I want to give making t-shirts a shot. I have researched it in the past, and from time to time thought about it over the years, but finally bought a press.
I picked up an RJennings 4 color 1 station press with a bunch of NOS shirts, trucker hats, sweatshirts, 500 pellons, and a few other misc. items.
I read ".......for fun and profit" almost ten years ago so I've been thinking about it for a while.
Now I'm not trying to start a full time business. I'm a tradesman who has been laid off for a few months. When I go back to work I'm going to have little time to print. What I'm looking to do is start a hobby that could turn a profit eventually. I want to print the designs that I have done, and sell them in small quantities.
I looked at prices from Atlas Screen Printing Supplies because they are semi local to me, and their packages are more than I need. I basically want to get (1) 20x24 screen, and what I need to prep it, and do some test pieces. If I manage to get it right on the pellons then I'll print some of the shirts I have, then buy some new shirts, etc. I'm going to take this slowly, and I'm not worried about cutting my production time. 10 minutes per shirt....OK.
For now just supplies. I'm going to do the halogen light, or sunlight for the exposure, and I'm not sure for a dryer. I might do a heat gun to flash, and a large toaster oven to cure until I get the hang of the basics. I have an IR temp gun to check temps.
If I can find a real cheap flash dryer I will go that route, but there are none on ebay at the moment.
A flash would be nicer, but I have used an old kitchen oven for awhile with no problems whatsoever. There are plenty of threads about this. Also, you wont need to worry about it until you start using white inks for the most part.
You don't have any press wash/ink remover, you will need that. You can use mineral spirits, but press wash just works better, IMO.
You also need to think about how you are going to print your positives. You may need a new printer, but at the very least some inkjet transparencies, or have them printed at Kinkos, worst-case.
Get a hairdryer too, it speeds up lots of things; drying emulsion (carefully), drying washed screens, etc.
You are going to need somewhere to spray your screens out after burning. A washup sink if you have one is great, get a sprayer attachment for the faucet.
The frames from atlas are 1 1/4" so that should leave 18.5". Would a 16" scoop coater still be too big?
The reason for the gallon of black is they only sell black by the gallon. I figured it was overkill.
press wash/ink remover.... Added
Positives I figured kinkos, just because I'm not going to need many. If I decide I'm gonna stick with it, I'll get a new printer. I've also got a print shop a couple blocks from my house.
Hair dryer, check. Also have a heat gun.
For spraying out burned screens I was going to use a hose outside. It shouldn't be a problem if I bring it out in a black garbage bag, wet it in the bag, then spray it out should it?
Flash Dryer..... I'm watching for a used one.
Is there another vendor that I should try? I looked at a couple but they came up higher in the end, plus shipping. I'm hoping I can pick up at Atlas.
The prices at Atlas didn't look all that great, IMO.
I get screens from here. Cheap, excellent quality screens.
I get my supplies from either Richardsonsupply or SSS, although I prefer Richardson. Where are you located? That will make it easier to recommend a supplier, there are tons of them.
As far as the 16" coater, it's probably just overkill, unless you are planning on getting some really large positives made. I forgot to mention you need to get some tape to blockout the edges that aren't covered with emulsion. They sell screen tape, but I use clear packing tape with good results.
Your plan for spraying out screens will work fine, on very bright days, you will want to make sure the emulsion is very wet before exposing it to any sunlight, or you will run into problems.
I'll have to check out Richardson, I hadn't seen them yet, and SSS was around the same price for my total.
I do EVENTUALLY plan to do big prints. I am a fan of the huge back prints because I ride a motorcycle. I figured the couple bucks more for a 16" over a 14" wouldn't be bad. If it will make life harder though I'll skip it.
It won't necessarily make life harder, but you'll be using more emulsion until you decide to do the larger prints. Plus, you'll want to have at least 1/2" of squeegee past outside of your design on each side to get a good print, in my experience. BTW, you'll only have 17.5 inside with those frames, not 18.5.
Might also want to check on the price of getting a positive printed that big too..
you need masking tape or spring for the fancy blue screen tape, but masking or clear packing tape is just fine.
still not sure where you are located, but Texsource usually does a 7 quart for $100 special. it might me nice to have a few standard colors. the one in texas ships free for orders over $100
if you stick with the black ink gallon, get a 156 or higher mesh, black does not need to be thick.
i use a 16" coater on that same size screen w/ no problems.
the only other thing is big back prints will need at least a 23x31 screen, but take your time and learn on smaller prints.
i have a guy that helps me out for free to learn the business. you remind me of him. taking your time, learning and buliding up a decent shop slowly is a good idea. my guy never had to rush, so he's better about taking time for the details, be clean and make sure every shirt is perfect, he'll end up being a better printer than me!!!
Emulsion (not sure which one, or amount. Any suggestions?)
Screen Wash (not sure which one, or amount. Any suggestions?)
Emulsion Remover (not sure which one, or amount. Any suggestions?)
Ink
Pallet Adhesive
Tape
Stouffer 21 Step Transmission Guide
Did I miss anything?
I've checked all the suppliers you guys listed, and man is it frustrating. It seems like they all carry similar products from different brands, some house brands, etc. so it's hard to compare apples to apples. Then one that's got a great price on 1 thing is really high on another.
I know you are all right about the ink. It would take me forever to go through a gallon of black. I will probably end up just grabbing a quart from richardson. Would Union Ultrasoft be good?
I'm going to call Atlas tomorrow, and see what they can do for me since they are local. I have a feeling I'm gonna end up ordering a couple screens from GM, some from Richardson, and some from atlas. One I know what I need as far as emulsion, and chemicals I can figure out costs. Again, I'm laid off, so price matters more than convenience.
I left off Tape, because I'm going the packing tape route, and left off the Stouffers guide because I can't justify $10 shipping on a 1 ounce item. I'll ask Atlas the suggested time for a 500 watt halogen, and go from there. Maybe I'll do a test screen.
I came up with a total close to my original, but added a frame, and some more chemicals. The only thing I reduced was the amount of black ink, and the size of coater, and squeegee.
How does this look now?
BTW, I have a fridge in the garage, so Beer is covered.
Last edited by 13Graphics; July 22nd, 2009 at 01:58 PM.
Reason: Minor change
BTW, based on the solids content of that emulsion (50%, beautiful), you would probably be in the neighborhood of 8-10mins with a 500W halogen at an approximate 22" distance for a solid 7 step exposure.
My very basic starter supply list. 
