Ink temperature

jonsel
on 18 Jul 13 (11:16)

What do other printers do to keep inks cooler when the temperatures go out of control? It’s currently about 85 in my studio (almost 100 outside…) and I have a couple jobs to run. The ink is exceedingly runny and I just know I’m asking for trouble. I thought about sticking the cans of ink in the refrigerator overnight. Would that cause trouble?

Widmark
on 18 Jul 13 (12:35)

my only option is to add magnesium carbonate.

AnonyMouse
on 18 Jul 13 (14:47)

Perhaps additional A/C?

From Wiki:

“In 1902, the first modern electrical air conditioning unit was invented by Willis Carrier in Buffalo, New York… Carrier began experimenting with air conditioning as a way to solve an application problem for the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Company in Brooklyn, New York, and the first “air conditioner”, designed and built in Buffalo by Carrier, began working on 17 July 1902.

Designed to improve manufacturing process control in a printing plant, Carrier’s invention controlled not only temperature but also humidity…. The low heat and humidity helped maintain consistent paper dimensions and ink alignment. “

Widmark
on 18 Jul 13 (14:55)

good article I saw reposted today about the birth of AC being due to problems with printing…in a building around the corner from my current printshop:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/before-anyone-complained-ab...

jonsel
on 19 Jul 13 (11:05)

I can’t add additional a/c units to my studio. I’ve got two going full blast and it’s only doing so much. That’s why I thought about cooling it down via refrigerator. I’m curious to know if it affects the quality of the ink – something silly like ice crystals forming or something – and if it was just a really bad idea.

AdLibPress
on 19 Jul 13 (11:21)

If you’re running the A/C for a while before doing any printing you could set the ink can in the output airflow from the A/C for an hour or so before using it — that should cool it down OK without overdoing it.

Bob