Printer in hot garage?

[pokerdawg]

I'm looking at an old but operational HP 9000s. I've already read up about the need to maintain it and the concern about fumes. I think I can manage those things.

I want to use it in my garage but my garage is not climate controlled. It gets hot in there in the summer. I'm not even sure how well a portable a/c will cool down the 2 car garage.

If the garage peaks at 100 degrees daily should I reconsider getting the printer?

 

[JgS]

How hard would it me to insulate the garage and put in a window unit? I'm more worried about you working in those temperatures than the printer. I wouldn't store the media in the garage but I would think the printer should be fine. How is the humidity where you live?

 

[Christian @ Visual Graphx]

We had our L25500 in a garage during the hot 115+ degree arizona summer... it chugged along but it got unbearable to work in so we got a mini-split for under $1000 and now it stays a nice 78 during the summer.

 

[d fleming]

Most ink carts if not specific will at least say not to store lower than freezing or in high temps, 100 degrees is high temps. If it's not good for the cart, can't be great for the machine. A decent window or stand alone a/c should take care of a two car garage as long as it's not a barn. I have a small building behind the house, about 800 sf, it is well insulated but does have a single metal garage door (properly sealed) and a small window a/c from home depot beats the Florida heat.

 

[rfulford]

Not having a constant humidity and temperature will be a headache if color consistency is important to you. When the environment fluctuates, so will the color and you will want to pull your hair out if you need to reprint a panel for a mural or vehicle wrap.

 

[Mosh]

Humidity is what I am dealing with. Central air is out on my building and not getting replaced for a week or so (new unit on roof)

 

[StopSignGraphics]

I'm just adding my 2 cents, the company I used to work didn't have their printers in a controlled environment. Color consistency was horrible, especially during the times of year when you have big temperature swings. Additionally the temperature just wears out parts on the printer that much faster.

It would work but not well. I'd almost be willing to bet that the money you put into insulating and adding climate control to the garage would pay for itself with increased productivity and less wear and tear on the equipment.

~Chris

 

[MikeD]

Ideal conditions would be 70*@ 50% RH while printing. Store the media inside the house if you have room. The packaging; plastic bag within a cardboard box should be kept to store unprinted short rolls. The cardboard will act as a humidity barrier for your material and the plastic bag they're usually shipped in should keep dust down. It would be best to let the material acclimate for an hour or so to your printer's environment. At least with your high humidity (just guessing it's humid in your garage,) you shouldn't have much static scattering your ink droplets. However, if your liner (paper,) swells any, you may end up with some tunneling which can cause adhesive failure and poor tracking if using a friction fed plotter. If your local climate is dry, you may actually want to use a humidifier to keep static and dust down. If it's really humid, a dehumidifier or desiccant packs in your material storage area may help.

The next challenge is airborne dust. You could build a curtain that fastens to the top of your printer and drapes over the feed roll, and then out gas your prints in a booster box with a filter on top.

Is there anyway you could build a clean climate controlled room within your garage? Definitely make dust covers!

Goo Luck!
Miked

 

[rjssigns]

Insulation is cheap and a definite DIY project. Then find the nearest rummage sale and pick up either a tiny window or portable A/C unit. Small window units go for 40 or 50 bucks around here. Portables about $100.

 

[danno]

I ran 2 HP9000's in an uncontrolled environment for awhile. At about 95 you or the printers don't really want to work. I did most of our printing in the morning then the finishing in the afternoon/evening when it was hot. The lower the humidity, the more likely you will have nozzle dropout at those higher temperatures.

 

[pokerdawg]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Printing would be a sideline for me. I screen print at night so i would be using this printer at night when the temps are just fine.

While at my day job, I'd be concerned about the printer sitting in my hot garage. It gets hot and dry in the Los Angeles Valley. I can insulate 50% of my walls as the other 50% have been blocked by shelving and closets. I suppose I can get an a/c or swamp cooler. As long as high 80s won't dry up the heads, I can pull this off. I can't deal with getting the garage to the 70s.

So the ink carts won't dry up in a high 80s low 90s garage?

 

[KevSign]

Buy used on Craiglist this unit will big help - http://www.port-a-cool.com/
We had 36" and just bought 2 smaller unit for another room for my 2 HP Latex L28500 keep room cool down and cheaper than AC.

 

[MR. Graphics]

I had my mimaki in my garage here in Florida. I split the garage in about half, put up a quick framed in wall across just behind the gargae door opener and stuck in a window unit and ran a drain out of the garage.

 

[Jeff South Florida]

I haven't heard any responses to the VOC's in his garage. You might look into venting it. Those inks are potent.

 

[pokerdawg]

I haven't heard any responses to the VOC's in his garage. You might look into venting it. Those inks are potent.

I've been looking up DIY air scrubbers and I intend to print small jobs and outsource large banners. Hopefully this will reduce the fumes.

 

[MikeD]

Depending on how close your neighbors are, you could vent the fumes from the ink and warm vinyl by blowing it up and out; a suction fan under the printer with an exhaust hose near the roof line. The fumes will dissipate as they sink, and probably be at a low enough density that they aren't harmful by the time they reach the ground.

If that doesn't do it, you could find a commercial scrubber for $600.00