Harold:
When it comes to screen printing, I too am a novice. However, it's
easy to do, and if you mess up you can always wash off and try
again. Some will avoid it because they don't want to learn another
skill, and like any skill it takes a little trial and error.
But there are more books written on the art of screen printing or
"silk screening" than there are about live steam. I'd recommend one
except I don't have any. But for those who do learn, you will then
have a very useful technique which lends itself to other uses, such
as metal etching. (That's how you make HO or N scale ladders, etc.)
Screen printing supplies are available in many craft stores. But the
best bet is to get them from commercial vendors such as Naz Dar.
NazDar.com There they have a link called "find the nearest location". Most of them
offer unlimited free advice, which is how I got started.
You will need frames, which you can buy or make yourself. Fabric is
abundant and relatively cheap. Photo polymer emulsions, (the blue
stuff in my first photo) comes in quantities that will outlast us all for
$20 to $30. Squeegees are sold by the inch. I needed a 5" squeegee
for this job, as that is the width of each panel. Ink is available in any
color or composition. I used "poster ink" on my hopper car.
Artwork. You can make that on your computer using your favorite paint
program. Make your "films" by printing your artwork on overhead
transparency film for inkjet printers, available at any office supply store.
Expose the screens by placing the film on the screen with a piece of
window glass to hold it down. A 150 watt indoor floodlamp two feet above
the glass for 40 minutes will expose the screen. Develop the screen by
washing it out with water.
Printing. Once the screens dry, clamp one to a panel to be printed.
Place a row of ink inside the screen above the image. Drag the squeegee
(and the ink) over the image. The ink oozes through the screen where the
image is and onto the workpiece. Carefully and gently unclamp and remove
the screen so as not to smear the printed image. If the printed image looks
good, let it dry. If not, wash it off with Xylene (Xylol) and hit it again.
That's pretty much it. But to go into every hint, tip, or detail would run Chaski
out of disk space. Those that want to learn will dig more deeply into it.
Bill