Screen DIY
Resources & Suppliers
Victory Factory (Aluminum Screens)
Dick Blick
Valley Litho (Speedball screen inks, emulsion, screen coaters)
Silkscreeningsupplies.com
Gold-Up USA
TWGraphics.com (Water=based Inks)
Midwest Sign & Screen
Holden's Screen Supply (SAQ water-based poster ink)
24"x100' Roll Waterproof Inkjet Transparency Film for Silk Screen Printing from GoldUpUSAInc ($68.98 on Amazon)
Dick Blick
Valley Litho (Speedball screen inks, emulsion, screen coaters)
Silkscreeningsupplies.com
Gold-Up USA
TWGraphics.com (Water=based Inks)
Midwest Sign & Screen
Holden's Screen Supply (SAQ water-based poster ink)
24"x100' Roll Waterproof Inkjet Transparency Film for Silk Screen Printing from GoldUpUSAInc ($68.98 on Amazon)
Screens & Squeegees
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You can buy wood or metal squeegees from any of the sources above. (Wood is generally cheaper).
We have been using 70 Durometer (Rubber Hardness) for our shop. It is a good all around hardness. SCREENS: Come in Aluminum or wood (Aluminum is lighter and doesn't warp due to moisture, but costs a little more.) Screens you can get from a variety of the sources above as well. Buying several at once is cheaper due to shipping. Mesh comes in white or yellow. (Both work well) Mesh counts: 110 is good for printing Flats or bold images. 160 is a good over all mesh count for most hand drawing images and even halftones 230 or 305 is good for fine line work or more detailed halftones |
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Hinge ClampsSpeedball deluxe hinge clamps: $26.00 from Dick Blick
or AWT hinge clamps also from Blick Or cheaper Heavy duty hinge clamps for $10.00 from Blick. |
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Inks
We've been using permanent acrylic inks, but they also make water-based inks.
Speedball Permanent Acrylic Screen Printing Ink (THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING) -Available through Blick or Valley Litho among others.
19 brilliant colors for us on paper, wood, and cardboard. Cleans up easily with water. Non-flammable and contains no selvents. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printing or painting with brush. Archival qualities.
They also make:
Speedball Water Soluble Screen Printing Ink:
10 brilliant colors for use with paper and cardboard. Dries to a smooth, matte finish. Non-flammable, no solvents and no offensive smell. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printed or painted on with brush and cleans up easily with water. Archival Qualities.
Speedball Fabric Screenprinting Ink
19 Brilliant colors including fluorescent and process colors for use on cotton, polyester, blends, linen, rayon and other synthetic fibers (NOT for use on nylon). Also works great on paper and cardboard! Washfast when properly heat-set. Non-flammable, contains no solvents and no offensive smell. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printed or painted on with brush. Archival qualities.
Speedball Permanent Acrylic Screen Printing Ink (THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING) -Available through Blick or Valley Litho among others.
19 brilliant colors for us on paper, wood, and cardboard. Cleans up easily with water. Non-flammable and contains no selvents. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printing or painting with brush. Archival qualities.
They also make:
Speedball Water Soluble Screen Printing Ink:
10 brilliant colors for use with paper and cardboard. Dries to a smooth, matte finish. Non-flammable, no solvents and no offensive smell. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printed or painted on with brush and cleans up easily with water. Archival Qualities.
Speedball Fabric Screenprinting Ink
19 Brilliant colors including fluorescent and process colors for use on cotton, polyester, blends, linen, rayon and other synthetic fibers (NOT for use on nylon). Also works great on paper and cardboard! Washfast when properly heat-set. Non-flammable, contains no solvents and no offensive smell. AP Non-Toxic conforms to ASTM D-4236. Can be screen printed or painted on with brush. Archival qualities.
Emulsion / Scoop coaters
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We've been using:Speedball Diazo Photo Screen Printing Emulsions
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Scoop Coater from Valley Litho
/ 15" coater is about $15.00. |
Emulsion Coater / AWT from Dick Blick / 15" $29.00
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Exposing a screen
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UV Screen Exposure Bulb by Ryonet
$15.00 from screenprinting.com DIY UV SCREEN EXPOSURE BULBby Ryonet 2 $14.99 SKU DRAC-UVBULBOur DIY UV Screen Exposure Bulb is a great way to expose emulsion for an economical price. This CFL UV Fluorescent Bulb is specifically manufactured for Ryonet and not available on the market anywhere else. Simply screw in the bulb to any light fixture and safely expose a screen with the recommended WBP Dual Cure Emulsion for 10-11 minutes in a light safe environment. Dick blick also sells screen exposing units
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Clean up / Washing out a screen & Stencil Removers
In warm weather you can take your screen outside and wash out the ink with a garden hose.
For stubborn stains or ink, you can also take your screen to a car wash and use their pressure washer hose.
You can also buy your own pressure washer at Home Depot or Lowes. (This is what we've done for the one in our shop).
(Sometimes the car wash sprayers are strong enough to remove the photo emulsion without a stripper).
Stencil Removers / Strippers
We've been using Ulano #4 Stencil remover (available through various sources). Here's a link to using a light bulb.-This is formulated for the Speedball Emulsion we've been using.
For stubborn stains or ink, you can also take your screen to a car wash and use their pressure washer hose.
You can also buy your own pressure washer at Home Depot or Lowes. (This is what we've done for the one in our shop).
(Sometimes the car wash sprayers are strong enough to remove the photo emulsion without a stripper).
Stencil Removers / Strippers
We've been using Ulano #4 Stencil remover (available through various sources). Here's a link to using a light bulb.-This is formulated for the Speedball Emulsion we've been using.