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Ah paint traps… We simultaneous love and absolutely despise them. They’re a necessity of working in a shop, but that doesn’t mean they’re not evil. 😈 We’re looking to put in a new sink and trap system in my shop. I have some pretty solid ideas of what I want for a sink, but am at a bit of a loss in figuring out what we need for a trap. We currently have a Zurn Z1180 Solids Interceptor, but it’s very small. I like how easy it is to open up, but that’s about all that’s good about it. I suspect we have some internal pipe issues as well that need the attention of a plumber, but the whole thing needs to be reworked.
Here’s our tiny trap:
[attachment=0]trap.JPG[/attachment]
Along with our super flooded sink.🙁 [attachment=1]sink.JPG[/attachment] Does anyone have a set up that they particularly like? What type of screen do you put in the bottom of your sink to catch the larger bits? Have you recently put a new trap system in your shop?
The trap is familiar to me and I agree, pretty easy to clean. Plus, since it’s not all that big you are forced to empty it more often so it is a little less stinky and disgusting. I’ve had good luck with a custom sized frame with a fiberglass window screen stapled to it. The style that fits the bottom of your sink dimensions almost exactly (sorry no picture). The fiberglass tears easier but I think it’s a little easier to work with. Sometimes I’ll splurge on a small mesh trap as an additional measure but they get gunked up pretty fast.
[attachment=0]IMG_0054.JPG[/attachment]I did have a very long conversation with a shop supervisor several years ago on why he didn’t think any methods, including the particle trap were good at keeping the sink from clogging up. His theory was that all of these methods allow silt to go further and further down the pipe causing a much more expensive and deeper plumbing issue in the long run. Not sure I agree with him but it is something to consider I suppose.
Tina
Our sink dumps directly into a hole in the floor with a basket in it for easy removal. At the old shop, everything ran through a “proceptor” that collected solids. It was large, smelly, and needed to be pumped out monthly.
[img]http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/rappevan/0B1DCAEC-CC9D-46C2-BB50-0EC5487522C8_zps75x5zqcg.jpg%5B/img%5D
[img]http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/rappevan/BD31731C-3643-4B08-A771-6A75E9E6F0AF_zpsmq2ttqbq.jpg%5B/img%5DRachel, we’ve got the same trap for our 2-faucet sink, and the same mesh sink strainers Tina posted. I sometimes wish we had a bigger one, but I do think the small size alerts me when there’s a problem sooner than a large one would.
We try to clean the trap weekly. Making it part of the routine made a big difference. Beyond that, we’re really diligent about not letting the sink ever fill up to the point that the mesh trap can float or wash away temporarily. When the lines get slow beyond the trap once every 2 months or so, we fit a stopper onto the pipe exiting the trap and blow compressed air through it, which works great for a quick reset.
Cobalt has an open sluice system made of wooden ladders to catch silt as water drains below the sink. I think that thing is great, but I don’t have the clearance for it below my sink, since the pipe exits into the wall too high up. No disassembly required for cleaning- just scrape with a putty knife.
I am a firm believer in the full sink screen method.
I admit the ones I have now may be slightly over built, but they are holding up amazing – I used to have ones made from just a wood frame with the screen stapled on, that also worked great.
In my shop that didn’t have a paint trap of any kind – we never once had a clog in our pipes that required a plumber – just being smart about straining chunky stuff, scraping off my screens once a week etc.
In the shop I’m at now with the same type of trap in Rachel’s Post, we have to have a school plumber out three times a year – and that is with regular cleaning of the trap. I personally think they make too much silt too soon in the system.
[attachment=2]IMG_1771.JPG[/attachment][attachment=0]IMG_1770.JPG[/attachment]I’ve had a bunch of different paint traps over the years (all with different pluses and minuses), but I am fortunate enough at the University, to have walked into a shop where they use disposable paint traps.
I get about 4-6 months (give or take) use out of each one, and here facilities replaces them for me. It appears that they run about $25-$50/per online (although I’m sure you could get a bulk discount). In many shops, the cost is probably not worth it, but (since I lucked into not having to allot for that in my budget) I am in love with them! They are so easy to change out (just unplug the hose, and replug into the new bucket), they contain the smell, and never have to be cleaned!
[attachment=2]plaster_trap_Image.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]1_7065615_fs.jpg[/attachment]I also keep the wire mesh cups in my drains as well (They generally need to be cleaned a few times a day), but it’s just a secondary measure to gain longevity from my traps. They are also super cheap and tend to last a year or more if cleaned often.
[attachment=0]drain-strainer-01.jpg[/attachment]Rachael, I have a similar set up as you. 3 compartment sink with 3 of the Zurn for each sink. Getting ready to clean mine today actually. One for each sink has really helped, especially with cleaning and changing them out.
Maybe reworking the pvc so each sink has it’s own Zurn?
Hello! I am also in the market for a paint trap. We have a two compartment sink, don’t do a ton of texture work, mostly straight painting in latex. There has never been a trap on this sink, we’ve always used full sink screens but I think over the years particulate has built up in the walls of the old cast iron pipes that the sink drains into and its starting to back up regularly. I am trying to convince my company that we need to invest in a trap along with the new sink we just got.
Are there any other options besides Zurn? Am I looking specifically for a “solids and sediment interceptor” (as opposed to a grease trap)? Also recommended gals/minute for ideal drainage (the Zurn interceptor mentioned about is 15 gal/min)? More information on disposable ones would also be welcomed!
Any other thoughts or info is much appreciated!
Thanks so much!
-helen
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