[BLTNJ]

I am just kicking off my screen printing business and can't afford a 1000$ filtration unit to connect to my homemade washout booth. At the moment I have a giant plastic tub that has been catching the washout after it goes through a few coffee filters. I'm keeping the tub going so when I do make a filtration system i can run that water through it again. I have well water/septic tank if that helps at all. I've seen some of the units you can buy are no more than a screen/mesh and then a pump to pump the clean water down the drain. I'm wondering if there are any successfull DIY type systems that really do a good job? The last thing I want to do is pollute. I have only printed water based inks thus far but will be using plastisols in the very near future. Thanks in advance!

 

[tpitman]

Are you on a septic tank? If you're on a sewer, just scrape as much ink out of the screen as you can, wipe it down with an old shirt, then reclaim.
The only other thing I do is put some pieces of blue washable AC/Furnace filter material in my drain holes to catch the drips of emulsion from the corners of the screens that don't dissolve.

 

[BLTNJ]

Thanks for the reply Tom, and yes I have a septic tank. Right now we're leaning towards a "2 barrel" type system. Water goes through a set of filters then into a barrel... once that barrel fills 2/3 up there will be a pipe that leads into another barrel which will have a pump that will trigger and pump the water down the drain. I've seen smaller systems that are like this, letting the heavy material sink to the bottom of the first barrel and the cleaner water overflows into the second barrel. I was just curious if there was a simpler way. Also, I like that idea of just dry wiping the screen clean as much as possible before cleaning... really saves on material going down the drain. But yes it's septic... I appreciate the reply and any more info/tips on this is greatly appreciated thanks again!

 

[scrnprntr101]

Hi Rob,

I am actually in the same boat, I am not looking forward to spending over $1000 to filtrate. However I did run across a filter system that cost roughly about $550 for me and looks legit. It says its for the start up shop which is perfect for me. I am seriously thinking about picking one up this weekend. Check it out, Ill paste the link here www.pozitiveflow.weebly.com
Hope this helps.

 

[PatWibble]

Put a tank below your washout booth, with a small sump pump/waterbutt pump. Run the pump thru 2 canister filters, first one 20micron, second one 5micron, and then down the drain.
To catch the larger lumps, zip tie some old screen mesh around the drain of the washout booth.

Cost about £150 in the UK, so $200+ in US.

 

[sben763]

I have posted my filter system several times with diagrams. It will cost you over $200 but less the the $550. I checked out that filter system and its not much different then what Pat suggest. I use the bigger filters so the housings are $120 and $100 for the sump pump. The rest of the components will be around $100 if you get a nice container. It will far surpass any of the filters commercially sold.

 

[PatWibble]

It will far surpass any of the filters commercially sold.

I totally agree. You can add as much filtration as you need.

My canisters are screwed to the wall at waist height, they are easier to access for cleaning. Saves getting on your hands and knees underneath the wash out booth.

I catch the filtered water in another tank and use it a second time. The only time I use completely fresh water is for washing out the image, and for degreasing the screen.

 

[Richstar167]

Wow...We tend to forget about the time it takes to design and construct a nice efficient system for the ones that are not mechanically inclined. It would be so much easier to just buy a nice little system that is not only a lot more affordable for someone just starting and would like peace of mind. Funny how the haters come out and try to kill a deal because they cant see others make a dollar. All i have seen are posts about how whats on the market is a little to rich for some folks so now there is a product that can take care of their need for a fraction of the cost. Oh thats right dont need much brains to stick brillo in a drain hole and use screen mesh in a bucket to do the job. Not trying to start nothing but Really????? Give a person a chance. Maybe some dont want to deal with the hassles because they are busy making money screen printing.

 

[sben763]

Richie if there was a Quality product I am all for it but these things sold contain the small filters and a small pump. You being a vendor of the product you shouldn't be commenting to promote your product. Give someone value that truly works. If you go look up my design you will see it clearly is far superior then anything sold and the filters will last a long time vs all other designs. I change mine only 1-2 times a year. When I tried the same thing without my prefilter and the small filters I would be lucky if it lasted 1 month.

not much mechanical ability is needed and takes less the 2 hrs to assemble for anyone. I put these together in 30 min but I have worked in mechanicals for 27 years

 

[PatWibble]

Wow...We tend to forget about the time it takes to design and construct a nice efficient system for the ones that are not mechanically inclined. It would be so much easier to just buy a nice little system that is not only a lot more affordable for someone just starting and would like peace of mind. Funny how the haters come out and try to kill a deal because they cant see others make a dollar. All i have seen are posts about how whats on the market is a little to rich for some folks so now there is a product that can take care of their need for a fraction of the cost. Oh thats right dont need much brains to stick brillo in a drain hole and use screen mesh in a bucket to do the job. Not trying to start nothing but Really????? Give a person a chance. Maybe some dont want to deal with the hassles because they are busy making money screen printing.

