Screen Printing.

[Seamus68]

So I have been on here for a while now yet haven't really gotten into other than vw threads. So I own and operate a screen printing shop in Pottstown, PA called Ink and Essence We just recently took the jump and got ourselves an automatic press.


So i just wanted to start this thread to kinda show off the new equipment as well as open screen printing as a discussion. Who has done it, who's into it. Who's doing their own lines...and so on and so forth.


And as always please if you have any screen printing needs....feel free to PM me on here...

But onto pics of the shop and hopefully more of you guys can jump in with pics, stories, and discussion of your own.

Oh and I have to give a shout out to my buddy Ryan Scott for the amazing pics he took!

[Pdubb315]

Thats an impressive press man! Did you do that shirt you're wearing?

I'm a graphic design student, and about two months ago I purchased a little starter kit (one color press. lights, made a dark room etc.) due to feeling I should know how to screen print both prints and shirts. Right now I'm currently saving up to get a decent flash dryer. Any ideas on a not-too-expensive 16x16 dryer?

thanks

[Seamus68]

Thanks man. No I didnt print the one I have on. thats a band tee that im wearing. If your interested I have a ton of second hand equipment including a flash unit, exposure unit, even a dryer that i would be willing to part with. If your interested just PM me.

[snow blind]

Lansdale PA here... I did a small venture with a 4 color press I bought a few years ago. I used to shape surfboards and did some clothing to go with them. It was fun but I didn't have much time for it after landing in a office job. I might have to hook up with you about some future design ideas. I even have a bunch of the screens already burned

[pedro_seat]

man that shop and press is so sick man! I got into printing a little over a year ago just with stencils and a screen. the first shirt I made was a cool beans shirt haha. I have made a few shirts since then, but I want to get more serious. I want to buy an exposure unit (more detail and accurate) and a proper press. I just have a quick question. how do I get even coverage if I'm using a squeegee by hand? here are some of my shirts







also I am kinda nervous to expose screens because I am scared I might wreck the screens or over expose them, are the screens even usable after something like this happens? or can you just remove the emulsion and try again? thanks.

[stoves]

i really like that shirt you are wearing. I know it is not one you did, but is that press capable of printing designs like that? really interesting stuff.

I guess you load it up with shirts, index it through each color, run it, then move to the next, off load at the end and put on another through the cycle.

[Seamus68]

"I just have a quick question. how do I get even coverage if I'm using a squeegee by hand? here are some of my shirts"

A: You need to just apply pressure with both hands equally. Its really just as simple as that. If you have good control with your hands you can get an even stroke.

"also I am kinda nervous to expose screens because I am scared I might wreck the screens or over expose them, are the screens even usable after something like this happens? or can you just remove the emulsion and try again? thanks. "

A: If you over expose a screen its not going to hurt it. You just need to reclaim the screen (aka remove emulsion and degrease) and try it again. We keep a small amount of screens with images burned into them for repeated use. Mainly we expose them, do the job and reclaim them for other jobs.

"i really like that shirt you are wearing. I know it is not one you did, but is that press capable of printing designs like that? really interesting stuff."

A: Yes our press is fully capable of those kinds of prints. Anything up to 8 colors.

[VILESTENCH]

my pal and i are currently searching for shop space. we've been running a small operation out of an apartment bedroom. sucks.

your setup looks dope.

[Seamus68]

thanks man!

[Saya]

I have four years printing experience at a couple different shops. Ran everything from a 1 color table-top press to a 14 color M&R Gauntlet Z Automatic Press. Screenprinting is great but can be very soul-crushing at times, especially the bigger shops. I personally ran 12000 pieces in one week at one job, all while it was hovering around 100 degrees, and I got constantly demeaned as the only female on the shift. However, I love the art of it, color matching, registering 12 color jobs by eye, and I love spotting shirts that I've printed on people. Sean, you're shop looks nice, good luck with the automatic!!! Be careful not to run too much pressure on your squeegees, screen breaks are soooo much more common on autos than manuals.

[TheDarkEnergist]

Hey man, that's an awesome setup you have there! I joined a company with 2 guys who wanted to start making some shirts and they actually "paid" me with the silkscreening gear. For now I've got a 2 station press (convertible to 4 stations/colors) a nice exposure unit, and about 5 or 6 screens. I do all the design and printing myself and love the process.

I've also done some baby clothes for a family friend (mothers LOVE this stuff, putting custom little logos on onesies, made out of the kid's initials etc...) some canvas promo bags for a friends business. And I really enjoy making shirts that make fun of my friends. There's nothing like showing up to a party with the host's face on your shirt and some embarrassing fact about him printed on the back.

