Make Your Own! For Cheap!!!
Making your own screen exposure unit is a lot cheaper than buying unnecessarily expensive equipment. You have three options when it comes to buying an exposure unit… new, used exposure unit or make your own exposure unit for a fraction of the cost. Do not buy in to the hype that you need a certain type of extra super secret CIA light… It’s all nonsense! Two 500-watt halogen lights work just fine.
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- Or consider my e-book How to Screen Print from Home Cheaply and Make Money Too!
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Out of the plans available on the Internet, I chose to go with this one for a few reasons.
Their plans are FREE, precise, practical and very cheap to make! They provide illustrations and a list of all the supplies you need. I had most of the items, but it’s cheap to buy all of the stuff.
The items you need:
1. Hardware $8 – $10
2. Lumber $50 – $55
3. Plate glass $20 – $25 (optional, I don’t use this and do just fine.)
4. Power strip $4 – $6
5. 500 watt halogen work lamps (two) $15 ea
6. Plans FREE!
Now, if you want to do the “easier” option… all you really need is a two-light 1000-watt worklight with trip… sounds expensive, but it’s not. It’s about $30 to $50 at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Amazon.com, True Value, etc.
To save space, I’ve included the link to the complete plans below for your very own homemade screen exposure unit.
Option 1 – Easy
Option 2 – Easier
Amazon.com – Search for “1000-watt halogen work light” or go to your local hardware store and ask the sales rep for help.
If you select Option 2, place your screen on the ground and adjust your tripod to point down over your screen. Make sure it’s 20 inches away from the screen.
Tips and Tricks
* Ensure your light source is between 20 to 22 inches away from your screen. This ensures proper exposure and reduces shadow imaging
* Shadow imaging is when the light is getting behind your image and creating a second (unwanted) image
*Exposure time is about 12 to 15 minutes for either option
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