Creation of a studio

[Happie Bot]

I am a undergrad design student with a passion for screen printing, I have started the process of turning my basement into a studio. Being new to the screen printing scene and not having much cash to start up a small operation I come to you (the great Gig Poster community) with these questions.

Are there any used or cheap screen printing sites I could order equipment from?

I have heard of people making their own light boxes. Would it be cheaper to make a light box or to order one?

As a new printer would there be any advice on creating successful posters you could lend?

Thanks for your feedback

[vrooooom]

I've been doing some of the same over the last year, though I had experience in a professional shop.

Used equipment? Yes, but mostly for ultra-premium equipment. You don't need much to get started, so the odds and ends like drying racks, flat files, tables, etc. are best sourced locally or in driving distance. Freight will kill your budget on most items. Try out SearchTempest - The EASY way to search Craigslist and search craigslist within a certain distance from your home/shop.

Light boxes. You mean, exposure unit. Yes, and there are different avenues to investigate. If you have 200-300 dollars to invest, try making a fluorescent blacklight rig for quick exposures and reliable results. There are plans in the premium section and in general discussions; use the search feature. If that is more money than you're willing to spend, possibly experiment with solar exposures in your back or front yard. This will work best if you have a way to get proper transparencies/film positives for exposing. Solar exposures can be problematic with vellum or oil separations if you're new to the medium.

Think about how much you plan to be a printer, vs. a designer of printed products. You can buy aluminum screens fairly inexpensively, along with a matching squeegee and scoop coater. Think about the maximum size you want to print / can afford to print, and plan from there. You can get by with 2 screens, but eventually you'll want more.

Starting out, think about art prints in the short run. They're a little easier to sale and recoup costs on. After you get your chops busted on those projects, you can begin to offer poster services. But always keep printing, and learning.

[caribou]

atlas screen printing supply sells used newman roller frames every once in a while. check ebay as well.

500W shop lamps from lowe's for exposures.

ink, emulsion, etc...locally, or from a large supplier online. you can figure out which is cheaper for your situation.

buy AndyMac's printing book.

go premium. it supports this site and people will be a lot more willing to impart their knowledge to someone that kicks in around here.

[Happie Bot]

Thanks for the advice.

[sixtybones]

Doesn't U of I have equipment to use? I went to NIU and if you had your own screens it was empty after 9pm with more room then I could imagine. Make friends or figure out how to get access to that equipment.

[Happie Bot]

They do I am pretty sure. I will ask around town and see what I can come up with.

[kim_a]

I'm currently printing on my kitchen table, my printing surface is a 20$ wood-canvas thing from blick that has speedball-clamps on the edge, spraytack for keeping the paper in place. I'm exposing using a 25$ shoplight and using an empty picture frame for the glass, laid between two kitchen chairs and the shoplight on the floor. Screens were 30$ a pop from Ryonet, washout in the bathtub. =)

Just start printing and slowly build the stuff you need as you reach the limits of your current equipment (this coming from the guy who bought a Svecia one-arm squeegee, printing table with vacuum and micro-registration before pulling his first real print =p )... start by getting some materials and building the vacuum table using the plans in the premium section. Then, like others said, get a pair of screens online, along with squeegee and a scoop-coater. If you have a back yard that's a great place to blast your screens with the pressure washer. Fancy exposure, drying rack and a washout-booth inside can wait a bit longer, good luck =)

-Kim

[Andymac]

When I grow up, I want an inside washout booth.

[kim_a]

Who doesn't dream of one day reclaiming screens under a real roof?

[KrzysLower]

Can someone give me a link to where to buy Andymac's book?