How to clean spiral bars (Bar coaters, Meyer bars)?

1. It is essential that bars are cleaned immediately after use.

2. On the KCC101 and 202, the solvent tubes are supplied for fitting on the right hand side of the rack in front of the machine. (On the Hand Coater, a solvent tube is supplied as part of the “cleaning/storage rack” when ordered).

3. Fill the solvent tube(s) with an appropriate solvent so that when immersing a bar, the complete wired length is covered.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Solvent tubes are manufactured from aluminium and the use of ALKALI cleaners is therefore NOT RECOMMENDED.

4. Immediately after a test, wipe excess coating mix from the bar using a lintfree wipe, immerse bar in the filled solvent tube, leave to soak in solvent for a short time (say approx. 15 secs).

5. Remove bar from tube and wipe clean - again using a clean lint-free wipe. Repeat immersion if necessary.

6. Cleaning is most efficient if the bar is rotated inside the wipe rather than wiping along the length of the bar.

7. If ink/coating mix has been allowed to dry it can sometimes be removed using a copper brush - as used for cleaning suede shoes.

8. Do not use a steel wire brush or pad.

9. Do not use an abrasive pad as this, in inexperienced hands, can easily damage the wire - especially when small diameter wires are in use.

10. If an ultrasonic bath is available on site this will normally do a good cleaning job but would be too expensive to buy specially for this purpose.