Early in our efforts here to be good stewards of our environment, we had to learn how to deal with our manufacturing waste. We began this business 40 years ago in a barn on the site of my folk’s retirement home. The well they drew water from was only 20 feet away from the barn. For all sorts of good reasons, including not being disowned by my parents, we had to learn how to care for our waste stream. All manufacturing water had to be carted off site and delivered to an approved sewage treatment site. In our first attempts to reduce the waste stream, we tried evaporating the water and then disposing of large acrylic skins. This would have worked (I’m sure) if we had our shop in Arizona, but didn’t stand a chance in Upstate NY!
It was Ben Gavett, our Regulatory Affairs Director, who came up with the system for being able to separate our solids and then run it through a filter so that we could safely send the water to a treatment plant without all the pigment or acrylic residue. I asked Ben if there was some way we could create a similar system for artists to use in their own studios. Using a chemical reaction to create large particles or flocs of pigment and acrylic, we could then filter the paint/water mixture through a filter and end up with quite clear and neutral pH water. Ben’s task was to find easy to purchase and safe materials for artists to use in their home studios.
Ben landed on two chemicals that are readily available in plant and garden stores: Alum, or aluminum sulphate (a weak acid) and lime or calcium hydroxide (a base). Both of these are used as plant amendments to correct soil conditions for gardeners. He designed a worksheet for artists to use safely in 1996. Interest in this topic has not waned since we first published Removing Water-Based Paint Solids from Rinse Water.
Artists were willing to assemble all the items from various vendors, a large funnel and enormous filter paper, pH measurement papers, gloves, masks as well as the two chemical agents in powder form that had to be measured and premixed with water, all for the sake of removing acrylic binder and pigment from their water before sending it down their pipes and into the water systems.
Redesigned by Ben Gavett and colleague Christian Campbell, Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist, we have a brand new cleaning system for 2020! We are offering a complete kit with all the equipment and supplies needed to process acrylic-based painting wastewater. Gone are all the dry powders, which have been replaced with liquid solutions for easier handling and there is no longer a need to scour the internet and hardware stores to find the necessary system components. The new kit called Crash Paint Solids is a Wastewater Cleaning System that includes everything you need to successfully clean out the damaging solids that might clog your drains or go into the waste stream untreated. Besides including the solutions in dosing bottles that easily allows for perfect additions to your waste water, we’ve included filter papers, a stainless-steel colander that fits perfectly into the clear pail provided, as well as a gallon pail to collect your dirty waste water. We have also created an additional refill kit that simply includes the filter paper and dosing chemicals to keep the overall cost down for treating your water.
It really is magic. Check out this link to see the kit in action and visit the website, which includes instructions on using the Crash Paint Solids kit. Call us at 800-959-6543 for availability.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Thank you Marianne!!
I still have plenty of alum and lime, and other components, but once I use them up, I will be glad to purchase a kit. Thank you for developing this!
Ellen the Alum and Lime work like a charm. Just keep the dust down and your great! Best, Mark
Thank you so much for making this product available. I appreciate your concern for the environment and for making it easier for artists to reduce our impact on the environment as well.
Thanks Mary, I hope it gets into wide circulation. It is really just fun to watch the process! Best, Mark
KUDOs to Golden!!
Thanks Stella, stay safe! Best, Mark
This is fantastic. I can hardly wait until I get mine. Thank you.
Thanks, we’re excited by the early response! Best, Mark
I’m In on this. Beats letting everything sit in hopes that there will be sediment.
Stephen, I’ve been showing the old system to artists for years now, and as well as it worked, practically no one wanted to use it. Hopefully we’ll turn the corner on this with the kit!!
Please make this available to Canadian artists, too.
As soon as we can!! In the mean time, I know it’s a pain, but the system tagged in the post does share a do-it-yourself parts to assemble. A bit messy, but it really works! Stay safe, Mark
Hello T,
Thanks for your interest! The Crash Paint Solids kit and refills are available through our website! The link is in the article. You can purchase here: https://www.goldenpaints.com/crashpaintsolids
Thanks so much for making this kit available. I’ve just started using it. Easy and clean to use. Also my septic system is benefiting.
This looks fabulous. Can’t wait to try it. Do you know if Plaza Arts sells this kit? If not, I’ll buy it directly from you. Will also try to spread the word!
Thank you Lauren! At the moment, the kit is only available here at this link: https://www.goldenpaints.com/crashpaintsolids
How many buckets worth are in the initial kit?
Leanne the initial supply is for 16 gallons of waste water. We throw in extra filter paper as some folks find the first time they try the kit they tear the wet paper. But it’s really incredibly easy once you get the hang of it.
Will this also filter out Matte Medium solids from my rinse water? I use a lot of it and would like to keep it out of my septic tank. Thanks!
Hi Chris.
Thanks for your question. Yes. The matting solids would be captured along with the pigment and acrylic binders.
-Mike Townsend
I can see where this kit would be very convenient. Question – Can you re-use the water once it has been cleaned of the solids, or would the chemicals remain in the water and possibly be harmful to brushes or skin contact?
Hello Denise,
Any microbial growth in the waste water will not be filtered out, so the water may start to develop odor. Plus, some of the chemicals may remain in the water which could throw off the balance in your paint mixtures. For best results, it is recommended to use fresh water when mixing with paints.
Thanks!
Thank you Golden for developing the CRASH system for artists. I’m promoting it like crazy among my artist colleagues here in Ventura, CA. I plan on doing a little demo at Bell Arts Factory, a center for community arts education, art studios, and events.
I just learned about the CRASH system. Would it work for Flashe paints as well? And less likely, water mixable oil paints?
Hi Linda,
The CRASH System will most likely work with the Flashe Vinyl paints, as they are water-based and rely on a similar type of PH as the acrylics for stability. But we have not tested Flashe with this system. It does not work well with oil-based products. The oil paints just end up sticking to the sides of the container and make a big mess.
Thanks so much!
Greg
And water based oil paints could work?
Hello Susan,
This process works for water-borne acrylic paints. If you wish to discuss further, please call Golden and ask for our Health and Safety Department. Golden phone numbers are 607-847-6154 or toll free in the US: 800-959-6543. Thank you!