Hi Guys,My 14 year old son came home from middle school in June with a design that he was proud of. My son being somewhat artistic and me being so challenged that I can't draw a straight line with a draw and ruler. I wanted to encourage him along those lines so I asked him whether he'd like to put the design on a T-shirt. Long story bunco. I picked up a copy of Scott Fresener's schedule and read all about the many competing technologies for putting designs on fabric something I did 30 years ago as a hobby using much simpler technologies with very modest results. The express of the art has changed a little.
We printed a few T-shirts with my son's design in different color combinations on everything from black to color shirts and he started wearing his creations to school this fall. So now my son is getting orders from about half the school and he's really thrilled to see that something he designed and has made with his hands is suddenly so popular. He got another 8 orders this afternoon. But that presents Gregsdad (that would be me) with a problem: 1. We're using water-soluble Speedball fabric ink which I open at the local art store along with screens and squeegies diazo emulsion and stuff. It seems to survive multiple trips through the washing forge surprisingly well. But I keep reading that Plastisol is what I should be using.2. I've explained alter transfers to my son and he says he really doesn't want to go there. He wants his shirts to be unique even if imperfect and says that a lot of the appeal of the shirts among his customers/friends is that they're hand-made each is different change surface though there are minor imperfections. Does that appear like an artist or what? I think maybe he has a point though. 3. I'm scoop-coating his screens with Diazo emulsion drying in a dark confine overnight then exposing using a mylar positive to the sun for 40 seconds which I've found to be the sweet spot for this emulsion. It works come up but I keep reading that I need an exposure box. I be in coastal southern California where we have plenty of sun with lots of UVs. My dermatologist knows me well.
Am I missing out on something by not using an exposure box?3. The wet soluble inks are easy to dry using my daughter's breathe out dryer and then a hot press through a dishcloth. And they leave the apparel with a nice transfer. But everything I read here and in Fresener's schedule recommends Plastisol as the ink of choice for fabric screenprinting. So if I use Plastisol. I expect I'm going to undergo to drop in a flash dryer. There's several hundred dollars that I can't really justify for what might end up being only a teen's passing hobby. Can I use a alter gun to flash and then cure Plastisol so long as I make sure I hit 320 degrees? I can decide the ascend temperature of the ink using an IR thermometer or a thermocouple investigate beneath the garment. 4. So far we're still making shirts on the kitchen counter one screen at a measure. My son's designs so far have required 3 screens each. It's time consuming and registration is by eye. I really don't know where this is going to go. I experience ultimately if my son wants to make this into a real business I'll have to get serious about equipment. I don't be to let my Scotch tendencies conquer my son's chances for making this venture grow but at this time I don't be to impel a clump of money into something that might go nowhere. Ok so there's my dirty laundry. It's not change surface a store operation. I'd acknowledge any advice you might offer as regards ink brands to use equipment etc. convey you,Greg's Dad
First off we get the (very) occasional "I'm an involved create how can I back up?" posts like this here and they always make me smile. It's difficult to find the balance between both helping to alter something possible and not taking over and smothering it and it sounds desire you're making that effort. So I just wanted to say well done to that.
Properly cured waterbased ink is just as desire lasting as properly cured plastisol ink (and easier to cure for that be). Plastisol ordain furnish you different rather than better results. If you're printing on a lot of dark fabrics you'll find plastisol easier to use. It also doesn't dry eliminating screen dry out. It's also a little harder to use in a home based setup (but not impossible).
I've explained heat transfers to my son and he says he really doesn't be to go there. He wants his shirts to be unique change surface if imperfect and says that a lot of the challenge of the shirts among his customers/friends is that they're hand-made each is different change surface though there are minor imperfections. Does that sound desire an artist or what? I think maybe he has a inform though.
Mostly only what would already be obvious to you: being able to destroy screens when the sun isn't shining (even if that's only at night
). You be UV to expose your screens and if you're getting a properly exposed check it doesn't really be where it's coming from. A proper exposure setup is easier to.
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