Hi Everyone,
Well this may sound dumb or just plain stupid, but is there anyway to get around having to have a dark room for screen printing, besides buying a printa system? I think all you for helping me. My problem is I really have no where to make a dark room any suggestions would really help.
Again THANK YOU!
Are you working outside? If you are indoors, you can just turn the lights off, and have those yellow, bugs light bulbs on.
And it is not THAT much critical a dark room. As long as not much UV reach the emulsion before it is burned on the screen.
Tell us how is your working area, and we could have a more educated suggestions .
__________________
As Jerry used to say : Profit is not a dirty word.
I will have my press in the garage but I have to wash every thin inside in the sink or tub I guess. I'm Just getting started looking for some advice.. Thank you
Danny
Use a portable light with a bug light wherever you are washing out (I am betting bathtub) and use an opaque trash bag to transport the screen from the garage to washout.
Use a portable light with a bug light wherever you are washing out (I am betting bathtub) and use an opaque trash bag to transport the screen from the garage to washout.
So let me see if im understanding you . I need to wash and do emulsion in bathroom let it dry in there,when its dry put it in a black trash bag. Carry it to another room to burn the screen. Put it back in the trash bag and take it to the press? Sorry if I sound dumb but I'm just trying to learn .....
thank you
Your emulsion has to be in a light safe room from the time it comes out of the can until the screen is washed out.
It sounds like you are coating/burning in one room and washing out in another, so...
Room 1 (coating/burning)- replace all lights in this room with yellow bug lights.
After you burn screen put it in a opaque trashbag to transport it to whereever you are washing out.
Room 2 (washout)- you arent going to want your bathroom to have yellow lights all the time. So use like a desk lamp with a yellow bug light. and turn main lights off.
Once your image is washed out it is fine to be exposed to whatever light....in fact I usually reburn my screens to make sure they dont wash out when printing.
And dont worry about sounding dumb on here.....most are very helpful. i wish I had found it when I first was learning to print, and more importantly before I bought my first piece of equipment.
OK. I just started screenprinting in my 20X20 work room we built on to the house. I already have embroidery machines and 2 garment printers in this room, so I know where you're coming from. Oh, and no plumbing in this room either. This is what we did....a little redneck inginuity per my husband. We got a tarp from Home Depot and mounted a rod from the ceiling and attached the tarp to the rod with shower curtain hangers. This is where I coat and expose my screens. I use a table lamp with the bug light. I didn't have enough room in this area to comfortably set the design up on the screen before exposing, so I bought some cheap room darkening shades from Wal Mart to go over my wooden blinds. Now I can expose during the day. After I expose the screen I have a spray bottle of water that I saturate the screen with, put it in a black trash bag and take it outside to finish washing it out. By the time I get outside, the screen has soaked long enough that it just washes right out. Hope this helps.
I haven't tried it without the trash bag just to be on the safe side. But, light, any kind, is what exposes the emulsion on the screen. So, just 30 seconds would have an effect. Like I said, I haven't tried it, but, spraying with water and letting it set for a few seconds may help before you make the trip outside. Let us know if you try it.
dark room 
