For the past couple of years I have been using a Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Inkjet Printer

The Ink:

The ink supplied with the printer is great for picture printing but not for screen printing art.  It also will burn through a stock ink cartridge in no time.  I installed a bulk ink system from ScreenPrinters.Net.  The bulk ink is allot more economical and is formulated for the special transparency material you print on.

The R1800 has since been discontinued and replaced by the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Printer The R3800 is a 17 inch wide format printer compared to 13 inches on the R1800.  I don’t see a need for a 17 inch wide printer for screen printing. (unless printing XXXL shirts ).  Also I don’t see the bulk ink system available for it yet.

If you want a great printer I would pick up a new R1800 or try to find a used one, you won’t be sorry.

Exposure Unit Lamps Lit

I have gotten many emails about the lamps used in my home built exposure unit.  I should probably write up a FAQ some day.  Anyways,  the lamps are a special unfiltered black light.  The designation is F20T12-BL.  These lamps don’t block UV rays like the ones you buy in the store.  The emulsion you coat your screens with is sensitive to UV.  When the emulsion is exposed to UV it will cure or harden.  The art work blocks the UV and that area will wash out.  That is the reason you need a good black art image in order to block the UV entirely.

The black lights you buy at the Walmart,  filter the UV out.  The UV is what we need to expose our screens so you you would end up with your image washing out.

I have heard of people using plant grow lights sold in the garden department.  They will have a lower uv level and I don’t know how they will work.

So, to get the good lamps, you need to goto the local lighting supply or check out: http://www.1000bulbs.com/F20T12/1246/