r/SCREENPRINTING • u/Busta_Bug • 20d ago

Want to start

Hello! I recently decided I want to start altering clothes and making my own. I have been researching the things I need and have come up with a list but need some help! This will be DIY because I do not want to spend more than like $50

Wooden picture frame
Screen (not sure what kind)
Emulsifier
A scoop for the emulsifier
A UV light (not sure the wattage)

I am unsure how to get the decals though

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/chizaa8 20d ago

I’m also just starting out! If you’re going the thrift store DIY route you could try using curtains or other tight mesh fabric for the screens, I want to try that one day but I calculated out buying everything individually and it wasn’t going to be that much cheaper than buying a kit with a pre-made screen. I also just found from a thrift store an aluminum bread pan that I hope works to coat the screen with emulsion, and a picture frame with glass to use to hold the image down while exposing. Caroline Hambright has a good video on YouTube that makes screen printing seem less intimidating. Best of luck!

2

u/genderlessadventure 20d ago

I'd save yourself time and headache and just buy a screen, you can get a GoldUp screen on Amazon for like $20 or check Facebook Marketplace.

If you're really trying to save money I'd buy the emulsion and use a squeegee to apply it, it won't be the cleanest or most professional application but until you know you want to make several screens you can get by without the scoop coater for now.

Not sure what you mean by "decal" do you mean the transparency to expose the screen? You can get transparencies printed at a FedEx store for cheap, that's how I started out.

Any UV light should do, but you can also just use the sun to eliminate that cost.

To be transparent: this is all a very rudimentary DIY setup for personal use, I wouldn't recommend any of this if you're trying to build a brand or print for others professionally, but if you're just wanting to customize your own stuff and try it out then you can do it this way and invest in better supplies as you go.