Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by darwinchristian
you know... it may be that you aren't using adhesive to tack the shirt to the printing surface. the ink may be pulling the shirt a little- especially at the end of the graphic there- which doesn't allow for the ink to snap out of the mesh.
i know my first speedball kit didn't come with pallet tack.
you could buy a can of pallet adhesive spray from many screen supply places online... or you might be able to get away with watering down some elmers to tack that tee down. (just wash it before you wear it...)
I also thought about this cause its a pretty crucial part in making clean prints. I would def give it a try.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Thats actually something I had no idea about...I'll add that to my shopping list. BTW, for the shirts, I pull from the plug towards the letters, if that adds any information
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by plastic
Thats actually something I had no idea about...I'll add that to my shopping list.
Pallet spray is not going to help you unless you are actually using a pallet, or something serving as a pallet, to lay your shirt on. With a pallet, just the print side of the shirt is lying on the pallet, the back or non print side is hanging below the pallet. This allows you to get just the print side of the shirt to stick to the pallet.
If you are laying the entire shirt on a table, then placing your screen on the shirt, the pallet spray will not help.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Here is a pic of my first try with speedball water based white on a blk tee. I think my screen mesh is a bit high for this design. I am using a 22x24 alum. frame with 230 mesh. Really the only pro-frame I have. I also think my design was a bit large for the actual screen. My first pull would lay nice down the center of the image but the edges would feather away. I have no squeegie tech. at all as I am just figuring this all out.
This screen was made with the Ulano film cut on the pltter, weeded and applied to the screen.
The actual print is solid whate compared to the pic. It is way solid kinda like a cold peel opaque plastisol transfer. It actually compares to vinyl applications and isnt the feel I am after.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix
Here is a pic of my first try with speedball water based white on a blk tee. I think my screen mesh is a bit high for this design. I am using a 22x24 alum. frame with 230 mesh. Really the only pro-frame I have. I also think my design was a bit large for the actual screen. My first pull would lay nice down the center of the image but the edges would feather away. I have no squeegie tech. at all as I am just figuring this all out.
This screen was made with the Ulano film cut on the pltter, weeded and applied to the screen.
The actual print is solid whate compared to the pic. It is way solid kinda like a cold peel opaque plastisol transfer. It actually compares to vinyl applications and isnt the feel I am after.
Any advice or tips post them please.
Either your image is too big or you don't have a big enough squeegee. Either way first stroke you want to flood second stroke you want to clear.
That is a pretty cool design and if that's your first print ever (white being the hardest for beginners) you'll have no problem.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Man that's a lot of weeding!
The image doesn't look too big for the frame. You do have an inch or two on each side so that should be fine. Your Squeegee is the key. Because you have to do multiple pulls to cover the whole area, you will get inconsistencies with your ink cover.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
The tension on the edges doesnt allow as much flex as the center of the screen. I have plenty of off contact and maybe too much. I used paint stir sticks on the corners. I think about half of that would have been cleaner. Is my mesh wrong for white water based junk ink?
The weed was about half an hour and this film is so cool. I keep pushing it for detail with the distress. I could push it a bit farther but still learning whats possible.
I need to order more screens so if anyone has a suggestion of 4 mesh counts I should have in hand please post up.
I am using water based ink and have no exposure unit or flash.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
This is great. I have the speedball kit but haven't had time to use it yet. After getting a simple one-color job and having to send away for custom transfers I decided to look into one-color screen printing. I'll have to get a big bulb and give it a try this weekend. Then I will see if I want to spend $500 to $600 on a better one-color press and exposure unit.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmille39
This is great. I have the speedball kit but haven't had time to use it yet. After getting a simple one-color job and having to send away for custom transfers I decided to look into one-color screen printing. I'll have to get a big bulb and give it a try this weekend. Then I will see if I want to spend $500 to $600 on a better one-color press and exposure unit.
If you're going to drop the money, save up and get a multicolor press. The single color gets old VERY quickly.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auditor Clothing
If you're going to drop the money, save up and get a multicolor press. The single color gets old VERY quickly.
I think the opposite. If you can't afford a multicolor one now but can afford a single, don't wait, go ahead and buy the single. That's what I did. Now I have both and the single gets used as much as the multi. It's amazing how many jobs out there that only require 1 color.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by splathead
I think the opposite. If you can't afford a multicolor one now but can afford a single, don't wait, go ahead and buy the single. That's what I did. Now I have both and the single gets used as much as the multi. It's amazing how many jobs out there that only require 1 color.
I agree. With personal money, I could afford a good 4-color or more kit with upgrades on the exposure unit and flash dryer. With the money in my business account, I can pretty much afford a 1-color with upgrades on the exposure unitl and flash dryer. With the profits from doing one color business, I could save up for a four color press only, since I would already have the other items. I just don't see myself trying my hand multi color printing just yet.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
I have been doing heatpress vinyl and plastisol transfers for quite a while now. Screen printing is just a natural progression for me and something I want to learn. I did it at the university in print making class and it was basically old school.
I purchased a used 4 color one station expandable to two Harco press with side clamps, two alumin. screens, emulsion coater, squeegie, emulsion and inks for $200 bucks. It doesnt have all the bells and whistles but I am going to learn on it and have it paid for at my next event. Just like every gadget I've ever wanted or thought I needed...everything runs between $300-$500 bucks. I like the best but I will take value as a learning tool now.
I made my own oversized platens and plan on making an exposure unit.
I have a lot to learn so I jumped into the white ink on black with what I have. I do think I can get this down as most of my problems were obvious to me.
Keep posting with info cause I am a sponge wanting to soak it all in.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
I also did some screen printing in college but that was back in the 80's and I also worked at a screen printer during the summers. We made the cool mirrors with Led Zepplin, Grateful Dead, and so on that you saw at the local carnivals. I'm also getting a cutter in about a month but want to be able to whip out some simple one and two color shirts at a moments notice. I see all these web sites for companies selling one color shirts for schools and cheer programs being done in one day for $5-$6.00.
Is the time savings gained by buying precoated screens worth the $10 adder? I read where it could take up to four hours for a screen to dry once coated. Sounds like a hassle and $10 might be worth it.
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmille39
Is the time savings gained by buying precoated screens worth the $10 adder? I read where it could take up to four hours for a screen to dry once coated. Sounds like a hassle and $10 might be worth it.
What do you do when you are done with the printing and you have a $20 screen you bought that you don't know how to recoat?
There is no substitute for being able to coat your own screens. With a fan, the process only takes about 2 hours. A 2 hour wait is better than the 3 day wait before ups drops it off at your door. For the cost of 3 upcharges for coated screens you could buy emulsion that will coat 20.
Your customer will probably wait 2 hours for you to prepare a screen, will they wait 3 days for you go get it shipped to you?
Re: First timer with Speedball kit: result + questions 
