Screen Printing Questions

**bluewoodboarder** · 04-10-2008 12:09 PM

hey everyone
I do artwork for a screen printing company that my friends own. I've been talking to them about printing on some of the decks i'm building. We're going to start experimenting soon but i've got some questions.

The most obvious problem will be the curve and shape of the decks. I've read some tutorials such as this one:

D.I.Y. Archives: Screen Printing 101

The tutorials deal with the problem of the curved board by using a loose screen. (EDIT: Or creating a curved screen.) I am considering a different approach. I was wondering why I couldn't just sand down the bottom ply of the board before I press it. Screen print the graphic onto it then press it, and cut it out and do all the other work.

I don't think my idea is that original so does anyone have any advice? why didn't it work? How thick of wood should be used. I have been using quarter inch BB pressed to desired thickness. I haven't done concave yet just camber but i'll be getting a vac bag soon and making more complex shapes.

The shop gave me permission to use all equipment when they're not using it so I've got access to some pretty good stuff. Not sure what its called but they have a set up where you can have 6 screens at once that rotate into place for printing 6 color jobs.

**Sleeveless** · 04-10-2008 02:26 PM

That would be worth a try. But, there might be a reason the skate industry hasn't used it. Some skate screeners use an angled screen, the ends angle down to match the ends of the deck. Post your results, OK?

**mc99david** · 04-10-2008 02:43 PM

i need to talk to you about getting some shirts done

**Crisstof** · 04-10-2008 03:11 PM

i do quite a bit of screenprinting as well and what i have used for boards is take a strip of screen with a frame or trim peice on only two sides and stretch it with a few clamps then tape the edges and go perpendicular to the concave and just watch the extra paint around the edges

**dethcarve** · 04-10-2008 08:27 PM

i take screen printing as an elective, so i know a thing or two. have you tried your idea of printing then pressing? i don't see why you can't print on the flat wood, then press it and cut it. just make sure you don't use t-shirt ink on the wood...

**arcane** · 04-10-2008 08:31 PM

Plastisol probably won't work but if thats what you have available then by all means try it. This is probably your best bet.

**dethcarve** · 04-10-2008 08:40 PM

plastisol won't work at all. it's great for t-shirts because it never dries in open air, you have to heat cure it to 325-350 degrees (F) to dry it. this is fine on t-shirts, but spot drying a wooden deck might set it on fire, or at least give it a good scorching.

most shops will probably have nazdar lying around. it's great for bumper stickers because it lasts a long time in the sun, but it just might bleed into the fibers of the wood if you put it on too thick. probably not, but something worth experimenting with if you have plenty of equipment at your disposal. just keep in mind that nazdar dries in open air, so don't leave it on the screen for too long.

**southshorelocal** · 04-10-2008 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by dethcarve

i take screen printing as an elective, so i know a thing or two. have you tried your idea of printing then pressing? i don't see why you can't print on the flat wood, then press it and cut it. just make sure you don't use t-shirt ink on the wood...

cutting it after the print is applied might chip away the design where you cut, that is the only thing that may go wrong.

**RastamanD** · 04-10-2008 08:54 PM

.....you are so lucky.....i want a screen printing shop to use. My Dad does all of our artwork. Freehanded Kanji and Woodburning. a screen printer would be so sick...and easy

**arcane** · 04-10-2008 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by dethcarve

plastisol won't work at all. it's great for t-shirts because it never dries in open air

On the 4 color presses I have made out of wood I would dry plastisol with a flash cure unit. I've never had a problem with the wood scorching or burning because it works with infrared heating.

**coast bomber** · 04-10-2008 09:32 PM

**dethcarve** · 04-10-2008 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by arcane

On the 4 color presses I have made out of wood I would dry plastisol with a flash cure unit. I've never had a problem with the wood scorching or burning because it works with infrared heating.

i stand corrected. were you drying t-shirts on wood, or wood itself? i haven't tried it myself, but if it works for you, maybe i should look into it.

