[gijoe985]

So, I want to "play around" with screen printing. The art teacher at the school I work at is letting me borrow the eco 4 color press. He has a bunch of water based inks that I could use, but I'm not sure if that is the route I want t go?

What do you guys say? Would water based be good for "learning" or should I buy some plastisol ink?

I'm trying to do this learning project in phases. Perhaps ay to have a screen made for me, then make my own once I've had success with a pro made one. Rather than fighting my newbie struggles on every front, face them one at a time.

 

[myrrhmaid]

I'm teaching myself how to silkscreen. I wish I had a set up like that to borrow! I would think waterbased ink would be ideal to get a feel for the medium. Then you can move to using the platisol. Each kind of ink might give you different inspiration for designs to make to go with it's unique properties. I am going to get some of the fabric additive for acrylic paint to use on clothing. The additive softens the paint so it dries flexible.
If you don't want to commit your art to a whole, brand new screen, you can stretch a piece of sheer nylon curtain in an embroidery hoop or staple to an old, flat picture frame and use mod podge for the resist. That's some real DIY there. Nothing short of homemade innovation!
Hope to see what you make!

 

[gijoe985]

What do you guys think will be easiest to cure using "DIY" and home tools? Water based or plastisol? I know that both inks will need around 330 degrees. I've read plenty on the internet so far, but not much for comparing the two as far as DIY goes.

 

[Printavo]

My best suggestion is to check out Ryonet's classes. They have local classes all over the country that you can participate in to get a taste of everything needed. As far as the business side, I would talk to a local shop owner. Take him to lunch and quiz him for an hour about everything: billing, art process, inventory, costs, lessons learned, etc

 

[gijoe985]

So, it sounds like both types of inks can be cured by being flashed to touch and then heat pressed. I u earlier 16x20 auto press, so putting it to use would be great.

It sounds like a simple heater can work sufficiently for just flash curing.

 

[jeron]

I haven't used water based but plastisol you just have to heat it up enough to gel it to flash it... however you do it, it doesn't really matter.. I started out flashing my designs with a cheap heat gun, then curing them in a normal everyday kitchen oven... heat it up to 400, put the shirt on a cookie sheet and let it cook for as long as it needs to reach temp...

Your heat press would work also!!!

Screen Printing is a relatively easy process... sure depending on the equipment, experience, and other things it will result in better, more economical prints. But it doesn't mean you need any of that stuff to do it, especially if your doing it just for fun... a business on the other hand would be a different story.

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[gijoe985]

I run my "business" via vinyl and plastisol, but hope to screen print for "fun" until I think I'm readyto ttransition by business over...

 

[jeron]

So I'm assuming by plastisol you mean plastisol transfers?

Screen Printing will give you a lot more options but there is a lot more involved... pay around with it and see what you think..

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