Exposure Unit Process

[windflame]

Although i am now at school in NYC and use the facilities here, for a long time i had been dreaming about silkscreening. with some of the diagrams that are passed around this community, i decided the first part of equipment i would build was an exposure unit. this is WELL over a year ago, probably approaching 2 if not past that. Although i never finished the rest of the pieces needed to screen, this is waiting for me at home this summer.

A few steps will be skipped because i can't find all of the pictures i took while working on this project.


First i started by getting some raw lumber.


Measure twice, cut once


Cut the lumber down to size


More lumber shots


Skipping ahead, place and secure all light fixtures with screws


Begin wiring


Keep wiring


Close it all up


Attach and wire switch


All wiring and most work done.


Skipping ahead again, build a stand for the unit to sit on, move everything up to their final destination and wait for glass to be cut.


Glass is cut and placed on top. Once the bulbs arrived i was able to expose a few screen before i ran out of emulsion and money.

The project never picked up again due to working and school. This summer i am going to be working a bunch, but if i can't sell this beast then i am going to try and find time to attach the hinges i have to a shitty table and print a few things. I have an epson 3000 i picked up for $20 bucks along with the film to fit from posjet. I've bought a few screens since i've been at college and i will have to figure out a way to ship those back to use them. Maybe i'll play around with housepaint.

anyways, i figured it was about time to post this.

Edit, i'm glad this was my 800th post.

[Iron Canvas Studios]

nice! did you close off the bottom under the lights at all?

[windflame]

No, i never got far enough to really care about that. I was burning screens in 45 seconds with the emulsion i was using (i think it was QTX, could be wrong). Not a bad idea when i get back though. Thanks!

[four0onestudio]

cool, i've been thinking about doing this but havent got a clue about wiring something like this up. Any tips?

[steve w]

very nice, but get it away from the window

[mile44]

Glad to hear someone else is getting ultra quick exposures. We're not at 50 seconds using qtx and 3x500w halogens.

btw .. The wiring and setup of your exposure box is sharp.

-D-

[Iron Canvas Studios]

Glad to hear someone else is getting ultra quick exposures. We're not at 50 seconds using qtx and 3x500w halogens.

btw .. The wiring and setup of your exposure box is sharp.

-D-

yeah my times with qtx and some halogens is approaching 12-13 minutes (my bulbs are slowly getting weaker as it used to be around 10 minutes). How hard is wiring all the lightning together? I'd really like to build one in the near future.

[steve w]

it's easy

[squeegeethree]

nice post.
Looks cool.

[four0onestudio]

yeah my times with qtx and some halogens is approaching 12-13 minutes (my bulbs are slowly getting weaker as it used to be around 10 minutes). How hard is wiring all the lightning together? I'd really like to build one in the near future.

we need a how to wire light fixtures and a switch for dummies.