Yeah I would keep it simple, and know that like project storage there will always be expired ones. For your own sanity, just reclaim them and set that expectation - don’t spend all your time chasing people to confirm…
Screen Printing Updates
This is looking good!! Can’t wait to get to using our new drying contraption!
We should have plenty of these “don’t toss my project” tags somewhere. There were quite few in the woodwork shop
Hiya, I was in the space this morning for the woodwork induction. I took a photo of the paper types in the stack in the print room. There were quite a few packs of the hahnemuhle “harmony”. Hopefully this helps!
feel free to grab a stack from the wood shop. There should be some in a stand in the laser area as well
and the file is here if anyone wants to make more - just print 4 per page
Hey again!
I came in yesterday to try and print some of the t-shirts, it was almost successful but not quite there just yet…
A lot of the small details printed really well which I’m happy about. Unsurprisingly, it is around the edges where the pressure wasn’t high enough to push the ink through the stencil. It’s a bit disappointing but not everything can work first time unfortunately!
The vacuum pump not working has caused some problems, as the small gap between the positive and the screen mesh blurs the lines a little meaning finer details will not wash out.
As we don’t currently have a scoop coating trough wide enough for A2 screens, I coated this in two passes. This ended with some parts of the mesh having a different amount of emulsion in, and I realise now that this effects the correct exposure time.
I’d like to try some different stencil remover chemicals because the one I ordered previously from Flat Fox costs £18.50 for 1L and has clogged up three different spray bottles. I have found a cheaper version that costs £5 for 1L which would hopefully work just as well, though it is from Print Club in Dalston. Are any members nearby able to pick up a collection order to bring into the space perhaps?
Currently we are also out of emulsion and stencil remover. If someone can collect from Print Club I’ll get this ordered today, otherwise I’ll order from Flat Fox again.
If anybody has any of the following items to donate or sell for cheap, please let me know:
• Dehumidifier
• Tower fan (max. height 60cm)
• Small heater
• Spray bottle
• Ply sheet (min. 130cm × 100cm)
• 16" scoop coating trough
Best,
Peter
Great, thanks Karin! I’ll get it ordered and let you know when it’s ready to collect
@danielbenton tore it down yesterday and found the fan was hitting the shroud, probably causing it to get stuck on startup. We put it back together, but not it doesn’t suck, or doesn’t suck like it used to anyways, so he will take another crack at it. If we can’t get it working we will replace it… so, it’s a work in progress, hopefully some resolution soon!
Great, thank you so much for continuing to work on it! Really appreciate both of your efforts
Quick update, we finished the first 1kg emulsion and are trying a similar but slightly different type sourced from Print Club in Dalston - thanks @karin for kindly picking this up!
I’m heading in to coat a couple of screens today and will check the appropriate base exposure time, after this I’ll schedule another induction session booked for an evening time.
Apologies it’s been quite overdue, will be moving forwards with more sessions shortly!
Separately, I’m currently writing some guides for the equipment now we have a new vacuum pump to enjoy - thanks to the hard work of @danielbenton. Sorry in particular to @beccaartist for the slow progress, I haven’t forgotten about this!
I’d also love to get some video guides prepared so wondered if at some point in the next few weeks we could perhaps arrange something with one of @video for this?
Let me know, cheers!
Pete
I’ll have some free time next month is you want to scheme re:Video as i produced the laser’s induction video
Amazing, that’d be great Martyn cheers!
I was in this afternoon to burn a 55T mesh screen with the Makerspace illustration. It looks far better now the vacuum is working, thanks for your help today @joeatkin2 and @danielbenton for getting the pump up and running.
Hoping to be in tomorrow to get try again with the t-shirt printing if everything plays ball we should have some ready for purchase soon!
We have success!
Using the looser weave screen - 55T instead of 77T - helped some more ink pass through and we have lovely sharp details still.
I’ve printed all the t-shirts I currently have, they’re waiting to be heat set when I’m in next.
I’m waiting on a wider scoop coating trough to be delivered so I can use our larger screens to print the tea towels, but after adding a small makers mark to the t-shirts, they’ll be ready to buy.
Exciting times guys
Awesome work! Looks amazing!!