[RepentClothing]

I have currently acquired a...

4 station 4 color silk screen press, 6 bulb 30 watt exposure unit, Professional flash dryer(110V), and aluminum and wooden screens(110 mesh).Crazy wipes,tape,assorted squeegees,ect. As a gift

I also have a vynil cutter that I have had for a few year and work with pretty well.

I have a inkjet printer HP OFFICE JET 7000 WIDE FORMAT PRINTER. (with films), I also have Adobe illustrator,Vector magic, and Photoshop. Artwork used so far has been vectored and 1 color with vectored font.

So far I have messed up EVERY TIME!! Early in process on a 1 color job
Steps I have taken so far. (Wasted almost a quart of emulsion)

1. De-Greased the new screens.
2.Let them dry for 3 to 4 hours.
3.Coated with emulsion (Ryonet Pink HiFi Photopolymer) 1 and 1 coat. (With safelight room.)
4. Dryed over night or at least 6 hours.
5.Exposed for 4:25 with 15lbs of pressure (Films doubled up for opaqueness). Whiched turned out the best so far.
6.DURING WASHOUT THERE MUST OF BEEN A "HOTSPOT" OF SORT ON THE EXPOSURE UNIT... BECAUSE THE TOP FONT BLOWS OUT SLIGHTLY, WHILE THE MAIN IMAGE WASHES PERFECTLY.
7.(With the best screened washout out and dryed) I set to print, 1/8 inch off contact using RUTLAND SNAP WHITE ON BLACK 50/50 garment.
8.Flooding is a pain and cant cover image completly with out making smoothly,(I guess I used too much or too little ink)
9.With one to two passes, The image does not pass very well.


Is there anything I am missing. I feel with all these failed early attempts It has driven me MAD enough to sell this stuff lol. I have a passion for it as well as worked in a graphic design firms!

I am youtubed out!

 

[Remark]

Where are you located? Maybe find a local printer to learn a little from? Forget the videos, all of them. Find a local printer, and ask for help. Ask if YOU can help. Be honest and straightforward.
Clean a few screens, then clean a few more. Ask about chemicals, make notes, scrub and scrub.
Ask if you can bring in your screens and emulsion (it's not cheap) and if they will teach you how to coat a screen. With proper tools, it's a breeze. Print an emulsion calculator. Learn. Ask questions and watch the workflow. Stay out of the way but participate. Learn.
Again, be honest and straightforward. Not everyone will be keen on "competition". If you can intern for a week or two and chalk it up to training, I promise you will be all the better for it. You make an ally as well for future issues you will most certainly come across. I really wish I could have found someone to show me the ropes. Cold truth is watching videos and buying equipment is the easy part. The easiest by far, regardless of the "research". Trade shows and salesman make this look easy. Printing is a skill. Sub, Embroidery, HT, DTG, Screen, Vinyl, you get the idea. Skill takes time to learn. With videos you are going to have a bad time. Learn flawed methods, get frustrated and lose a grip. Take some of that working capital and take some hands on classes if you prefer. Take a deep breath friend, you have embarked a long path.

 

[Remark]

1. De-Greased the new screens.

Make sure they are rinsed well. The water should sheet off (if that makes sense

2.Let them dry for 3 to 4 hours.

Dry is dry

3.Coated with emulsion (Ryonet Pink HiFi Photopolymer) 1 and 1 coat. (With safelight room.)

White ink - 2 coats textile side, 1 coat inkwell side


4. Dryed over night or at least 6 hours.

Dry horizontal, inkwell side up. Light free, low humidity preferred

5.Exposed for 4:25 with 15lbs of pressure (Films doubled up for opaqueness). Whiched turned out the best so far.

Exposure calculator. Cheap insurance.


6.DURING WASHOUT THERE MUST OF BEEN A "HOTSPOT" OF SORT ON THE EXPOSURE UNIT... BECAUSE THE TOP FONT BLOWS OUT SLIGHTLY, WHILE THE MAIN IMAGE WASHES PERFECTLY.

See above

7.(With the best screened washout out and dryed) I set to print, 1/8 inch off contact using RUTLAND SNAP WHITE ON BLACK 50/50 garment.

