Ok so I coated the screens, exposed and have a pretty good stencil. However, the actual screenprinting isn't going too well. I was trying to silk screen some fabric (screens are 22x18 110 mesh). I flooded the screen, and applied pressure at an 80 degree angle. Everything looked good until I pulled the screen off and found my image faded. A lot of the ink kept to the mesh instead of the fabric. I admit, I am not using any hinged pallet press or setup and didn't use any spray adhesive. I don't want to because I already spent a fortune with what I have so far so is there something I can do to get better results. If necessary I will buy spray adhesive and press but prefer it to be cheap and DIY but with optimal results. Any advice on what to do?
You need to stick the shirt to whatever you are printing on, or it will stick to the screen and the mesh will never clear.
Also, you need off-contact, which is setting the frame about 1/8" above the shirt, so the squeegee stretches the mesh a little to contact the screen. Tape some paint sticks or nickels to the bottom of the screen.
You need to stick the shirt to whatever you are printing on, or it will stick to the screen and the mesh will never clear.
Also, you need off-contact, which is setting the frame about 1/8" above the shirt, so the squeegee stretches the mesh a little to contact the screen. Tape some paint sticks or nickels to the bottom of the screen.
I tried taping the edges down but didn't work so well, I guess spray adhesive is necessary right? i'm only doing a couple of runs at a time, most of the times just one and I didn't want to bombard myself with too much steps. Is there something else than a spray adhesive? I heard they are dangerous.
I actually taped two pennies to each corner, but I guess it doesn't help unless the the material is kept down.
I know your on a tight budget and all, but in order to get good quality you need to purchase what's needed, thats including a press. So far your doing a couple short runs, use that profit and buy what's necessary otherwise your going to keep having a nightmare, been there done that. goodluck
What ambitious says is true for the most part. I struggled with trying to do everything as cheaply as possible for 6 months before I finally started taking the advice from here.
It doesnt have to be expensive, but it does have to work like the expensive stuff. Check out Youtees on youtube, thats what I use, it's cheap.
There are plenty of ways to hold the shirt down, spray adhesive being common, cheap and easy. However, if you are just laying the shirt down and laying the screen on it, spray adhesive wont work. You need the surface you are printing to be held down. Get a piece of smooth plywood or melamine shelving, spray it with adhesive and stick it inside the shirt, stick the printing face of the shirt to it.
Spray adhesives arent dangerous as long as you don't breathe them in. They can be messy though.
What ambitious says is true for the most part. I struggled with trying to do everything as cheaply as possible for 6 months before I finally started taking the advice from here.
It doesnt have to be expensive, but it does have to work like the expensive stuff. Check out Youtees on youtube, thats what I use, it's cheap.
There are plenty of ways to hold the shirt down, spray adhesive being common, cheap and easy. However, if you are just laying the shirt down and laying the screen on it, spray adhesive wont work. You need the surface you are printing to be held down. Get a piece of smooth plywood or melamine shelving, spray it with adhesive and stick it inside the shirt, stick the printing face of the shirt to it.
Spray adhesives arent dangerous as long as you don't breathe them in. They can be messy though.
I'm actually just printing flat pieces of fabric (towels) so it should actually be cheaper.
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