Build Your Own 4 Color Screen Printing Press, DIY Plans Screen Printing Machine
These free DIY plans will show you how to build your own 4 Color Screen Printing Press. Now you can build your own 4 color silk screening press from material that you will source locally. This design is used throughout the world . It is rugged and works beautifully. It is easy to build. If you can silk screen a t-shirt then you can easily build this. The nice part is that in a few years if something wears out or you damage it, you can easily make and replace the part.
What is a 4 Color T-Shirt Screening Press?
The first thing you should know before purchasing a 4 color t-shirt screening machine is its price. Depending on the flexibility and the print resolution you need, this machine will cost you thousands of dollars. Also, you should know the cost of plastisol ink per shirt. Hopefully this article will answer some of your questions. In the meantime, enjoy browsing our reviews! And remember to share your questions with us in the comments below!
Cost of a 4 color t-shirt screening press
The cost of a four-color t-shirt screening press can range anywhere from $200 to more than $1,000, depending on the type of screen print you need. Basic screens for t-shirts are made from a mix of 50/50 cotton and polyester. The basic price for a four-color press is $200. The press frame must be purchased separately and requires a minimum order of twenty-four shirts. Additional charges are required for printing the other side of the shirt.
T-shirt screen printing is the most cost-effective way to produce images. Thousands of prints can be made from a gallon of plastisol ink. To make the cost per print, you should aim for $.05 a shirt. However, you should beware of the "penny-wise, pound-foolish" approach, as plastisol ink will be more expensive as you continue to use it, as you will need to purchase ink modifiers and other materials.
Flexibility of a 4-color t-shirt screening press
When you want to create your own screen-printed t-shirts, flexibility is key. Most single-color screen printing machines are not flexible. They can move only up and down or sideways, so if you want to create multi-colored designs, you need to invest in a more flexible screen printing unit. Some advanced models have top parts that can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to add colors without having to switch filters. Others even have a swivel-screen, which enables you to swivel the screen to print more than one color at a time.
Cost of plastisol ink
To print bright, crisp images on dark garments, you should first apply a thin layer of white ink. This creates an opaque underbase that helps vibrant colors stand out. Plastisol can produce heavier prints, so thinners are needed to reduce the ink deposit. While it can be tricky to get a truly soft-hand Plastisol print, you can make use of water-based inks.
However, there are several types of plastisol ink. Water-based inks tend to be harder to work with, as they have a very high viscosity. Plastisol ink is much more versatile and can print on a wide variety of garments. The cost of plastisol ink for a 4 color t-shirt screening press will vary according to the brand and type of shirt.
Cost of plastisol ink per shirt
Ink used in t-shirt screening presses has a variety of properties. Some types are opaque while others are transparent. Plastisol ink is a popular choice for printing on dark shirts because it hides the fabric underneath. Thinner paints are used for printing lighter colors on dark shirts, to achieve a smooth blend when mixing the paints. Thinner inks tend to dry slowly, but they can be less expensive if you are printing on a dark shirt.
The cost of plastisol ink per shirt will vary, depending on the number of colors and garments you plan to screen print. Some types of plastisol inks are designed for dark garments, while others are made for light fabrics. Rapid cure plastisol inks cure at 270 degrees Fahrenheit and provide bold, opaque colors with minimal bleed. They are also CPSIA compliant and non-phthalate.
All DIY plans are designed by Ben Stone. Ben is a retired Engineer in Canada. Ben also drafts these himself using the latest AutoCAD software to ensure accuracy. He studied Engineering back in the early 1980's. After over 30 years in the Construction industry he developed a passion for building cool items around his farm and cabin. These are great DIY projects. With a little skill anybody can Do It Yourself. Ben is always a email away if you have any questions while building one of his projects. He is adding new plans all the time.