Reduce and stir

8.Flooding is a pain and cant cover image completly with out making smoothly,(I guess I used too much or too little ink)

See above

9.With one to two passes, The image does not pass very well.

squeegee angle/pressure


Is there anything I am missing. I feel with all these failed early attempts It has driven me MAD enough to sell this stuff lol. I have a passion for it as well as worked in a graphic design firms!

Deep breath. Long road.

 

[RepentClothing]

I have no problem with the process/craft. I feel I achieve a little win with every overcome failure. No matter how littler or big.

I actually just picked up a new pressure washer today and screen coat holder (Silly I know) ,just to ease the process I am having trouble with.

There are a few guys around with shops, but somehow I am already kind of viewed as competition. And have been called out in ways. (Mainly just networking with already logo design business.) And I already have and overload of clients/friends wanting quotes.

Also I accidentally stumbled on the wholesale supplier that most in this area get ink and supplies from. And now I get my supplies from, and have run into a few owners at will call.

I gave up the youtube videos and just doing some trail and error.

I just feel I am missing out on some little step or trick that would make this 110 x easier.

 

[Remark]

I just feel I am missing out on some little step or trick that would make this 110 x easier.

You are. A million of them.

Google "exposure calculator". Read a tutorial, grab a few. You sound eager (which is awesome), so overnight those units.

Call One Stoke Inks and get some "Hybrid White". It's a staple at my shop. I'm not saying it's the best, but it's the best "straight out of the bucket" that I've used. Overnight it also.

 

[RepentClothing]

Oh yea super eager. I plan to change the business, I had a pretty successful clothes line in HS and felt I had to jump through hoops with getting a print job. So with that motivation and custom service experience, I want to make it easier on young talent and small businesses.

I will also try what you recommended.

 

[fdbattles]

I'm a newbie to the forum, but in response to the original message. To help hold your drawing down during exposure, you should get a piece of plexi-glass cut the size of the screen, making sure you peel the paper off the plexi-glass, then try exposing. The plexi-glass will help hold your graphics down on the screen. Doubling the positive is good for ensuring a good exposed image. DO NOT over-expose, but that depends on your exposure unit. Learn what is the best exposure time for your unit as a measure for other jobs.

When washing out your exposed screen, use a 1500-1800 psi pressure washer, try wetting the screen, front and back, wait 2 - 5 minutes, then continue washing out. This should make washing out easier. Wash a little, hold to light, then wash some more. This prevents wash out. Then you should be good to go with setting up and washing out your screens.

 

[jimcr]

I'm a newbie to the forum, but in response to the original message. To help hold your drawing down during exposure, you should get a piece of plexi-glass cut the size of the screen, making sure you peel the paper off the plexi-glass, then try exposing. The plexi-glass will help hold your graphics down on the screen. Doubling the positive is good for ensuring a good exposed image. DO NOT over-expose, but that depends on your exposure unit. Learn what is the best exposure time for your unit as a measure for other jobs.

When washing out your exposed screen, use a 1500-1800 psi pressure washer, try wetting the screen, front and back, wait 2 - 5 minutes, then continue washing out. This should make washing out easier. Wash a little, hold to light, then wash some more. This prevents wash out. Then you should be good to go with setting up and washing out your screens.

Do a step wedge test as said before and see what your needs are , as to exposing . Make sure your bulbs in your exposing unit have warmed up prior to burning your screen . is the exposing unit new, or used. if its used you may have week bulbs.
I am not familar with that printer but you have to make sure that your positives are opaque enough , Are you trying to print a half tone without a RIP ? Maybe post some pictures and see if the help you receive is better .
you said you have 15lbs of pressure , is this a vacuum unit or are you setting weight on top of your screen?
you should not need 1500-1800 psi to wash out. I use the same emulsion in blue and wash out with a standard garden hose.

 

[RepentClothing]

I use a simple garden hose attachment for washing out. And pressure wash for reclaiming and such.

The exposure unit is gently used, How long would you warm them up for? I didn't even think of that.

 

[jimcr]

I use a simple garden hose attachment for washing out. And pressure wash for reclaiming and such.

The exposure unit is gently used, How long would you warm them up for? I didn't even think of that.

5-10 minutes, if it was used it may need new bulbs.

 

[RepentClothing]

I will try this. The only hurdle right now is setting up a dry rack.