How to Start a Screen Printing Business - The Start Up Life - Episode 2

[@mei1nik2]

I'm old enough to be your mother, but who says you can't learn and be inspired by younger people. I have a degree in art and have been working in a job that for 20 years I hate and had nothing to do with art. My family has insisted in me doing something that I love. Watching your videos has encouraged me to do that and have my own business. It is never too late. Thank you for taking your time and sharing your experience.

[@KevinHackett]

Wow thank you for taking the time to write that. You inspire me! I think that’s beautiful. I worked a lot of jobs while starting this business, so take your time and allow yourself to make mistakes. It took me over three years to get to the point I’m at with my business that you see in these videos. I worked a lot of jobs I was miserable at and I can totally relate. It’s the same reason I started my business.

[@MasculinityMindset]

me too :)

[@SoupLevo]

How did your business turn out so far?????

[@KevinHackett]

Me or her?

[@SoupLevo]

@@KevinHackett both :)

[@berto2691]

i don`t care about the audio in you`re vid , the knowledge i gotten out of it, was what i needed thank you !!!

[@yeezywesty3651]

i had a friend who owned a setup like this. he walked me through the process one day when he had some shirts to do and he didn't run it full time it was one offs and customs . gave me a massive respect for the craft. if it didnt command such a big area i'd probably have a setup as well.

[@thedeservelevel]

You still did a great job and I learned from it. Thanks for sharing!

[@titandigitizingembroideryd7051]

Nice one

[@sarahsulpico3084]

I would suggest that you don't spray from the inkwell side, also use a finer spray but with enough pressure. You'd ruin the details since this side is softer and emulsion on this side is thinner. Also use a packaging tape dispenser. It'll save you time.

[@Smerzone]

Keep up the good work bro. I have a basement shop too. You learn something with every job. I wish you much success.

[@KevinHackett]

You really do. Thank you so much for your support. Best of luck to you. Let me know if you ever need to outsource anything. Please keep me in mind.

[@Smerzone]

Will do! Especially for embroidery

[@Shirtspace]

Nice screen printing setup!

[@KevinHackett]

Thanks!

[@damienguidry7369]

Hey Kev we have a Family screen printing business also, this is want I do to make it quicker to line up my screens on my pallet. I draw 5 lines that's 1 inch apart(horizontal) on my pallets,easier to set up my front design or pocket print. In the very center of the screen I draw 1 vertical line so I can center every shirt. Thanks and great job on your printing

[@ragnolim203]

Best print video I’ve seen.

[@KevinHackett]

Thank you 🙏

[@AK-fz8mo]

Thank you for taking your time and sharing your experience. Thank you!

[@firework25]

Use a mist setting when you have higher detail on 160 mesh screens. Let the water break down the emoltion, not the force of a heavier spray pattern. This saves me tons of possible reshoots

[@KevinHackett]

Do you use a pressure washer or a garden hose? I’ve been experimenting with washing out new screens with a pressure washer lately, but used to only use a garden hose

[@vinkenwood8233]

woow, that space :-) I’m now starting screen printing in 8m square space, that’s challenge :-D

[@KevinHackett]

Yeah small spaces make it tough! Thanks for admiring my old set up! I loved the work flow of it. It was so efficient for the amount of space I had. I tried to make every little bit count

[@olaf_6094]

The music wasn't a good idea lol, Good vid tho

[@KevinHackett]

Thanks! And I agree lol

[@SyrNarcissus]

Kevin Hackett why did you pick a low-fi hip hop beat if you didn’t like the music? You should have picked some banjos and pickle tubs...that would have been more your speed!

[@KevinHackett]

😂shots fired! are you sure? I actually love Lofi hip hop but good one bud! Wait until I start putting out some Lofi music. Also I didn’t say I don’t like Lofi and I didn’t pick this song either. It was edited by a former student of mine and I told him I wanted a Lofi song bc I fucks with Lofi brah. I love that shit. He just picked one I wasn’t crazy about and then looped it into eternity instead of changing the song after it ended which is what I wanted him to do. I don’t even have a problem with this song so I’m not sure what you’re talking about or why you’re coming for me like this bro

[@KevinHackett]

I’m not even sure if you’re talking about the intro song or the one he looped a ton. The intro song was dope. If that’s the track you’re referring to where are you getting that I don’t like Lofi? I’m seriously kind of obsessed with it and have been building out an in home studio to start producing some and have already made some too

[@chrislott810]

Good video. The background music was a little too loud because I couldn't hear you when you were doing the small adjustments for the registration. Maybe have a lapel mic or lower the background music volume. Thanks for posting!