**arcane** · 04-10-2008 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by dethcarve

i stand corrected. were you drying t-shirts on wood, or wood itself? i haven't tried it myself, but if it works for you, maybe i should look into it.

Nope, not trying to correct you just sharing what I know. I would dry them right on the wood pallet where the shirt is printed. After a run of say 30 shirts the pallet would be warm but that was really it.

**bluewoodboarder** · 04-10-2008 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by coast bomber

A little google turned up the following::

.........

Damn I'm good at the internet...
-Keith

Oh yeah, the new way of doing things is a heat transfer process called dye sublimation, but I doubt you have access to the equipment for that but it's something to ask your friends about.

Ok, I've read a lot of that stuff already about making curved screens and everything. That's why in my post I was asking about printing on boards before the deck is pressed. I'm using someone elses equipment and don't want to be making a curved screen for each specific deck I build, cutting up a squeegee for the specific concave that deck has etc. That was good information that you found its just not what i'm asking about...

As far as dye sublimation goes you're correct I don't have the access to that kind of equipment. I'm pretty sure thats how the topsheets on Never Summer Snowboards, and probably the bottom of Never Summer Longboards are made.

EDIT: I guess i didn't say in my OP that i had read up on creating curved screens too. It's been added now...

**dethcarve** · 04-11-2008 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by arcane

Nope, not trying to correct you just sharing what I know. I would dry them right on the wood pallet where the shirt is printed. After a run of say 30 shirts the pallet would be warm but that was really it.

ah, i see. i would just be concerned with putting wood directly under a dryer (which you would only need for plastisol t-shirt ink). it may work, it's something to experiment with.

again, i don't see a problem with printing on the wood, then pressing and cutting. as long as you're careful not to scratch the graphic too heavily during the pressing and cutting process. if you have access to a full screen printing lab, just do it for some fun, i guess.

**Sleeveless** · 04-11-2008 11:34 AM

You might want to join this group, too.
BoardCrafters : Board Crafters Clubhouse
There's some pics of board screens in the photos section.

**Loki440** · 04-11-2008 12:03 PM

i was gonna go woah woah woah, but it was mentioned head on over to skull & bone skate forums, and interigate some of the members over there, espically Skinny, hes the one to talk to.

And david when i get back up and around on the t-shirts who knows, as i have a 4 color press collecting dust down stairs so might be able to work somethign out if you want some shirts done

**bluewoodboarder** · 04-11-2008 01:41 PM

well I got the chance to try the first step in the process out. I went to the shop and printed a couple tests on pieces of scrap BB. They were using plastisol t shirt ink and we ran it through the dryer without any scorching problems or anything. Post some pictures later

**dethcarve** · 04-11-2008 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by bluewoodboarder

well I got the chance to try the first step in the process out. I went to the shop and printed a couple tests on pieces of scrap BB. They were using plastisol t shirt ink and we ran it through the dryer without any scorching problems or anything. Post some pictures later

i'm glad it worked out. i'd like to see some pictures when you get the chance.

**bluewoodboarder** · 04-23-2008 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by dethcarve

i'm glad it worked out. i'd like to see some pictures when you get the chance.

well I haven't taken the time to take any pictures yet...

But yesterday I got the chance to print on some 1/8th BB 1' X 5'. I also learned how to burn my own screens and everything else. I don't have pictures of the boards but I might take some when I get home. I also took the same design and threw it on a couple shirts. The boards i printed will be turned into a dancer around 50" for my sister. The screen print will be in the middle on top with grip around it and the bottom will be the same design created in inlayed wood, minus the outlines and text.

Heres a picture of my shirt.

Oh and I'm using regular t-shirt ink. It's plastisol I think, we run the wood through the dryer and it hasn't been scorched yet.

The bottom is going to be the same design created with inlayed wood. It will be made with birdseye maple for the rays, walnut for the boarder and mountain, and some other cool stuff for the background and rest of the board.