Adventures in Screenprinting - Episode 2: Shopping
After putting together my table, I realized I need a lot more supplies than the ones I already gathered. I need screens, emulsion, ink, paper, squeegies, emulsion remover, an exposure unit, etc. So, where does a fledgling screenprinter go to get all this stuff...and more importantly, how much will all this cost? I'm sure I made some mistakes, but, this is what I ordered, why I ordered what I did, where I got it and how much it cost me.
Supplies - I went to silkscreeningsupplies.com - this is a great site for EVERYTHING screenprinting. Although, as with most screenprinting stuff, it's more or less centered around printing t-shirts rather than printing on flatstock. There's a ton of educational videos and lots of descriptions on this site. It will tell you what emulsion you should use with what inks. Here's what I bought...
SCREENS - Aluminum 23x31" 156 White Mesh $32.56 each (x3)$97.68 - I went with Aluminum rather than wood, even though they are more expensive. The reason I did that is because in the long run, these will last a lot longer, and if I take care of them, I will be able to use them for a long time to come. Wood tends to warp - especially since you will be getting them very wet when you wash the screens out, etc. so, the Aluminum, in my mind, was the way to go. As far as size goes - I am planning on my first print being 12x22" - they had a screen that was 20"x24" that I initially going to get, but, a 20"x24" screen is only actually 18"x22" of screen area and you want to make sure that there is plenty of breathing room around the screen. The next bigger size from 20x24" was 23"x31" - a big jump - but, Now, I know that I will have ample room to print. I went with a 156 threadcount to be sure to get the detail that I want.
CCI SWR Water Resist Dual Cure Emulsion Quart $27.77 I plan on using non-toxic water based opaque ink to print, so I had to find an emulsion that would stand up to the water based ink.
CC ER80 Emulsion/Stencil Remover Concentrate (Makes 1 Gallon!), $14.00 So, once I'm done with the screens, I will want to reclaim them. I had to get this emulsion remover to do the job.
Emulsion Scoop Coater 19 Inches, $19.00 One I reclaim the screen and want to use it again, I will use this scoop coater to help me place an even film of emulsion on the screen.
Screen Exposure Stand, $49.95 This is kind of a budget exposure stand, and I'm taking a gamble that it can be modified to fit the screens I purchased. It seems to be made out of PVC pipe, and should be able to be modified easily.
Screen Tape 2" Wide Low Adhesive $3.80 Not sure if this was needed, but, I think that This tape will not leave a residue on the screen.
Squeegee By The Inch 14" $16.80 This is a crucial instrument in screen printing...but, we will see if I got the right one.
Water Based Screen Opener and Cleaner For Water Based Inks $4.95 This was recommended to me by the operator I spoke to. He said that if I am printing with waterbased inks, they tend to dry quickly, and perhaps clog the screen. This will clean it out.
A few tips - I got free shipping because my order was over $100 and I found a coupon online (RetailMeNot.com) for 10% off. Grand total $210.55
PAPER
3076 by French Paper Company/French Paper
Speckletone Starch White
Brand: Speckletone
Paper Type: Cover
Size: 26 x 40
Weight: 80
Packaging: 100
Subtotal: $98.50
Shipping:$25.95
Purchase Total: $124.45
I purchased 100 sheets of 26" x 40" paper because in the end, I can get 300 sheets of paper out of it and even though it's more than I need for this initial print it was cheaper per unit (once I cut it into 3's) than the smaller sheets. More money upfront (and and extra $10 for shipping) but, I think worth it in the long run
Ink
While there are inks on the silkscreeningsupplies.com, I haven't used any of them in the past. I'm not really familar with them, so I opted to purchase my ink through Dick Blick.com. I purchased one quart of White, one of Black and 2 8oz. of medium yellow - Speedball Opaque screenprinting poster ink - for a total of 43.66 - with shipping and tax added the grand total is $56.83.
So, all in - my supplies, what the table cost me, etc...Grand total $471.48
The art is done, I'm just waiting for the supplies to arrive.