[@KevinHackett]

I wish I could go back and edit the sound. I had a student do this one for me and I didn’t like the audio either but he kept pushing the due date back and I didn’t want to miss uploading that week. I can’t do anything about it now though since it’s already up

[@omarmartinez3455]

Heck ya dude 2 designs on one screen. I've done up to 3 on 1

[@KevinHackett]

Nice! Not to be the one upper guy but I think record is either 6 or 8 hahaha. I’ll never do that again though. Not worth it?

[@pane2125]

Hey thanks for the vid... What press do you use in this video and do you recommend it?

[@KevinHackett]

I love this press. It is a Vastex hd2000

[@pane2125]

@@KevinHackett Thanks for the info

[@MrGamberWolf1]

Where do you order the boxes with the shirts and how much do they cost? :)

[@KevinHackett]

It depends on the brand and who you buy from and the style but I usually use TSC Apparel. Set up an account with them and you will see pricing

[@cigarpadrino]

I enjoyed the video but it's more like The Screen Print Process rather than Starting a Screen Printing business.

[@KevinHackett]

Tru. Tru

[@mightyquinn5135]

Hi, Im new to this and have a question. If high mesh count screens allow for higher detail why use low mesh screens at all? Im assuming there is an advantage to low mesh screens but I dont know what that is? Are they simply cheaper or are they better for certain types of projects? Thanks

[@KevinHackett]

You use low mesh screens for spot color printing. AKA design layers with blocks of ink. it's easier to pass the ink through. If you ever try printing a big design with little to no detail on a high mesh screen and its even a small order, it's a pain in the you know what.

[@mightyquinn5135]

@@KevinHackett thanks for the response

[@damienguidry7369]

220 screens suck to me, a 156 holds detail the same and doesn't wash off easily like a 220 does without pinholes

[@bridgetwhite7122]

What is your t-shirt brand style of choice? And tote bags? I haven't had luck finding ones that take the ink well. So want to find a sturdy but reasonably priced tote bag to put logos on. Thanks.

[@KevinHackett]

Try Gildan, Tultex, Anvil, Next Level and District for shirts. I’d have to look up the tote bag I’ve used recently. I’ll get back to you on that part!

[@joshuahayden784]

The reason why your emulsion is breaking and falling a part when you do your wash out is because you are spraying the screen with water for too long. First wet both sides of screen, let sit for 45 secs...the wash out spraying from about 3 to 4 inches away from screen. You will have cleaned wash outs and will not experience sawtoothing.

[@joshuahayden784]

I forgot to add another reason why your emulsion is falling a part is because you’re washing the screen from too far away. Need to spray as close as possible and knock image out as fast as possible then stop. Less water the better.

[@KevinHackett]

Thanks for the pointer! I will give it a try! I’ve also been told it may have to do with underexposing the emulsion. I’ve been exposing longer lately and not experiencing the problem. I guess bc it hardens more when exposed longer and is still somewhat soft when not. I usually do wet both sides and let it sit before spraying out everything. I don’t usually wait 45 seconds though, but sometimes. I also don’t spray it that close to the screen bc spraying that close increases the water pressure which is what I feel is part of the problem, but at the same time it takes longer if you are farther, and spraying too long is prob part of the problem as well.

[@jezrahcasinillo8797]

N3w subscriber here

[@KevinHackett]

Thanks for subbing!

[@gotshirts2ink]

Camera man couldn't tell you about the string on you right shoulder

[@KevinHackett]

Haha I know right? After I watched the footage back I was thought like why wouldn't you tell me?

[@yeezywesty3651]

trigg daddy

[@Elevationprint]

Nice vid man. I agree with @Toniosmart, the music doesnt work. The volume was to high. Also, you need to be mic'd if you are going to walk around and still talk. Not sure you know, maybe you do, but technically you are using that ergo squeegee wrong. I know we printers can do whatever works for us. As long as the print looks like the client wanted, it stays on the shirt and you make money, who cares how things get done.

[@KevinHackett]

+Elevation Print & Sign I've thought about wearing a lapel mic but haven't decided whether I will or not. I have two so I could. I'm going to try to get better about speaking directly to the camera. But yeah I agree with both of you guys 100%. The music I didn't like at all (the second song. First one was cool). I had asked my editor to use a bunch of diff songs like the first one throughout it but he only added one more and looped it. I wanted to re do it but wanted to put the video out bc my goal is 1 a week right now, so I figured I'd just take it as a learning process and accept it for how it was instead of pushing back the upload longer to fix the audio up. How am I using it wrong in your opinion? In what way do you recommend I do something differently with it? Are you saying it's backwards or are you saying the durometer is wrong for the design/mesh count or something else entirely?

[@mannya6008]

This music gave me a headache

[@KevinHackett]

Lol yeah it’s pretty bad. Too repetitive. I didn’t want to use it but wanted to meet my weekly deadline and my editor failed to replace it in time so I just uploaded it w it.

