Build a Silk Screen Light Box
Silk screen printing refers to the art of imprinting stencilized impressions onto cloth and fabric through woven mesh. Silk screen printing uses a screen and a light box, as well as a heat source and compression unit to imprint the inked image or design on materials, such as T-shirts. You can silk screen print at home, but first you will have to make your own light box.
Instructions
1. Collect the materials you need and have them handy in area. Clear off a table to work on. You may have to go to the lumber store and purchase four pieces of 2 by 2 wood panels to act as your frame.
2. Nail the wood panels together to create a box. Alternatively, you can use a small cabinet or dresser drawer as the light box. If necessary, use a power saw to cut the plywood pieces down in size.
3. Inserting the light source can be tried in two ways: Either drill a small hole at the bottom of the box and insert the lamp cord into the hole or place two to three 20-watt fluorescent strip, blacklight bulbs on the box floor.
4. Place a sheet of non-ultraviolet (UV) coated glass on top of the fluorescent bulbs. Place the silk screen on top of the glass.
5. Cut a square of foam to fit inside the screen. This will act as the cover, and it will compress the screen to the film.
