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The T-shirt is a Human Billboard

The T-shirt has become a human billboard. It is the way to flash a message to strangers, friends, or anyone who cares to notice. They are wearable souvenirs for those who travel. They are simply human bumper stickers for those who stay home. They can advertise our loyalty to a company, a product, or some brand name. They tell what school we attend, advertise the company we work for, salute the city we are from, or boast the beach, state, national park or special attraction we visited. For many, the T-shirt is that silk screening is all about.

The printed T-shirt has spoke volumes over the years. Many a slogan began with the T-shirt. Remember "Keep on trucking!", "Impeach Nixon," or raised fist? The printed T-shirt is often used as a convenient rebellion, a sort of nice, clean and easy protest angle like "Save the Rain Forest" or "Global Warming Alert."

The printed T-shirt fits right in the world of Sex, Drugs, Rock Stars, and Politics. Sporting events from marathons to crowning national champions, the printed T-shirt becomes the most prized souvenir. And if you survived a tornado, major earthquake or some frightning disaster, you wanted everyone to know that you were there! When you saw the T-shirt shouting "I'm too sexy for this shirt," did you remember what was being said or the person wearing the shirt? I was at a wedding when I spotted a T-shirt, "Party Naked."

Silk screening can be a crazy business in which the client is often asking the printer to print up one or a small number of shirts for friends. One guy even asked to have his ex-wife's phone number put on a shirt. How about "Newt Happens when over 50% of the people forgot to vote." I'm sure you have seen many others.

Screen Printer Turned Author

"How to Start Your Own Silk Screening Business on a SHOESTRING and Make up to a Million Dollars" is a 170 page book with plenty of illustrations. It was written and published by a screen printer who started from scratch.

The screen printer turned author provides answers to many questions about screen printing. For example, how do you get started... where do you order supplies... who can furnish printwear garments at wholesale prices... how about equipment? There are plans for making your own printer, shown simply and in detail. And if you can hammer a couple of 2 X 2 inch boards together, you can build your own frames for screens. Plus much, much more.

Many people are looking for a home-based business that can start with a small investment. It can start as a hobby and grow into a profitable business. 

Screen Printing FAQ

Q. How much does it cost?
A. This is probably the most difficult to answer becuase not everyone is willing to start small.  Not everyone will believe that you can make your own 'home-made' shirt press and be able to sell the procuts you made for a profit.  You can by simply ripping up a couple of 2"x4"s, add a couple of hinges (to hold your screens), and then cut out your shirt-press tabletop from some scrap kitchen countertop (from cabinet shop or lumberyard).  All done for just a few bucks.  The screens can be hammered together from 2"x2" (or 1"x2") boards.  I recovered an infra-red oven from a garage sale and have used it as a dryer.  One person who bought my book saved an old kitchen stove since the over still worked and is using it as his dryer.  My exposure box (used for making by screens) was laos made out of scrap lumber.  I still use it even after ten years.  Add a hundren bucks for screen mech, a couply quarts of plastisol inks, emulsion, a couple squeegees plus a few incidentals andyou can say that you started from "SCRATCH"!  This also is the way a local religious choral group began making their own T-shirt for sale.  And just recently, they started making caps as well.  You can do the same.  OF course, you can also purchase new equipment from the suppliers for several thousand dollars and up.  Sometimes used equipment can be found but can cost up to two-thirds the cost of new equipment with no guarantees.

Q. How do I get started?
A. Business people will not buy without first knowing that you can do what you say you can do.  That means that you probably should have some equipment that has produced some tested results.  You can buy some old T-shirts and other gamrents at a garage sale to practice on.  Some of these garments could very well be samples you will show to future customers.  Plans for making you own equipment are shown in my book, "How To Start Your Own Silk Screening Business On A Shoestring And Make Up To $1,000,000."  This book can be your first investment.  Study the book and then re-read the question above.  And then, make it happen.

Q. How much space do I need?
A. When I started, I had only part of our double-car garage.  I made a workbench to hold the exposure box (for making screens), a shirt press, the infra-red oven, plus the home-made press.  Later when we moved to our present home, we added a 500 sq. ft. workshop.  I started out using the bathroom tub with a hose connection to wash and clean screens during the winter months.  When the weather was mild, I went outside and used the garded hose the rest of the year.  Remember, you do not need to start out paying high rent or securing more room that might by required until your business can afford it.

Q. Can I make my own screens?
A. Yes, you can.  It scared me in the beginning when I did not quite know what I was doing wrong.  It would often require a number of attempts to make a workable screen.  I did not know that the shelf life of my emulsion (after the container was opened and being used) was affected by the warm weather when stored in the gargage.  The shelf life doubled when stored in the refridgerator.  ALso my screens were exposed to too much light.  Everything worked better under 'yellow-light' conditions.  I also became more aware that screens needed to be properly cleaned before being re-used.  My "How-To" book should help guide you in getting started.  You will quicikly learn by doing.

Q. Where will I find suppliers?
A. I started out with no prior experience and retired from the restaurant business.  The local library had no useful information on silk screening.  But, I was able to secure an outdated printwear magazine from a sign printer.  By subscribing to the magazine, I was able to secure '800' phone numbers and business reply cards to order catalogs and other literature from over 50 to 60 firms.  My book will save you considerable time and expense.  It contains a list of suppliers and also key printwear magazines.

Q. Do I have to employ anyone to start this business?
A. No.  You can start and work your business as a one-man shop.  Be aware that the vast majority of screen print shops are family owned and operated.  Most started out with one man and continuedsucessfully for years with only one or two family members.  I started out myself and had my wife available when needed.

Q. How fast can I start?
A. Aw fast as your wish.  First, remember to learn what you can about what silk screening is about.  My book is intened to furnish much of the information that I wished I had known before I got started.  The book is designed to help "jump-start" your plans for a new business (or hobby).

Q. Should I try to find and visit a screenprint shop in operation?
A. It won't hurt.  I line in an area where there are 5 or 6 shops.  The first shop I was in, I did not ask enough questions.  I also wondered how he was able to make it.  Later I was able to farm out a couple of cap sales to a second shop.  He operated out of his enclosed garage but he never gave me the opportunity to see it in action.  But if you wish to do so, why not review the book first, get out the yellow pages and located a shop near you.  Drop by and simply ask if the owner would kindly show off his silk screen shop.  And if he is looking for help... VOLUNTEER!

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