Discuss the different types of equipment needed for screen printing. Topics include manual screen printing presses, automatic presses, dryers, folding machines, starter kits and high end machines.
Hey everyone! After about 2 weeks of messing around with different ideas for an exposure unit, I just decided to make my own using some scrap wood I found laying around the house. Here are some pics:
Im using a 500 watt halogen work lamp as my light and its about 20 inches from the screen. What do you think?!
Get a piece of upholstery foam that is at least 4" thick and about .25" smaller than the inside dimensions of your screen. Place it on a piece of plywood and then fit your screen over the foam. Place your positive on your screen and then place a piece of .25" plate glass that is larger than the dimensions of your frame on top of the positive. This will assist in obtaining good contact between the positive and the emulsion. Adding some weight to the plate glass will compress the foam even more. God luck!
I was told by a dealer at a screen printing supply store that a flood light would be too much heat and that the trick to burning a image is not heat. You need light . I tried the flood light way and its too much of a hassle . Better off building one with floresent lights..
I was told by a dealer at a screen printing supply store that a flood light would be too much heat and that the trick to burning a image is not heat. You need light . I tried the flood light way and its too much of a hassle . Better off building one with floresent lights..
...and the multiple light sources of the flouresent can cause registration issues...by under cutting the edges...a single light source is always the best.....we've been in business for 8 years and burn 12-20 screens a day...all off a single 500w Halgoen fixture with the glass removed....the light is 18inches from the glass and have never had a heat issue....I installed a digital timer that kills the bulb so my times are always exact...but you can buy a twist type timer at Home Depot.....good luck
__________________ The Shirt Shak-TSS Grafx-TSS Sporting Goods...Gettin it done since 2001
we've been in business for 8 years and burn 12-20 screens a day...all off a single 500w Halgoen fixture with the glass removed....the light is 18inches from the glass and have never had a heat issue....I installed a digital timer that kills the bulb so my times are always exact...but you can buy a twist type timer at Home Depot.....good luck
How long are you burning your screens for? I know it will probably be different with me but i just want to get an idea.
Also, im simply just doing the whole unplug when the time is up. Any way i could possibly get a timer that shuts it off when the time is up or no?
How long are you burning your screens for? I know it will probably be different with me but i just want to get an idea.
Also, im simply just doing the whole unplug when the time is up. Any way i could possibly get a timer that shuts it off when the time is up or no?
12-18 minutes....12 for low mesh counts and 18 for 205's and above.....and yes the twister timer that Home Depot sells wires into your light...so when the time expires the light shuts down...If you plan on leaving the room set an egg timer also so you can hear it.The digital timer I upgraded to came from Grainger.But I still set a personal timer that I bought on-line that looks and sounds like a pager and clips on my pocket.
__________________ The Shirt Shak-TSS Grafx-TSS Sporting Goods...Gettin it done since 2001
How much time do you set the 500w halogena for? I am just starting out learning the tricks of the trade. Being a 50yr old fart, stubborn Danish fool doesn't help either, lol.
moosehansen,
Screenator says he sets it between 12-18 minutes..12 minutes for low mesh counts and 18 minutes for 205 mesh counts and above
Quote:
Originally Posted by Screenanator
It will work....just remember to remove the glass front on the light....it's got UV coating on it...you need the pure light....good luck !
This may seem like a really stupid question but im just trying to soak all this in. When you say 'remove the glass', do you mean remove the like plastic coating around the bulb? or do you mean like break the glass off and just leave the filament? or do you mean take the glass off the front of the lamp structure itself? Im trying not to be so ingnorant
This may seem like a really stupid question but im just trying to soak all this in. When you say 'remove the glass', do you mean remove the like plastic coating around the bulb? or do you mean like break the glass off and just leave the filament? or do you mean take the glass off the front of the lamp structure itself? Im trying not to be so ingnorant
im pretty sure he means remove the glass covering on the fixture.
This may seem like a really stupid question but im just trying to soak all this in. When you say 'remove the glass', do you mean remove the like plastic coating around the bulb? or do you mean like break the glass off and just leave the filament? or do you mean take the glass off the front of the lamp structure itself? Im trying not to be so ingnorant
Haha dont worry everyone has questions. You remove the glass off the structure itself. The glass can block out the UV rays and it could make burning your screen difficult. All you have to do is twist a screw to remove the glass!
Oh and to answer your question, it really depends on your screen. The mesh count is important but all screens are different. A screen with a 110 mesh count could take 12 minutes and then another screen with a 110 mesh count could take 11 or 13.
I found that its really all about trial and error until you find what works for you. Hope this helped!
Thank you for all your info, I have built a set up just like the one you showed here, but the thing is I'm still having a problem with the emulsion, I bought it at a hobby store and it must be just a low quality or went bad for no matter how I try it low time, high time, light bulb, sun light, it just doesn't work, so I'm waiting until monday to go to a commercial outlet to buy high quality emulsion and talk with the helpful people there.
Just can't wait to get started in the silkscreen business.
Made my own exposure unit! 
