posted
I am starting to get a good many orders for 30-100 plus 18X24 and 24X24 coroplas political type signs and I need to get into screenprinting them. I saw in a signmaking book somewhere a homemade screen printing setup for making signs like these. It was a clam shell type setup with a screen on hinges on a wooden table. I have a couple of questions about such a setup. How do you make the screen with a vinyl cutting machine or do I still need to buy a laser printer? Do I need an exposure unit to burn a screen or just use a film or vinyl of some type to make the screen? What is a good ink and screen to use for such a setup (they will be air dried) and who is a good supplier for the supplies and equipment, prefferably somewhere in the south.
-------------------- John Thompson JTT Graphics "The big guy with a little sign shop!" Royston/Hartwell Georgia jtt101@hotmail.com Posts: 626 | From: Royston Georgia | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
If you are really bent on doing this yourself, setting up a basic screenprinting operation isn't rocket science and it can be done on a budget.
BUT: Screenprinting is an awful, messy, unhealthy business. If you don't mind the advice, use your yellow pages to find a couple of reliable, affordable screen printing operations and outsource the work.
[ May 13, 2002, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Jon Aston ]
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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There are numerous wholesale screenprinters in the various sign magazines. They are equipped for mass production with a cost that can give you a healthy markup without any work whatsoever. Matter of fact, that is all Jimmy Chatham (a resident here) does for a living!!
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 817 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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i have a small article coming out in "Sign Builder" Illustrated (SBI) this month that should answer your questions about what you'll need and how to use your plotter to cut screen printing stencils.
that said, if you're doing a lot of political signs, i'd follow the advice above -- source it all out. the 18x24 Coroplast market is cut-throat. why spend your day printing those things when you could be selling the jobs and just marking it up instead?
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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John give me a call and i will see if i can help you out. you can drive over and i will be able to show you a few things.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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PS Election signs? Get your money up front.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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First, I'd buy the book "How to Print T-shirts for Fun & Profit." I realize its geared toward textile printing, but the rules and principles are the same.
Second, I'd build a sturdy table -- a very sturdy table. Its is critical that the surface be flat -- very flat.
You should also check out www.usscreen.com . It has a wealth of information for novice and experts alike.
If you need any help or have specific questions, feel free to contact me.
posted
Just to reinforce what john said....if it is a job that is for an election....GET YOUR MONEY UP FRONT....or it will probably wind up as a "donation"!!!!!!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We have been doing heat transfer tees for a long time. We started to get into screen printing and went to a couple of industry shows, that is one reason we decided to go into signs, by seeing the cutting machines at work at the shows. I figured that after a few botched screenprint jobs and customer problems (I can fix a sign but not a batch of screenprinted shirts), that I would like vinyl graphics better than screenprinting plus I was fascinated with all of that sign machinary. We have been outsourcing screen printed tees, I do all of the work in CorelDraw carry them the tees and then the company screens the tees for us. There are just too many companies screening tees around our area for it to be profitable buying all of the big equipment and doing it ourselves. We only rarely do tees mainly for our good repeat sign customers. The company that does our tees won't do signs. Jimmy, I will also probably take you up on your offer, we go to Commerce almost every week. That is where my wife is from. Where are you at in Commerce?
-------------------- John Thompson JTT Graphics "The big guy with a little sign shop!" Royston/Hartwell Georgia jtt101@hotmail.com Posts: 626 | From: Royston Georgia | Registered: Feb 2002
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John Thompson, I'm Linda Silver Eagle, about an hour south of Jimmy. Nice to meet ya! Check out my website and if there's anything I can do to help, let me know. (I do not design web sites! That should be apparent!) <grin>
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JOHN turn at harts bbq take left fork 1st street to right i am just over the hill on left. give me a call
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I will come see you soon Jimmy. We are halfway between Royston and Hartwell on Highway 29. If you happen this way stop by too. Just don't take my own sign as the work I do, it is the worst one I have ever done at least I hope so. I have been doing signs for a couple of years and just in January went full time and I love it. We are currently working out of a trailer but we are trying to get a building built within a couple of months or so. We have thought about moving to Royston but I hate renting and we are getting business from Hartwell, Lavonia, Royston and Elberton where we are at now and we are right on the main highway. I've got to run I am running behind, thats the only bad thing about working near your house, you keep getting tied up doing house stuff and end up staying up all night catching up.
-------------------- John Thompson JTT Graphics "The big guy with a little sign shop!" Royston/Hartwell Georgia jtt101@hotmail.com Posts: 626 | From: Royston Georgia | Registered: Feb 2002
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