Not much time to design - screw two filter canisters to the wall and attach a pump via a hosepipe.

Two £40 pumps, two £30 high capacity filter canisters and £10 of hose. I have a system that handles more waste, more efficiently than a $1000 system. When imported to the UK that is £1000 ($1600).

I am happy to spend money where it counts - I have (probably) the best engineered press on the market, quality conveyor, and all of the necessary equipment to keep 'busy making money screen printing'.
But I won't waste money on something that doesn't do the job any better than the one I made myself.

There is very little design and construction involved in the low capacity filtration systems that are the subject of this thread.
Just a plastic tub with some easily available parts bolted on, and a brand name screen printed on the side.

 

[jeron]

Sean, I just looked up your system... my question is why do you have the coarser mesh and gravel below the sand? Anything that gets past the sand would just go past the coarser things.. so I'm curious what purpose they serve?

That is an awesome setup by the way!!!!

Thanks,
Jeron

 

[proto]

I have posted my filter system several times with diagrams.

I found this thread: http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing/t293434.html which has your diagrams. Which are awesome!

I have the same question as Jeron -- why do the aggregates get coarser deeper in the filter? Seems counterintuitive.

Chris

 

[PatWibble]

Here is a basic schematic of my system. I already used the barrel and sump, but I guess that would add about £40 - £50 to the total cost.

The barrel and second pump are only there because I recycle the water. If not then I would pump direct to the drain ( In that case I would put the limestone chippings into the sump). Without the second pump the cost would be reduced by about £40.

Simple,high volume system, that requires little construction, and is cheap to make. The filters are screwed to the wall, and are easy to change.

 

[sben763]

Sean, I just looked up your system... my question is why do you have the coarser mesh and gravel below the sand? Anything that gets past the sand would just go past the coarser things.. so I'm curious what purpose they serve?

That is an awesome setup by the way!!!!

Thanks,
Jeron

There is a error in that drawing. I will post the updated drawing when I get back to shop later tonight. The correct drawing has been posted but in a thread that didn't relate to filtration.

 

[jeron]

Ok thanks guys, I need to build one of these units

Thanks,
Jeron

 

[teesfreeze]

I want to set up a filtration process for my own operation. Although some great info on this thread, sump pumps and filters are not my strongest subject.

Hoping someone can chip in with some answers to a few questions (trying to recreate Pat's system - but without the added barrel).

With regards to the sump, what capacity should it be? And how much limestone chips to add?

Also, would the following sump pump be suitable?

Hozelock Submersible Flood Pump 8000LPH | Swallow Aquatics

With regards to filters, would the following be ok?

10" Water Filter Housing 3/4" Ports Blue Bowl Fits all 10" Standard Water Filters: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Thanks for any pointers, or any other suggestions with regards to pumps, filters and connections that could be used.

Cheers.

 

[PatWibble]

Hozelock do a 'waterbutt' pump. About £50 from B and Q etc. One of mine is about eight years old, and has been continually submerged for all that time.

The filters you show are fine, but go for the 20" ones, not the 10". The 20" are basically the same, but hold a longer filter. Best to use two in a row. Start with a 20 micron filter, to take out the big 'lumps' and then a 10, 5 or even 1 micron.

The sump can be any large storage container - as large as you can fit under your washout. I started with a 120 litre one, but know I have a 3 foot galvinised water trough from my local farm supply store. Bigger the better, as the pump will not fully empty the sump.

The limestone chips are not essential. If you are going to use them then best to use them at the end, when the water is cleanest. I have a 220 litre/ 50 gallon plastic barrel - about £20 on ebay - about 40% full.

 

[teesfreeze]

Cheers Pat, very helpful as always - it's appreciated.

Is this the Hozelock water-butt pump you mean:

Hozelock Water butt Pump - 1.1 bar

I would have thought the sump pump would have been better as it can handle larger particles. Isn't the water-butt pump prone to getting clogged with emulsion, etc?

 

[PatWibble]

Cheers Pat, very helpful as always - it's appreciated.

Is this the Hozelock water-butt pump you mean:

Hozelock Water butt Pump - 1.1 bar

I would have thought the sump pump would have been better as it can handle larger particles. Isn't the water-butt pump prone to getting clogged with emulsion, etc?

I have never had a problem. There is a coarse filter in the bottom of the pump.

Also, I cable tie a small 'bag' of old screen mesh around the drain outlet of the washout booth to catch any larger pieces of emulsion, before it reaches the sump.

 

[pigvomit]

I have posted my filter system several times with diagrams. It will cost you over $200 but less the the $550. I checked out that filter system and its not much different then what Pat suggest. I use the bigger filters so the housings are $120 and $100 for the sump pump. The rest of the components will be around $100 if you get a nice container. It will far surpass any of the filters commercially sold.

where can i see a diagram of your filtration system? i looking for solutions