Stop making excuses!
For just $20, you can make a dozen screens, each with the ability to ink many times.
The manual is designed to significantly reduce the cost of screen printing for a small number of shirts.
I 've been trying for years, but I can't justify the cost.
Even the $100 screen printing "system" seems too expensive;
What if I don't like it?
What if the quality is rubbish?
In terms of the DIY method I found, there is nothing that makes me itch more than this.
Since I don't know if this is what I want, I don't want to have big photo frames or lotion chemicals lying around.
I want something that I can collect neatly to play with when I want it.
This is the instruction I hope to find many years ago.
The goal here is that you can walk into a fabric/crafts store and spend about $20 and go out with everything you need and do something decentquality prints.
This process is basically a mix of two other structures. The fabric-
The hoop ideas I got from here, and the adhesive vinyl ideas I got from here.
I added some tweaks and the rest is history.
Here's what you need: Print out-
An image of something you want to screen print, reflected from what you want to look like on a shirt. Vinyl adhesive
You may be able to get cheaper online, but I would like to use something I can get locally.
This thing I used was designed for Cricut vinyl cutter. (~$10)X-Acto Knife -
If you have a vinyl cutter, use it anyway.
However, I didn't, so I used an x-acto knife (~$2. 50)
Cut my pattern into vinyl. Sheer Fabric -
I used an old window.
Curtains, but you can buy this at any fabric store for $5 per yard.
You are looking for a grid that is open enough for ink to pass through, but tight enough for vinyl to attach. (
I think this will work)8 "fabric hoop
This will tighten the fabric.
I bought mine for $1. 29Scissors -
For cutting fabric and vinyl rolls.
You don't need anything fancy.
I'm not going to add this to the cost because you should probably buy a pair if you don't have scissors. Masking Tape-
Used to transfer vinyl to the fabric and for masking-
The area where the screen is not used. (~$2)Pencil & Pen -
These are to pass on our image to vinyl. Screen printing ink
This is probably the largest variable in the suite.
I bought a 2 ounce bottle of ink for $4.
Depending on the selection of the craft store, you may need to spend more on a larger amount.
Pieces of cardboard-
Used as backing and scraper during the Upper ink process. And that's it. Cheap!
You may already have something like this.
The rest you should be able to get locally.
I will link a project for this Instructure, but there is enough here to make more screens without the need to buy anything else.
If you have a vinyl cutter, it's a simple thing to put your image into vinyl.
However, it is a job for the rest of us.
The first thing to do is transfer your image to vinyl.
To this end, I used the technology I learned in primary school.
This is a carbon transfer: 1.
Use a pencil and draw a fat line behind your image. 2.
Stick the paper to vinyl and 3 under the lead side.
Track your image with a pen in a stressful situation.
No matter where you draw, the pressure will go through the paper and transfer the pencil to vinyl.
Note: it is important to transfer the entire image.
Writing this note, I realized I forgot to copy the elements from the robot's chest!
With our design transferred to vinyl, we can now remove the part that we want the ink to flow through. Use your x-
Acto knife along the wire cut.
All you need to do is go through vinyl, not through the backing.
Depending on the complexity of the design, this can be a tricky process.
The wheels and hands of the robot made me particularly sad.
The small parts kept coming off, but after I removed the unwanted vinyl I was able to stick them in place.
Our Vinyl template is ready and now we need a place to put it. 1.
Put the cloth into the basket and trim it with scissors.
Extend a 2 inch extra part from the ring. 2.
Adjust the ring tension to make it comfortable but not fully locked. 3.
Pull the excess fabric where needed, and the fabric in the flat slip ring.
Use your index finger to stabilize the inner ring so it doesn't pull out. 4.
Tighten the hoop and the fabric is ready.
In this step, we are going to do something on both sides of the fabric, so we are clear: when I say "scraping edges" of the fabric, i'm talking about the side inside the ring (
The one depicted in the previous step. )
When I say the "shirt side" of the fabric, I mean the other side.
This is the side of the fabric that can be pressed on the shirt without the ring. Got it? good.
Let's put vinyl on the screen. 1.
After cutting your vinyl pattern off the roll, cover it with masking tape.
This will keep the floating part of vinyl in place during the transfer. 2.
Peel off the vinyl adhesive backing and gently apply to the shirt side of the fabric.
The goal of this step is to apply the template evenly instead of getting good adhesion.
This is the purpose of the next step. 3.
Flip the ring to make vinyl on a hard surface.
Scrape the fabric from the rubber edge and push it into vinyl.
I mainly used thumbnail edges with a lot of force.
Pay special attention to the small pieces of vinyl.
We need them to stay on this fabric! 4.
Go back to the side of the shirt and slowly peel off the masking tape.
If vinyl starts pulling up in spots, try pulling the tape from different angles or in different directions.
You can also use x-
Acto knife to prevent vinyl from sticking to the tape. 5.
In case any vinyl is disturbed during tape removal, repeat 3 times to make vinyl better and stick to the fabric. 6.
Finally, use masking tape (
By the shirt)
Cover up any remaining parts of the fabric you don't want the ink to pass through.
Now is the moment we wait! 1.
Put a piece of cardboard in the shirt behind the area to be inserted.
Ink on the screen. 3.
Make a scraper with a small piece of cardboard and pass the ink through all the openings.
In the process, use your other hand to prevent the template from moving. 4.
With one hand on both sides, slowly remove the template from the shirt.
If rinse under tap water, the template may be used again later.
The water is mainly applied to the scraper and rubbed by hand.
Rubbing on one side of the shirt can disturb the template, so use only water on that side. That's how you left.
This kit is small and cheap, and the printing effect is good!
It also includes enough raw materials and you can make a lot of mistakes without worrying about running out. Go for it!
If you go to the store now, you may see a new one in a few hours --inked shirt. That YOU made.