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I've got a customer who needs about 200 24"x32" MDO signs. Very simple copy (No Parking etc), 1 color. I think the best way to do them would be to sik screen them. I haven't done any silk screening since my days at LATTC, but I still remember the basics. The only thing I don't want to do is burn the sreen. I thought of finding someone online, but since I have access to all of you's, maybe you can or can recomend someone who can burn a screen for me. And remember, I live near Seattle, Wa. The closer, the better.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Use a film you can cut on you plotter! Water based for enamels. I used to use a service, they made up screens as well as doing the film positives. There must be someone local in Seattle. They made wood and metal frames and your choice of mesh. Good luck with that.
-------------------- Bill'n'Annie Davidson Heathcote, NSW, Aus. my Aussie wife, a Toohey's Old, my Holden Ute, Retired from the rat race! Posts: 309 | From: Heathcote, NSW, Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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I assume you have a plotter and you're using enamels. Cut a stencil out of vinyl in reverse and apply it to the back of the screen. Use ordinary masking tape to block out the rest of the screen. The adhesive from the vinyl is enough to hold everything in place. I've done this several times and it works well.
If you prefer to burn a screen, just take a screen to your local t-shirt screen printer and have them to coat and burn the screen for you.
Another option is that if you don't have the screen either, contact your nearest screen print supplier. Often, they will coat and burn a screen for you as well as sell you the screen.
This company (www.firesprint.com. 888-509-7446) may be able to help you, I do not know if they sell screens but they do wholesale screen printed signs!
-------------------- Brian Vinyl Signs Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 159 | From: Pgh., PA | Registered: Mar 2009
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I was a Ulano sta-sharp green man myself (hand cut). I am thinking that a run of 200 may give a "vinyl" stencil a hard time there, Glenn. But I would defer to your experience never having tried that.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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I'm just a very lazy person and I work very hard at it.
If I use a vinyl stencil, I always use cast vinyl. The chemicals in the ink tend to cause calendared vinyl to pull at the edges.
Believe it or not, a paper stencil will work for short runs. The textile industry uses them for screen printing all of the time. I've printed a couple hundred shirts that way without any issues. Its the ink that causes the stencil to remain adhered to screen. The same goes with using a cast vinyl stencil. If you're using a synthetic enamel or all-purpose ink, using a vinyl stencil will work just fine. I normally use a 200 mesh and a sharp 70 durometer squeegee.
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