I need a silk screener.

[BMF Effects]

Once again my current screener has ruined a batch of enclosures. If any pro builders have a recommendation for a good silk screener who has experience screening metal, please PM me. Thanks.

[R.G.]

Go find yourself a sign maker's shop.

[doug deeper]

pedalpartsplus.com will do it!

[markm]

Etching?? 

[rockgardenlove]

When you do get your setup figured out, would you ever consider screening some enclosures for us?

[BMF Effects]

Etching?? 

mark, if you want to etch enclosures for me I'll be more than happy to pay you. I'd be hard pressed to match your level of quality.

[BMF Effects]

When you do get your setup figured out, would you ever consider screening some enclosures for us?

If I fnd someone i feel recommending I will be more than happy to pass the info along.

[R.G.]

Guys, screening is not complicated, nor expensive. Graphic arts shops usually have a beginning screener's kit for reasonable prices.

It is however time consuming, messy, laborious and ill-suited to getting a few of anything done. If you need more than 100, silk screening is a good garage shop technology.

Has anyone thought of getting a sign shop to cut them out stick-on plastic stencils to spray paint through?

How about laser printing on full sheets of stick-on labels and cutting out the painted areas with a hobby knife?

How about toner transfer etching of a thin sheet of copper or aluminum foil to be used as a paint stencil?

How about offset printing pads? Etch away the mirror image of what you want to paint, roller paint on it, press a pad on the paint, then press the pad onto your box?

How about taking your artwork to a business supplies place that makes custom inkpad stamps and having them do you a stamp that you can load with paint from a glop rollered onto a sheet of glass?

How about... How about ... How about...

[TELEFUNKON]

yello pages

[BMF Effects]

I probably should have elaborated on this in my original post, but I was still fuming over 40 ruined enclosures.

Most of the silk screeners local to me will not do metal and the ones that will are large industrial type places that require minimum runs in the hundreds. After a lot of trial and error I found out that in order to get the best results possible, you need someone who at least has experience screening metal and preferrably someone who has experience screening effects boxes. I thought I had hit the nail on the head with my current company as they screen for another fairly large effects manufacturer, but the last two batches have had alignment problems and unapproved font substitutions. The most recent batch had serious alignment problems. So much that I don't know how anyone could screen the first one, look at it, say "that's perfect" and continue on. I was hoping someone here had a strong recommendation instead of trying to grab someone out of the Yellow Pages. Paying for a silk screener's learning experience can get expensive.

[R.G.]

Paying for a silk screener's learning experience can get expensive.

That's why you captains of industry get the big bucks... you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can sell the prince.

...um, I think I may have mixed metaphors... 

[BMF Effects]

Paying for a silk screener's learning experience can get expensive.

That's why you captains of industry get the big bucks... you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can sell the prince.

...um, I think I may have mixed metaphors... 

I was hoping I might benefit from another's frog kissing experience. 

[brad]

I taught myself how to silkscreen a few years ago and I can tell you it wouldn't be hard to get great DIY results yourself.  It's not exactly rocket science!  You could make a jig that could align several pedals at once and knock out 40 in half and hour.  I wouldn't even bother with a beginners kit...it's really not that hard.

It only takes about 30 minutes to stretch and coat a screen, another 30 to expose it (in the sun) and knock it out under running water, and then you can print to your heart's content.

[axeman010]

Brad

I for one would be very interested in any experiences / tips you can share on silk screening.

Regards

Axeman.

[brad]

Sure, I'll see if I can dig some of my old gear out of the shed tomorrow and get some pics up.  I used to do my own t-shirts etc, but the only difference for metal enclosures would be the type of mesh and ink used.

[Ronsonic]

I taught myself how to silkscreen a few years ago and I can tell you it wouldn't be hard to get great DIY results yourself.  It's not exactly rocket science!  You could make a jig that could align several pedals at once and knock out 40 in half and hour.  I wouldn't even bother with a beginners kit...it's really not that hard.

It only takes about 30 minutes to stretch and coat a screen, another 30 to expose it (in the sun) and knock it out under running water, and then you can print to your heart's content.

It isn't that it's a hard craft, just yet one more thing - perhaps one more too many - for the pedalcrafter to master and make room for and clean up after. Commercial pedal production has so many steps that can't be farmed out effectively I can sure understand not wanting to take on yet another.

Sure you don't want to get in the pedal screening biz?

Ron

[R.G.]

It only takes about 30 minutes to stretch and coat a screen, another 30 to expose it (in the sun) and knock it out under running water, and then you can print to your heart's content.

You left out the hour of cleanup which will make the screen impossible to use again if not done. 

[analogmike]

batches have had alignment problems and unapproved font substitutions. The most recent batch had serious alignment problems. So much that I don't know how anyone could screen the first one, look at it, say "that's perfect" and continue on.

I got 80 of these

[audioguy]

Mike- thats REALLY COOL! Did you sell them? I'm sure people would grab them up!

[analogmike]

I kept 10 just in case, sure enough they sold pretty quick!