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How to Build a Printing Unit for Silk-Screening

Making a printing unit might be the easiest thing you do on the way to producing a finished silk screen print.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/8-inch Masonite Or Formica
  • Clamp Hinges
  • Polyurethane Finishes
  • Wood Glues Or Laminating Glue
  • Brushes (for Polyurethane)
  • Sturdy Worktables
  • C-clamps
  • Angle Irons Or Wood Blocks
  • Variable-speed Drills
  • Wood Screws
  • Wood screws
  • 1/2-inch-thick plywood
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Instructions

  1. Building the Printing Unit

    • 1

      Cut a piece of 1/2-inch-thick plywood (smooth on one side) 2 inches larger than your screen frame all the way around. A solid baseboard is necessary for good printing.

    • 2

      Attach 1/8-inch tempered Masonite to the baseboard by gluing and screwing the edge to the top of the smooth side of the plywood. (You could laminate Formica to the plywood instead.)

    • 3

      Apply a couple of coats of polyurethane to seal the surface and aid in cleanup.

    • 4

      Attach two clamp hinges made especially for silk screen printing to the top of the baseboard.

    • 5

      Use hinges that have a wing nut that allows the screen to be inserted and tightened into the hinge. The hinge then allows the screen to be raised and lowered as necessary.

    • 6

      Decide how the art is to be positioned (vertically - the long way - or horizontally?) and how it is to be printed (are you going to pull the long way or the short way?).

    • 7

      Space the clamps so they hold the screen frame in the stablest way, about 3 inches in from the perpendicular side of the frame.

    • 8

      Screw the hinges into position.

    Stabilizing the Printing Unit for Optimum Registration

    • 9

      Attach either angle irons or 2-by-2 blocks of wood to the baseboard on either side of the silk screen frame to ensure maximum stability and good registration for multicolor print runs.

    • 10

      Start by attaching the frame to the clamp hinges and placing the frame flush with the surface of the printing unit.

    • 11

      Butt the angle irons or wood blocks up against the sides of the frame so that the frame is snug.

    • 12

      Place them on either side of the frame about 2 inches down from the end that's not attached to the hinges.

    • 13

      Screw the angle irons, if you're using these, into the base of the printing unit.

    • 14

      Secure the blocks, if you're using these, with C-clamps.

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