I'll post up some work later tonight, but you can check the link in my sig if you care to. Most of the shirts on the front page aren't shots of the actual shirts, just the comps.

[Seamus68]

Nice work, I would like to see shots of the actual shirts!

Also for those of you who are currently printing or have printed in the past. What sort of inks is everyone using. Personally in our shop is using plastisol based inks. Anyone using a Waterbased setup?

[Johnny Knoxville]

Seamus; can you guys handle the design aspect too? I have a sticker i'd like to turn into a shirt, 1 color on 1 color.......

possibly a glitter ink or silver ink......


thanks,
Chris

[Seamus68]

Seamus; can you guys handle the design aspect too? I have a sticker i'd like to turn into a shirt, 1 color on 1 color.......

possibly a glitter ink or silver ink......


thanks,
Chris

I sure can. LMK what you need.

[Seamus68]

Anyone been working on anything cool over the winter months!?? We are slow here at the shop. Thats good and bad though, I get to work on stuff for myself, not just the customers!

[VILESTENCH]

we're doing another run of prints for 8380 this weekend for their Harlequin golf design.

i think Ethan's setting up a pre-order now.

we've done 2 others for him so far:

[Seamus68]

8380 outsources to tokyo for printing?

Or are you not really in Tokyo, Japan.


Btw those are sweet looking!

[Seamus68]

Here is one of a set of 6 that i am doing for a union customer of mine. This one I literally just finished lining up.

This one is 4 color plus Highlight and Underbase white.


Sorry for the cell pic. (not the best of quality pic, but you get the idea)

[VILESTENCH]

hahaha, nah. i'm in NY. studio's in brooklyn.

[Seamus68]

aaahhh that makes much more sense! ahaha

[Seamus68]

Here is another one I did for a local restaurant.

[savphili]

That is a very impressive piece of machinery you have there. My business partner and I just picked up a 4 color workhorse press, and are currently starting our own line geared towards European Car Enthusiasts. You can check out our website here:

http://volkwearclothing.com

[Seamus68]

I like your stuff... Looks alot like many of the VW inspired shirts I have seen around for a while though. I noticed on your "Script Volks Wear Graphic" and "sun burst" girls tee. You utilized a very large print area. What sort of board and screen setup (size, and brand) are you using for oversized prints?

[savphili]

For those designs we are using a screen standard size for an automated press. I think it's 23"x31" or something like that. and we just cut to size a board and mounted a clamp on the bottom so we can attach it to the workhorse press arm. I'm not really sure what the brand is for the screens, we buy most of our supplied locally from a AST (Advanced ScreenPrint Technology). http://www.advancedscreenprintsupply.com/

[savphili]

Here is another one I did for a local restaurant.

What brand/type of ink are you using for this print?

[Seamus68]

I mainly use ink from Performance Screen Supply in NJ. Their "damn good" line of inks are decent. But the red is a high viscosity ink from One Stroke in Louisville, KY.

[savphili]

I mainly use ink from Performance Screen Supply in NJ. Their "damn good" line of inks are decent. But the red is a high viscosity ink from One Stroke in Louisville, KY.

Are those plastisol inks? or water-based? they look pretty opaque to be water based...

[Seamus68]

Are those plastisol inks? or water-based? they look pretty opaque to be water based...

plastisol.

[Seamus68]

lets bring this back from the dead!

[VILESTENCH]

[synthsis]

I'm gonna pass this on to my boy. He owns a deli and needs some shirts made. I want him to get American Apparel since they fit better than anything else, do you carry those? He's doing front & back. 1 color front, multi back.

[Seamus68]

I'm gonna pass this on to my boy. He owns a deli and needs some shirts made. I want him to get American Apparel since they fit better than anything else, do you carry those? He's doing front & back. 1 color front, multi back.

we offer AA shirts. shop number is 610-970-6378

[mmmmarquez]

Wow that is a great looking shop !we are a small company 2 guys and we do are own brand called CamberWears we hope to one day be able to have a shop like that. .but check us out if you like www.CamberWears.com

Thanks

[SPICYchunk]

We have a web that needs some work still, and we are from Phoenix, AZ
the line is called Loot Boys Clothing

[gnatman]

I like your stuff... Looks alot like many of the VW inspired shirts I have seen around for a while though. I noticed on your "Script Volks Wear Graphic" and "sun burst" girls tee. You utilized a very large print area. What sort of board and screen setup (size, and brand) are you using for oversized prints?

Late reply but I was the partner he was talking about.
He was right about the size in his response to you. the board I used a piece of White topped Formica. It sits at about 36x36 thus making my other arms almost unusable. I never got around to buying an additional work horse mount so I would just remove the mount from a board that was not being used. It's not like the all over prints were very common.