[IgoHAMnCHZ]

I've only ever used heat transfer papers and vinyl cutters to make custom shirts, and would like to look into screen printing.

I've read on different components of the screen printing process, and after taking a shot in the dark with the equipment I started out with so far, I've realized the most relevant question a newbie can ask is which features you need (or don't need) to produce quality products.

I'm a one man operation, so I don't think I'll need an 8-station machine that has all the bells and whistles.

I see people mentioning things like "micro-registration" which seems like a must have for that piece of equipment, although I have no idea what that feature is used for.

I think my best option would be to buy a used machine as part of a "complete package" that is of one of the top manufacturers (which I have no idea who those are).

Are there different types of emulsions? And if so, is there a general agreement on which produces the best results?

Thanks!

 

[jeron]

There are a lot of different views about what you can and cant cut corners on. For example i started out building a 4 color 4 station press out of wood, washing out my screens in a laundry sink, burning my screens with a 500 watt halogen light and curing my shirts in my kitchen oven. Since then i have picked up a used conveyor drier, 6 color 4 station press(without micros), washout booth, and 5000 watt olec exposure unit with a vacuum blanket.

Basically you can start with whatever you can get. As far as quality i have always been of the opinion that you can get just as good quality with old stuff given you take the time to learn what you need to learn so you can figure out how to do it right.

 

[RepentClothing]

Everything available for sale on silk screen supply sites, are to make the job easier/faster. If you find difficulty in not having a particular item or brand.Then upgrade/buy when you can. I personally have a great "start up." kit and still have difficulties and hair pulling moments. The more you invest the better payout you achieve, which leads to happiness.

As far as equipment wise,

Washout booth or Drying rack. Are the only thing you may be able to "Cut corners on."

 

[Remark]

The best way to save a penny is either find a printer and work out something with them, or take a few "hands on" classes. I don't want to intimidate you, but be prepared to learn a skill. Learning in the correct fashion will make you happy. The other route is a long, expensive one. Anything worth doing, is worth doing correctly. Now I'll get off my soap box and try to contribute by answering (to my best ability) what I believe to be instrumental aspects.

A properly cleaned screen
"Clean" art, with proper mesh size screen
Quality emulsion applied correctly
A properly exposed screen
Level platen
proper off contact (this varies wildly from printer to printer, this is on you, just make sure the screen snaps off the textile behind the squeegee)
Ink/Reducer/Stir sticks (again, this is on you, we all have preferences)

As far as equipment, it's all pretty good.
After re-reading your OP, I really, honestly, with all good intentions suggest a few classes/find someone you can learn from BEFORE you purchase equipment. You may try it, not like it and move to DTG. You may LOVE it and be cracking out process prints that make other printers heads explode! Or, you may be like me, printing whatever with the door closed and tunes on 11.

 

[IgoHAMnCHZ]

Those are all very helpful points, thanks!

There aren't really any opportunities for me to get hands on experience in my area, but the old-fashioned "trial and error" approach is how I've gotten as far as I have with my Epson printer and vinyl cutter so I'm confident that I'll be able to work it all out.

My biggest concern was getting a machine that would make it more difficult to teach myself than it needed to be by giving me extra trouble along the way (similar to my ArmurInk CIS that I'm now stuck with when I should have went with Cobra).

Looks like the most important pieces would be the printing station and whatever method I use to make the screens. Consistency in the process = screen printing Nirvana.

Thanks again!

If there were any specific features in the equipment you use that were more helpful than others I'd appreciate the tips!

 

[MimosaTexas]

I started out with entirely homemade equipment about 7 years ago. To this day the only things I have bought are my film printer, my press, my conveyor dryer, and my heat presses. Everything else can be built with varying degrees of difficulty and investment and will still produce professional results.

While you can build a press, having a sturdy and precision machined press will save you tons of headaches and let you print more detailed prints with better consistency. To clarify, micro registration allows you to make minor adjustments to the position of a screen while it is clamped into the press. Without it, you will have a hard time lining up screens that need to be pixel perfect for butt registration or process printing. Something as simple as putting an outline around text can take forever to properly line up without it. I would suggest purchasing an M&R, Vastex, or Antec press if you can find one for a good price used. If you are truly on a budget the silver press from Ryonet is a workable machine and worth the price. I would highly recommend the new M&R Kruzer as it has all the bells and whistles of presses twice the price and every accessory, like pallets and registration systems, is compatible with their higher end presses and automatics so you won't waste money purchasing things you won't use as you grow.

