Hi Vickie.
I started screen printing in my garage about 2 months ago...i watched a ton of videos on youtube.com for about 2 weeks before i bought anything.... you actually need alot of things to go from screen printing as a hobby to screen printing as a pro.

check out Silk Screening Supplies .com, screen printing equipment, silk screen printing kits

thats where i bought all my equipment..as far as the emulsion being bad for the drain....everything i have heard is its ok to wash out screens in a tub or shower.hope this helps

P.S do you live in NY?

Inked

 

Thanks. I've been to that site and actually have my shopping cart started there, but I hate paying shipping on a small item that I didn't know I needed (therefore, this thread).

Nope, don't live in NY. I live in the hip hoppin' great economy state of Michigan.

Vickie

 

Most emulsion removers/destencilers say the resulting runoff is safe for drain to treatment facility. Unless you are on a septic tank, you are fine to wash it down the drain. It's what everyone else does.

What size screens are you using? That exposure light will not work.. Search the forums for DIY halogen exposure. Lots of people (including myself) use the 500W halogen for exposure. It's much slower than MH, but it works fine, and it should cost you about $20.
Get a step exposure gauge. Seriously, buy one and save yourself some time and headaches.
You will need some sort of large sink area to wash your designs out. Some people use their bathtub, and a sprayer attachment, but you will make a mess, and over time, your tub will start to turn the color of your emulsion, so pick a color you like..

You will need destenciler/emulsion remover to reclaim your screens, as noted above. You will need some sort of ink remover for waterbased. I am not sure what people use for that. When reclaiming your screens, you will need a high-pressure water source. A pressure washer is nice, but you can get by with a garden hose nozzle with a fine stream.

 

Most emulsion removers/destencilers say the resulting runoff is safe for drain to treatment facility. Unless you are on a septic tank, you are fine to wash it down the drain. It's what everyone else does.

What size screens are you using? That exposure light will not work.. Search the forums for DIY halogen exposure. Lots of people (including myself) use the 500W halogen for exposure. It's much slower than MH, but it works fine, and it should cost you about $20.
Get a step exposure gauge. Seriously, buy one and save yourself some time and headaches.
You will need some sort of large sink area to wash your designs out. Some people use their bathtub, and a sprayer attachment, but you will make a mess, and over time, your tub will start to turn the color of your emulsion, so pick a color you like..

You will need destenciler/emulsion remover to reclaim your screens, as noted above. You will need some sort of ink remover for waterbased. I am not sure what people use for that. When reclaiming your screens, you will need a high-pressure water source. A pressure washer is nice, but you can get by with a garden hose nozzle with a fine stream.

We live in the country and have a septic field. Am I hosed then?

Vickie

 

I would check with whatever emulsion manufacturer you choose (I like Ulano). It should be fine in a septic, with proper emulsion remover.

 

I would check with whatever emulsion manufacturer you choose (I like Ulano). It should be fine in a septic, with proper emulsion remover.

I don't really have to worry about it for rinsing out a design, right? Maybe I'll just rinse outside when the weather's nice.

 

If you are going to rinse your screens outside, why worry about the septic field, it's the same thing.

 

Doesn't a septic field have plantlife in it to deal with effluent? So if the chemical run-off caused the plantlife to die, that would be why worry.

It's my understanding that washing out emulsion onto the soil (where it can get into the water table) is not a great idea. Not really my area though.

I definitely agree with your earlier advice; contact the emulsion manufacturer for advice.