[@BenjaminAlejandroYT]

Had to stop watching the music was killing me.

[@KevinHackett]

Lol I don’t blame you. It’s awful. I didn’t choose it or put it there

[@jesselejarzar5114]

I've been screen printing for 20 years and normally at screen shops and my garage we use a red to yellow safe light . I've heard that they now have an LED light that emits zero UV light, is that what you guys have, if so where can I buy them?

[@KevinHackett]

Are you asking regarding the fluorescent lights that hang overhead? In terms of when I take the frame out of the exposure unit and to wash it out?

[@jesselejarzar5114]

yes I worked at lot of places, in Austin, Tx , and many companies coat and keep screens in a yellow to red safe light area even washout in yellow light, we normally called a dark room. An exposure calculator would help zero on your exposure time. different meshes, thread thickness, coat methods, and color , can make exposure time tricky. You should be able to get fine lines to come out on as low as 135-180.

[@KevinHackett]

Yes I am aware of all of this and do all of that. I have a dark room upstairs that I coat and keep unexposed screens in. It uses only UV light. When I’m ready to burn designs to them I take them from the dark room, put them in thick black, light proof bags and bring them to my workshop where my exposure unit is. I bought the exposure unit used, so it does have an exposure timer but it doesn’t work unfortunately. I have learned through trial and error about how long I need to let the different mesh count screens exposure for. I still learn more about fine tuning exposure times the more I do it, but I’ve printed plenty of high detail, half-tone designs and exposed them properly enough to be print worthy. I print on anything from mesh count 80-305. I used to only wash out in UV and never expose the screens to white light when I started, but I learned that isn’t really necessary. If you let light hit a screen for a few seconds it doesn’t really do anything to it, so you just don’t have to let it sit in the light and expose and was out quickly enough

[@oddheader]

I actually enjoyed the music and of course the video. Didn't think the music was distracting, rather calming actually. Guess different likes for different tastes.

[@KevinHackett]

I think you’re the first to say that haha. I personally like the intro song, the second song, and think the last song is decent just has too high a volume and loops too long. It was done by a student so it was sort of a learning process and we had a deadline to meet so we could upload that week so didn’t have time to make it exactly how I wanted it. Still, I’m really happy with his work and help. I mean, this is my most popular video so kudos to him

[@oddheader]

Well I have plenty of people critical of the mixing in my early videos so maybe I'm not to talk, but idk it sounds fine to me. I just listened to it again. I have on headphones so maybe that has something to do with it but I usually expect music to come up a lot during time lapse segments. There wasn't any point in this where I was damn, the music is too distracting. Fit imo.

[@lystrageorge3395]

Great video Music really annoying.

[@KevinHackett]

+Lystra George I agree! Lol. Sorry! I'll try to make sure that doesn't happen again

[@AnythingMike]

You know you could wash the design off from the mesh if you wanna reuse it ?!

[@KevinHackett]

Yes sir!

[@uncobazz3848]

That ANNOYING music killed it for me

[@KevinHackett]

Meee too. I wish my editor hadn’t used it but it was too late to change it. If I could change it I would. Thanks for watching!

[@linkybotes1721]

Wow ! Great - but a lot of work !!!Hopefully you get paid well

[@brandongrennan7602]

Great video dude. Think I'm about to start a small screen printing business. This video may have been the push I needed. Just subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@KevinHackett]

It was well worth it for me. Changed my life! If it's something you're thinking seriously about I say go for it! Glad that this hyped you on it! Thanks for watching!

[@brandongrennan7602]

That's awesome man! Yea I'm in the whole married, kids, corporate job deal lol and I need that freedom in my life dude. If someone's gonna put a dollar amount on an hour of my time it's gotta be me doing something I'll enjoy. Yea my boy is an artist and that's all he's ever done and he's the happiest person I know and my buddy started a screen printing business, then now your channel... I've been on a journey for a few years looking at different things I would want to do for a living and this fits me so well. Hip hop head, perfectionist, love working with my hands, love creating things that make other people happy etc. Sorry I'm ranting lol but I'll be on my way soon. Definitely gonna start my KZbin channel soon. Thanks again Kevin.

[@KevinHackett]

That's how I felt! I still do to this day. I was making chump change working for others when I knew I could work way harder, smarter and also earn way more and not have to count on bosses and others to "grant" me a small raise. It was so aggravating but ultimately it motivated me to do what I do now. The way I see it, invest in yourself. When you do, the sky is the limit. When it's your company, if it fails, if you become wildly successful, or if you fall anywhere in between, it all comes down to you and the amount of effort and time you put in.