A conveyor dryer will speed up your production and produce consistent curing so the shirts you give clients will not wash out and you won't be slowed down by curing under a flash one shirt at a time. While a few people have made these, you can usually find used ones in working condition on craigslist for between $500 and $1000 and it is money well spent. Brand is less important here as they all do essentially the same thing, just make sure whatever you buy is in working condition prior to purchase.

Heat presses add versatility but are not necessary. Look for Geo Knight or Hotronix used. Avoid the chinese and unbranded crap.

The epson 1400 or 1430 are cheap and great choices for film printers.

I build my exposure unit, washout booth, dip tank, drying racks and screen drying cabinet, vacuum table for poster printing, and all the tables and displays and carts etc for organizing and providing work space. There are dozens of threads showcasing diy versions of all of these on this and other screen printing forums.

 

[IgoHAMnCHZ]

I started out with entirely homemade equipment about 7 years ago. To this day the only things I have bought are my film printer, my press, my conveyor dryer, and my heat presses. Everything else can be built with varying degrees of difficulty and investment and will still produce professional results.

While you can build a press, having a sturdy and precision machined press will save you tons of headaches and let you print more detailed prints with better consistency. To clarify, micro registration allows you to make minor adjustments to the position of a screen while it is clamped into the press. Without it, you will have a hard time lining up screens that need to be pixel perfect for butt registration or process printing. Something as simple as putting an outline around text can take forever to properly line up without it. I would suggest purchasing an M&R, Vastex, or Antec press if you can find one for a good price used. If you are truly on a budget the silver press from Ryonet is a workable machine and worth the price. I would highly recommend the new M&R Kruzer as it has all the bells and whistles of presses twice the price and every accessory, like pallets and registration systems, is compatible with their higher end presses and automatics so you won't waste money purchasing things you won't use as you grow.

A conveyor dryer will speed up your production and produce consistent curing so the shirts you give clients will not wash out and you won't be slowed down by curing under a flash one shirt at a time. While a few people have made these, you can usually find used ones in working condition on craigslist for between $500 and $1000 and it is money well spent. Brand is less important here as they all do essentially the same thing, just make sure whatever you buy is in working condition prior to purchase.

Heat presses add versatility but are not necessary. Look for Geo Knight or Hotronix used. Avoid the chinese and unbranded crap.

The epson 1400 or 1430 are cheap and great choices for film printers.

I build my exposure unit, washout booth, dip tank, drying racks and screen drying cabinet, vacuum table for poster printing, and all the tables and displays and carts etc for organizing and providing work space. There are dozens of threads showcasing diy versions of all of these on this and other screen printing forums.

AWESOME!!

I use a brand new Hotronix, and have had good results with my Epson 1430 (minus the occasional hiccup).

I'll be looking into all those machines to see which would be the best fit for me, thanks for the info about lining up the different colors of multi-colored designs! That gives me plenty of trouble with my vinyl cutter when I try to outline/layer colors in the same design.

Are there any good places to start with trying to find out which supplies I'll be starting with such as how high of a mesh I should use on screens or which type of emulsion to use so I can get consistent results? I was thinking most of that would come from the vendor I chose to buy supplies from, and would like to hear some un-biased info on the different vendors that aren't sales reps!

 

[W.E. Productions]

Similar to your story, I began making t-shirts using Vinyl and transfer paper & realized that this process was too time consuming once business picked up & orders got larger. I started out screen printing in 2011 on the 2011 version of the Ryonet starter press that only printed one color and clamped onto a table. Less than a year later I upgraded to the 4/1 Silver press, which I then used for 2 years and just recently upgraded to a Vastex. I started out using a work light for my exposure unit then upgraded to using a yudu machine as an exposure unit (the yudu works pretty good! It sure beats a work light). If I had to do it all over I & had the money I would have went with a nice floor model press in the beginning. But, when you are starting out with low funds & you want to be sure this is something you are going to be able to stick with you don't want to spend the thousands it takes for a floor press. I would recommend starting with a press similar to the silver press or the 4/1 starter press if you can't find a good deal on a used floor model instead of spending thousands on something until you are sure it is for you. I'll post a pic below of the press I started out with.