Be sure you sign up for my newsletter - once these babies roll off the press, I'm going to put them on sale through my newsletter first. Since the editions will be really low, you'll want to be the first to know that they are available. Plus, I'm going to give a special discount to newsletter subscribers only.
See you next episode.
Supplies - I went to silkscreeningsupplies.com - this is a great site for EVERYTHING screenprinting. Although, as with most screenprinting stuff, it's more or less centered around printing t-shirts rather than printing on flatstock. There's a ton of educational videos and lots of descriptions on this site. It will tell you what emulsion you should use with what inks. Here's what I bought...
SCREENS - Aluminum 23x31" 156 White Mesh $32.56 each (x3)$97.68 - I went with Aluminum rather than wood, even though they are more expensive. The reason I did that is because in the long run, these will last a lot longer, and if I take care of them, I will be able to use them for a long time to come. Wood tends to warp - especially since you will be getting them very wet when you wash the screens out, etc. so, the Aluminum, in my mind, was the way to go. As far as size goes - I am planning on my first print being 12x22" - they had a screen that was 20"x24" that I initially going to get, but, a 20"x24" screen is only actually 18"x22" of screen area and you want to make sure that there is plenty of breathing room around the screen. The next bigger size from 20x24" was 23"x31" - a big jump - but, Now, I know that I will have ample room to print. I went with a 156 threadcount to be sure to get the detail that I want.
CCI SWR Water Resist Dual Cure Emulsion Quart $27.77 I plan on using non-toxic water based opaque ink to print, so I had to find an emulsion that would stand up to the water based ink.
CC ER80 Emulsion/Stencil Remover Concentrate (Makes 1 Gallon!), $14.00 So, once I'm done with the screens, I will want to reclaim them. I had to get this emulsion remover to do the job.
Emulsion Scoop Coater 19 Inches, $19.00 One I reclaim the screen and want to use it again, I will use this scoop coater to help me place an even film of emulsion on the screen.
Screen Exposure Stand, $49.95 This is kind of a budget exposure stand, and I'm taking a gamble that it can be modified to fit the screens I purchased. It seems to be made out of PVC pipe, and should be able to be modified easily.
Screen Tape 2" Wide Low Adhesive $3.80 Not sure if this was needed, but, I think that This tape will not leave a residue on the screen.
Squeegee By The Inch 14" $16.80 This is a crucial instrument in screen printing...but, we will see if I got the right one.
Water Based Screen Opener and Cleaner For Water Based Inks $4.95 This was recommended to me by the operator I spoke to. He said that if I am printing with waterbased inks, they tend to dry quickly, and perhaps clog the screen. This will clean it out.
A few tips - I got free shipping because my order was over $100 and I found a coupon online (RetailMeNot.com) for 10% off. Grand total $210.55
PAPER
3076 by French Paper Company/French Paper
Speckletone Starch White
Brand: Speckletone
Paper Type: Cover
Size: 26 x 40
Weight: 80
Packaging: 100
Subtotal: $98.50
Shipping:$25.95
Purchase Total: $124.45
I purchased 100 sheets of 26" x 40" paper because in the end, I can get 300 sheets of paper out of it and even though it's more than I need for this initial print it was cheaper per unit (once I cut it into 3's) than the smaller sheets. More money upfront (and and extra $10 for shipping) but, I think worth it in the long run
Ink
While there are inks on the silkscreeningsupplies.com, I haven't used any of them in the past. I'm not really familar with them, so I opted to purchase my ink through Dick Blick.com. I purchased one quart of White, one of Black and 2 8oz. of medium yellow - Speedball Opaque screenprinting poster ink - for a total of 43.66 - with shipping and tax added the grand total is $56.83.
So, all in - my supplies, what the table cost me, etc...Grand total $471.48
The art is done, I'm just waiting for the supplies to arrive.
Be sure you sign up for my newsletter - once these babies roll off the press, I'm going to put them on sale through my newsletter first. Since the editions will be really low, you'll want to be the first to know that they are available. Plus, I'm going to give a special discount to newsletter subscribers only.
See you next episode.
posted by Jamie Huntsman at
3:39 PM
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