FAQ's...

and answers for: DriVault silk screen drying cabinets

The DriVault range of silk screen drying cabinets are very easy to use, but like most straightforward products, sometimes it is necessary to provide some background information that will help to clarify initial concerns. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and we hope that these will help you to decide if the DriVault screen drying system is right for your business. If you have any remaining questions about drying screens, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Click on a question below to reveal the answer:

• What is a screen drying cabinet?

  The range of DriVault screen frame drying cabinets is used by screen printers to dry screens after preparation and coating with emulsion. It is essentially a clean, safe environment to quickly dry screens out in.

• Why do I need a screen drying cabinet?

  Once a screen has been prepared and coated with emulsion, not only is the screen sensitive to light, but it must be completely dried before it can be exposed. The process of drying must be thorough and should not be rushed otherwise, when the screen is washed out after exposure, there is a high chance of the emulsion coming away from the screen. When this happens, the screen must be reclaimed and the process started again.

  The screen is also very vulnerable to contaminants while it is wet, so in a DriVault screen drying cabinet, the air is filtered to ensure that no dust or other particles settle on the wet screens during drying. Such particles are likely to cause blemishes in the screen that would have to be fixed later. This adds time and cost to the production process.

• How long does it take to dry a screen?

  If the screen is dried using a DriVault screen drying cabinet, the drying time is around 20 minutes. When a drying cabinet is not used, not only do you have to place the screen in a dark room, it may well have to be left overnight to dry completely depending on how warm and dry the environment is. Time is money and the efficient and cost effective production of screens is critical to any screen printing operation.

• What temperature does the DriVault operate at?

  The maximum temperature on the DriVault is 40° Celsius and higher temperatures are not recommended as this can affect the light sensitive emulsion on the screens. Each DriVault has a powerful fan that circulates a high volume of filtered air inside the drying cabinet and it is this combined with the low temperature that ensures an effective and short drying cycle time.

• Are there special power requirements and is it expensive to run?

  The DriVault range can be run from a standard, single phase 13 amp supply as found in most homes and businesses. Depending on the model of screen dryer chosen and assuming electricity cost of around £0.10/kWh, it would cost around £0.05 to dry a batch of screens in the smaller screen drying cabinet and around £0.10 per batch of screens in the larger units. Exact cost will obviously depend on the local cost of energy and we would be happy to help you calculate this.

• What happens to the air that is exhausted from the cabinet?

  This can be ducted to the outside using the exhaust outlet that is fitted to the drying cabinet.

• Can I leave dry, coated screens inside the cabinet?

  If you don't need to dry another batch of screens, you can store the dry, coated screens which are sensitive to light inside the DriVault screen drying cabinet once the drying process is complete. Simply switch off the heating system and fan and no light can enter the unit unless the door is opened.

• Why do you show a UV exposure unit for making screens alongside the DriVault range?

  To maximise efficiency and productivity, we recommend that you consider the ExposIt vacuum bed UV exposure unit for burning your screens. The exposure unit can be be securely fitted with special brackets on top of the drying cabinet. This means that once a screen has been coated with emulsion and dried, it is quick and easy to get it inside the UV unit and expose the design onto the screen. Also, having the two machines together means saving valuable space in your screen preparation area.

• Is a DriVault screen drying cabinet easy to use?

  Absolutely. Simply place the screens inside the cabinet, close the door, select the temperature and switch on the fan.

• Can I install a DriVault screen drying cabinet at my home based business?

  Yes, provided you have a doorway that is no less than 75cm in width.

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  Screen print onto t-shirts and other garments, mark industrial products or a print a variety of promotional items. Our extensive range of silk screen printing equipment offers some of the best systems available on the market with comprehensive warranties and support. Ideal whether you are just starting out or upgrading existing machinery. Our aim is simple – to make you successful!

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