When starting a screen printing business, many people print out of their garage or basement. This is a great way for beginner screen printers to make the most of the space they already have by setting up shop in a home garage. A screen printing machine, essential equipment and supplies, and some simple tweaks to ensure the best environment for smooth printing are all you need to start your small business.
What Screen Printing Equipment and Supplies Do You Need?
At a minimum, you will need a screen printing machine, dryer, and exposure unit. Look for a start-up screen printing package to equip your shop, as quality shop setup packages should include equipment, supplies, and training. For example, Lawson’s Beginner Start-Up Package includes equipment (a screen printing press, flash dryer, exposure unit, conveyor dryer, and washout booth), supplies (ink, emulsion, chemicals, and other items), in-person training, and 24/7 print support.
Once your equipment is ready, you will need some basic screen printing supplies, including plastisol ink and pre-stretched aluminum frames.
How Should You Plan Your Layout?
Positioning your screen printing equipment in the right places makes the process of screen printing much easier. The amount of equipment you have determines how much space you need, but a simple start-up package requires only about 6 ft x 8 ft of space. The screen printing equipment should fit into a garage with enough room to move around. If space is limited, consider space-saving ideas like shelving or drying racks to help organize supplies and screens, and include racks for screens.
When positioning your screen printing equipment, don’t forget that there is more to your business than just printing. How will you handle deliveries? What if a customer wants to pick up their order? Will you continue using your garage door for access and deliveries when setting up? Thinking through these questions provides a long-term solution for your print shop.
How Do You Set Up an At-Home Darkroom?
You’ll also need a screen room, also known as a darkroom, for preparing screens to be printed. This area should be separate, as it is where you will work with light-sensitive emulsion. Suitable at-home spaces could include a bathroom, laundry room, spare room, or even a closet, as long as you can control the light, temperature, and humidity levels. You could also create an enclosed darkroom space within your garage by getting creative with walls or light-filtering plastic.
Inside your darkroom, control light levels by installing a yellow light-safe bulb and preventing UV light from entering the room. Many home renovation stores sell bulb covers to filter UV light for regular lights. These are often a cheaper and more permanent option than buying “bug lights.”
It is particularly convenient to have the washout space connected to or close to the darkroom, and you can use a water source available in your garage, laundry room, bathroom, or yard. Be sure to avoid rinsing out chemicals where children, pets, or sensitive drains could be at risk.
How Do You Keep Everything Clean and Stored Properly?
Keeping dust and dirt away from your screens is crucial, but it can be especially challenging in a space like a garage. Deep-cleaning the space before setting up your screen printing shop goes a long way toward ensuring that the space and equipment stay clean. Additionally, build a regular cleaning routine into your schedule that includes both the shop space and the equipment itself.
A couple of pro tips: avoid using spray adhesive as much as possible. Liquid platen glue helps keep your shop clean by eliminating sticky surfaces where t-shirt lint can accumulate. If you use a fan to speed up the drying process or cool the space, take care to avoid blowing dust particles around by keeping the fan on a low setting.
If your garage is not insulated, be aware of the potential pitfalls of printing and storing supplies in an environment that is not temperature-controlled. In particular, chemicals and inks will react poorly to extreme hot or cold temperatures, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. Store screen printing chemicals and plastisol inks in a temperature-controlled environment whenever possible. Consider using space heaters, dehumidifiers, or air conditioning units as your climate necessitates.
How Do You Properly Insure Yourself?
Don’t assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover the loss of screen printing business equipment in the case of a fire or theft at your home. Most personal homeowner’s insurance policies will not cover business equipment unless it is specifically included in your policy. Talk to your insurance agent about adding coverage, or look into separate business insurance to cover your home-based screen printing equipment.
Building a screen printing shop in a garage is a great way to start your business. With a little extra creativity and care, you can establish an efficient and convenient screen printing business in no time.