[SwankySeams]

I am about to build an exporsure unit, i am new to screen printing. I have the basic design down but dont know what type of bulb to use. I think a cheap halogen to start but i want to be sure the emulsion i buy will work with the bulb i get. Im not sure what ink and other materials to buy, im looking for middle of the road. Does anyone have recommendations ?

 

[salazar44]

I am about to build an exporsure unit, i am new to screen printing. I have the basic design down but dont know what type of bulb to use. I think a cheap halogen to start but i want to be sure the emulsion i buy will work with the bulb i get. Im not sure what ink and other materials to buy, im looking for middle of the road. Does anyone have recommendations ?

I just started out as well. I am currently using a craftsman 500watt halogen work light for 13 minutes at 13 inches away. I use Ulano FX88 emulsion.

This is just what works for me. I have also had success with Chromablue emulsion, same times.

 

[SwankySeams]

I have bought an exposure unit now, im looking into fluorescents bulbs now. still not know where to start. anyways thanks for the post.

 

[jeron]

Basically just about any bulb will expose emulsion with enough time... photopolymer emulsion will expose faster typically, so it's suggested you use that if your using a weaker bulb...

for example I use saatichem graphic pu emulsion which is a photopolymer. When I was using a 1000 watt quarts halogen work light my exposure time was right around 7:30 minutes. But when I upgraded to a 5000 watt metal halide exposure light my time dropped to just 17 seconds using the same emulsion.

Basically if your using a weaker light I would go with a photopolymer..

Thanks,
Jeron

 

[sben763]

Standard fluorescent tubes put out almost no usable UV light. They will not be strong enough to form proper cross linking due to the very low output. In fluorescent tubes you need unfiltered black lights. Daylight bulbs will also work but will take double the time of unfiltered black lights. The lower power light sources will also have a hard time fully penetrating a thicker stencil.