DIY Exposure Unit: What light source?

[mr. illiteracy]

thanks for the tip, given the choice i think local is usually the way to go anyway.
does anyone know what the ideal spectrum is?

[Andymac]

330-440 nm

but most bulbs/lamps don't show those numbers unless you really dig, or they are specifically for graphic apps.

[mr. illiteracy]

finding 1000w bulbs locally is proving to be a huge pain, so I think I will go with a 2x500w configuration. This whole exposure unit thing is proving to be quite a hassle and I haven;t even started! If only there was a studio around here where I could just pay a fee and use their stuff...

[DenisMutter]

we use 2 500 watt halogens with the safety glass removed, 36 inches to glass, exposure time +/- 10 minutes.

works like a champ.

cost: $30 and some string to hang the rig from a hot water pipe.

no, I'm not kidding.

[mr. illiteracy]

I've heard a lot of people using a hanging exposure setup dealie, could you go into a little bit more detail about how this setup is constructed? Pics would be great if anyone has some.

On another note I actually managed to find a printmaking center with co-op studio space available for like $12 buck an hour, which *should* be more than enough time to coat and expose like 4 or 5 screens at a time (provided Murphy's law doesn't rear its ugly head as it usually does). I think for now this is the most cost effective method and the most convenient.

[boatdreams]

I believe if you're going with an exposure from above, you need a piece of foam cut to fit in the squeegee side of the screen, and you lay a sheet of glass on top.

I expose from below and use a bunch of phone books to keep the film in total contact with the screen.

Another way that works really well is taping the film to the screen, putting a square of foam on the squeegee side, and putting the whole screen into a vacuum space bag. Then you suck all the air out with a shop vac and expose.

[windflame]

Are you not at SVA anymore? The lab is $250 a semester and they provide all the TW ink, emulsion, and stuff you could ever need.

[mr. illiteracy]

nope, it's a long story but basically I couldnt get registered for this semester so I'm beat for the year. The SVA lab is awesome and I would definitely do it if I still lived in the city, but I'm back home in CT now so it's not really an option.

[windflame]

Not sure if steve is serious about hooking this up for free, but check it out haha. Maybe a drive to chicago is in your future.

Mercury Vapour exposure unit:

[strawberryluna]

hey!

my parents are in town and my stepdad and i are going home depot shopping and are going to build an expsosure unit for my studio today.

gulp.

uv uv uv 48" 48" 48"

this is what i have learned.

are you guys feeling strongly that individual housings/ballasts are smarter instead of the 2 bulb-housings?