"He who marches out of step hears another drum." ~ Ken Kesey
I get it, from you guy's perspective I'm doing things the hard way. But you guys forget how intimidating this stuff was when you first started.Now, the reason I use vinyl is, you mentioned like 3-4 pieces of gear/processes that need to be done to use emulsion/cap film. Each of those have a process to themselves. First you got to prep the screen. Then you have to coat the screen... this is intimidating in itself... though less so after I watched my buddy's guys coat a couple screens first hand.
Still I worry about 1:1 coating (I think I would rather do 2:1 *shrug* ). Then you got to dry them (no big deal)... then you have to expose them. I'm scientific... sun just isn't a consistent source where I am. I want to "set it and forget it" like a rotisserie oven on tv. So that means I need an exposure unit. I'm getting close here because I saw where someone is successfully using a vacuum storage bag to get a tight film to mesh seal.... Oh, speaking of... I have to make sure I can output nice good dark films (and buy them and hope I get ones that work... I think I'm gonna get Fixxons for my WF1100 Pigment ink printer). Then I have to get my exposure times right so everything washes out properly.
Trust me... working the squeegee and curing has ENOUGH things to learn about. I just needed to get my squeegee wet and get some printing going on. Then I can start adding other parts of the puzzle together later.Basically I am a garage printer doing this as a side gig that is looking to make it into something bigger... but as I'm coming up to that pace and learning the ropes... for me, the best thing is taking it slow and one step at a time. Let's put it this way... I bought my first screens in Feb-2010... I just printed my first job last week! I didn't even own a squeegee or ink until a week before that!
Another thought, Have you degreased and or abraded your mesh? Doing so might help the vinyl stick better.
Ok, I will cop to giving some bad advice. I have never personally abraded any screens, but I figured that the vinyl would have a hard time holding on to begin with. I should also mention that some companies that I can't recall the names of have old videos that must have been made in the eighties that have been uploaded to youtube where they use products they sold to abrade new mesh.No degreaser?I am pretty sure I saw the article you are talking about in the articles on Kiwo's site.
Quote from: StuJohnston on September 11, 2011, 01:28:06 PMOk, I will cop to giving some bad advice. I have never personally abraded any screens, but I figured that the vinyl would have a hard time holding on to begin with. I should also mention that some companies that I can't recall the names of have old videos that must have been made in the eighties that have been uploaded to youtube where they use products they sold to abrade new mesh.No degreaser?I am pretty sure I saw the article you are talking about in the articles on Kiwo's site.btw, you do understand that I wasn't trying to be overly critical, but didn't want obsolete, possibly harmful info going out to newbies if possible.Now, if anyone has had problems adhering stencils because they didn't abraid, , let me know. We can discuss the pros and cons of using of abraders in the screen making section, hopefully with some industry experts.
As for the photo method shopping list, it's basically: scoop coater, emulsion, emulsion remover and maybe degreaser. It seems that Frog may disagree with that bit. It may because I am using solvent inks, but the last time I didn't degrease, I got not just pinholes, but certified fisheyes.
Now I need two different length coaters anyway so that's another thing.