starts to liquefy the emulsion even if I have to do a light scrub as it comes out dip tank but of course I don't want that stuff in the tank or the chemical will go bad faster

 

[phatdaddy]

I've used that franmar stuff before and I didn't like it... some twit from nd graphics sold it to me as a one step when its really a dip tank chem. It might work well in a tank but is a horrible brush-on, spray-out. Hard to clear the emusion.

For emulsion I use this powder stripper that my supplier gets. 2 tablespoons of powder per gallon of water. It's awesome. Brush it on and the emulsion immediatly starts to run. I use varsol then ecowash for the ink.

I've never used a dip tank, but it seems logical. The next dishwasher I see in an alley, I'm grabbing. I'd like to combine a dip tank with a d/w pump and pex pipe to create a dip/spray tank...

I'd love to be able to afford an auto system but it might be possible to get close DIY...

 

[PatWibble]

Why not try your local Bar supplies company. They will probably be able to sell you a polyethelene bottle skip. I just bought one in the Uk that is large enough to hold 6 23 x 31 inch screens. Cost £46.

 

[phatdaddy]

Why not try your local Bar supplies company. They will probably be able to sell you a polyethelene bottle skip. I just bought one in the Uk that is large enough to hold 6 23 x 31 inch screens. Cost £46.

I had no idea such a thing existed... Now I'm searching all over for something like that and it seems to be a UK thing...

 

[PatWibble]

Bottle Bins and Bar Trolleys

Here's a link. I know it won't be of much use to you, but at least you will see what I mean.
I've drilled a hole in mine and inserted a drain valve.

At that price you should import them... a couple of the screen printing suppliers locally are buying these and selling them as dip tanks for £199.

 

[phatdaddy]

Bottle Bins and Bar Trolleys

Here's a link. I know it won't be of much use to you, but at least you will see what I mean.
I've drilled a hole in mine and inserted a drain valve.

At that price you should import them... a couple of the screen printing suppliers locally are buying these and selling them as dip tanks for £199.

I'm a formally-trained sculptor...

I'm getting back into thinking casting would be cheaper... Maybe import 1 and cast it? Making the mold wouldn't be a big deal, but the liquid-plastic isn't cheap on a retail-level.

They don't look much different than that Ryonet bin. Likely where Ryonet got the idea...

Thanks bud, you advanced me ten-fold.

C

 

[springhillguy]

http://www.anthemprintingsf.com/EnviroLine-Screen-Dip-Tank-w-Spigot-p/dip-tank.htm]EnviroLine Screen Dip Tank w/ Spigot

Same exact dip tank with different name printed on it for near $100 less.
Look at their digital scale the 2000 for $104 shipped, Can get same scale for $40 shipped on Ebay, likely where they buy them then drop ship from Ebay seller to you while billing you $10 shipping. Ebay seller is offering free ship.

http://www.silkscreeningsupplies.com/product/AWS2000

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AWS-2000-Di...784?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2334e42ed0