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I just started out, poor results.

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N

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Could someone please tell me what I should get as far as inks and minimal equipment to start being able to print quality t shirts. I have some versatex water based ink and I use Ulano QTX Emulsion. I seemed to have better results with yudu ink and emulsion film.

I don't know much about screen printing... except that I love how I feel while I do it, and it is definitely something I would like to perfect. Is there some kind stepping stone path I should follow?

Thank you for reading.
 
S

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#2 ·
Hayk,

As long as you follow your own advise, and perfect what you don't know you'll do well. Don't give up.

Personally, I don't like Waterbased Ink. Ulano's emulsion is fine. I would get Plastisol based ink. Buy Reclaimer to remove emulsion from the screens. Screen Wash to Remove the INK from the Screen (this should be first after you've screen printed something), and buy Dehazer or Haze Reducer to take off images that don't come off the screen. It's also called ghosting.

For white Plastisol Ink and other thick ink, purchase a Curable Reducer. This thins the ink. A good paint stirrer or Icing knife to stir the ink. Stir it well.

Some good Squeegies.

Also a good screen printing book. Screen Printing for Fun & Profit or something like that. Not sure of the Actual name of the book. Maybe Photoshop 7 for screen printers. They have a CS3 version too.

Hope this helps. This Forum and YouTube are great resources.
 
sben763

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#3 ·
first recomendation is lay off the pot or least dont take a picture of yourself(or someone else) standing next to a plant and post on the internet.
 
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S

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#5 ·
2nd think is stop smoking it while you're trying to make t-shirts. lol.

Also, Didn't realize you had Ulano Stencil remover. Thought it was Ulano Emulsion.

1st thing, throw away everything you have. 2nd, take a screen printing class. 3rd, buy new equipment for screen printing.

If you're holding a light to expose your screens it won't be accurate. You're constantly moving when holding something yourself.

Taking a class will give you the fundamentals to screen print and contacts to get more business.

I'm not the Police, but think about what will happen to you if you go to jail.

Your young, and will become someones bunk buddy whether you want to or not.
 
S

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#8 ·
You're also holding the light too high. Do you have a Glass over the Image/Screen?

You should have: Screen with emulsion dried, upside down film with opague image, piece of glass. Hold the light 12 to 16 inches above that.

I would buy some PVC and make a stand. Use U-bolts to hold a 500 watt Halogen light.
 
N

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Thank you for all your help and concerns. Just to let you know in Cali, it's called medicine. Medicating is completely fine. And if the feds are looking for marijuana cultivators in t-shirt forums, I guess we are all in trouble.

I have both the emulsion AND the remover

as for the light, it is suspended from the ceiling on its own.
 
K

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#11 ·
Gotta love Cali. I bet when he is "Medicating" himself he comes up with great ideas... Anyhow trust me buy a good press, I have had excellant prints with ulano emulsion. ALways let it dry for a day after applying, I have the light about 17 to 19 inches away from the image I'm burning and I have glass ontop of that. Exposed it for damn I cant remember set it so many times I dont even think bout it. Anyway after the time is up I wash the stencil out of the emulsion and print. I always used a store bought press, Plastisol inks, and I use Ulano stencil remover and dehazer and havent had problems. However I upgraded to a different brand and that slips my mind.. One other piece of equipment is a pressure washer to wash out and flood your screens when done. It helps push the ink out of the mesh.
 
S

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#13 ·
Why would a young man like yourself need to medicate himself? If it was legal why do you grow it indoors?

Also, just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

As far as T-shirt forums goes, the Feds can google your Medication and find the post.

With a 1/4 inch thick glass and the light 12" above, it takes 3.5 minutes to expose. Using a 500 watt halogen light of course.
 
ScreenFoo

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#14 ·
Your light will expose very differently from a halogen--if it's a metal halide, it will beat the crap out of a halogen. Look up "step wedge test" for info on a reasonably cheap and proper way of figuring out your exposure time. A stand would be a very good idea.

As to the screen opener, it's nasty stuff. Clean your screens properly as soon as you're done, and you'll never need it.

You may be able to get the remaining emulsion out of your screen with either a caustic haze remover (which is also nasty) or bleach (which is also nasty, but more available). When I was in school doing this, we reclaimed with sheets of newspaper wet down to the mesh with a solution of half bleach, half water.

Not sure if the political comments are supposed to be backed up by some forum guideline, but they certainly don't sound too on topic.
 
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