screen printing. Where do i start?

[Brian Marshall]

Any suggestions on how to get started screen printing.  I dont know anything about it.

[Ansil]

talk to erik miller about the screen jig. he has a great setup. you can buy emulsion.  which is the light activated crap they use to burn the image into the screen.  it is a cool lookin purple.   you need to design your images that you want screened.  ie logo or control labels  in pbrush or potoshop.  and put it on a disk take to kinkos and have a transparency made.

you need one of those old school projection devices..  the kind teachers had wehn you were in highschool.  that or you can make something so that when the light shines throught he transparency that the blackout of the design is what keeps the light off of the screen in the same area.  where ever bright light touches the emulsion it will harden and not let ink pass through.  where the blak is the emulsion will not harden or set as it does.  and when it is done you spray it out with water. to get the loose emulsion out.  and there you go.  you now have a screen with your design in it.


i can draw pics later if anyone has any questions.   there are other ways to do this. but this is the way i know since this is how we did it when iworked for VIncent printing.  a silkscreen bill board sign maker

[Peter Snowberg]

Take a look at This thread:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=16615&highlight=

More info here:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=16306&start=15

There are more threads too, just search for "silkscreen".

To do it the easiest way, have a screenprinter prepare your stencil for you and buy a little ink (do not use Plastisol inks), a squeege, some xylene for cleaning, and some nitrile rubber gloves to keep you lead free.

For the best images, you will need to either draw on acetate with India ink, or better yet, get your artwork output on film. It's expensive for get film made, but it's the only way to get a quality result. Most people who do shirts can get the film made for you from a black and while image.

Take a look at Google for "How to silkscreen" (using the quotes in your search). That will return pages like this: http://www.silkscreenbiz.com/silkscreen.htm

I hope that helps.

Good luck,
-Peter

[bobbletrox]

Yeah, I'd recommend getting your screens made up by a silkscreening company.  Alot of them do one off screens for the Boy-Scouts and schools.  You'll get a professional, sharp design this way -and it's cheaper than buying all the emulsion and materials yourself.   The emulsion I used to use cost AU$50 per quart and only had a post-mix shelf life of 4 months or so.  It's pretty expensive considering you only use about a table-spoon full for a screen.

[Ansil]

Yeah, I'd recommend getting your screens made up by a silkscreening company.  Alot of them do one off screens for the Boy-Scouts and schools.  You'll get a professional, sharp design this way -and it's cheaper than buying all the emulsion and materials yourself.   The emulsion I used to use cost AU$50 per quart and only had a post-mix shelf life of 4 months or so.  It's pretty expensive considering you only use about a table-spoon full for a screen.

i get emulsion for free.   and as long as it sits in the bucket being as it is one part only if i keep the lid on it it is still good after 2 years

[ErikMiller]

It's really simple to make the screening rig if you have a table saw. If you don't, talk to a friend who has one.

I just made one for Ian for a small fee mostly to cover the materials. Like mine, I made it to fit a 1590BB, and it works for a 1590B with a 1/8" shim.

[Brian Marshall]

i have a table saw, but dont really know what to make.  Like i said I know nothing about it.

I tried michaels for a beginner silk screening kit, but they had nothing.  Where else would i try lcally