[@douglasdillon7773]

Word of advice in makining instructional videos. Keep the background music in the background. Can't hear what he's saying over that awful "background" music.

[@KevinHackett]

Lol for sure. I had a student edit this and tried to make that clear but this is how it ended up. If you watch any of my other videos you’ll see they don’t have loud background music playing the whole time

[@douglasdillon7773]

Kevin Hackett oh I see now. I guess people gotta learn somehow right. Just to be clear, I wasn't being a KZbin hater or one of those people that just gets in the comments to argue. If it's to teach someone a useful skill, I'm all in and understand mistake will certainly happen.

[@KevinHackett]

Absolutely. I appreciate that a lot. Yeah man. He was learning. Doing internship hours with me shooting and editing. He did the first two episodes and I’m really grateful for his help, even though there was room for improvement. There always would be and I thought it was a good opportunity for me to get help editing and shooting the vlogs while he could learn and I could teach him about cameras and editing at the same time. Thanks for watching man! 🙏

[@Gottzilla47]

MY BROTHER,.........when you doing pocket prints make a small "separate screen" 5 inches in length 5 inches in width, use a small squeegee and print the dam thing manually....stop waisting time and materials bro. I print.

[@KevinHackett]

Wow that’s genius. I mean obviously you print. I can tell by your vast knowledge, ideas and ingenuity

[@thedeservelevel]

The music is killing what is a pretty good video.

[@KevinHackett]

I know 🤦‍♂️😭I had a student edit this and when I reviewed it I asked him to remove and change it and he just did for the beginning then just looped the same obnoxious track throughout the rest of the video, and I didn’t have time to keep going back and forth with him to make changes bc I was sticking to strict weekly uploads and didn’t want to miss the deadline. Live and learn. Sorry!

[@3DNordic]

What is the minimum starting money?

[@KevinHackett]

$1,000,000

[@wanamayk]

No uhs were HARMED in the making of this video but was used a lot

[@KevinHackett]

Hahaha 😂 yeah. If there is one thing making KZbin videos has taught me it’s where I need to improve on my speech lol. Thank you for pointing it out though! 🤦‍♂️

[@toniosmart1]

Cool video, but the looping music was really annoying.

[@KevinHackett]

I agree with you 200%. I told my editor to use a variety of music throughout bc at first he just had one song, so he added one and just looped the second lol. I talked to him about it and that shouldn't be the case with our future vlogs. Glad you said this! Now I can show him haha

[@toniosmart1]

Kevin Hackett Thank you, I'm sure it will be way more enjoyable that way :). Can't wait for the next episode !

[@hargobindbatra3983]

Perfect

[@NoPlaceLikeMauiClothing]

I thought i saw you selling your stuff on digismith ? U gettin an auto ?

[@KevinHackett]

No haha I’m not selling my stuff? What did you see that made you think I was? I may at some point when I get an auto. Yes I’ve been wanting one since I started. Been saving a loooong time and making a game plan on the meantime. I’m currently actually looking at larger spaces to move in to. Once I find the right place I’m getting the auto. I already have a list of local printers who want work and have found a few eligible properties, but it’s such a big decision for me so I’m taking my time and weighing my options.

[@NoPlaceLikeMauiClothing]

Kevin Hackett nice yeah its funny coz i saw your video and i was at the website thought i saw the space and same equipment . Good brah . Goodluck with the biz .

[@KevinHackett]

Thanks!

[@jesselejarzar5114]

Do you own a spot remover gun?

[@KevinHackett]

Yes I have three or four

[@KevinHackett]

I think two currently. In my experience they clog easily and are a pain to fix so I wind up having to buy new ones more often than I’d like which is frustrating

[@jesselejarzar5114]

WD -40 or sewing machine oil can help, along with not keeping the solution in the gun. One of my bosses had a Zim gun for 3 years with no problems, he said a spot gun tech told to unscrew the base and shoot the zim back in the base until it's empty, the solution messes it up and WD-40 or machine oil also helps to keep it lubricated.

[@KevinHackett]

That’s great to know. I’ve noticed that too. It seems like the solution itself is what ruins or clogs the guns up. It has to be. It cannot be anything else. So he just emptied after each use? It’s annoying to have to empty after each use but I suppose that would preserve the gun’s lifespan a lot. So does he just spray WD40 on the front nozzle? Where does he apply it?

[@jesselejarzar5114]

Kevin Hackett everyday he would pour out the solution back into the gallon jug. There are spots on top where some models have to lube points, to lube the spray stream adjuster. Then work that adjuster back and forth. Then drop machine oil in the now mostly empty tube where the solution gets sucked up , pull the trigger and let the oil or WD go through the mechanism and make sure you shoot out any oil when you put the the spot solution back in. You could do it every Friday , let it soak in oil for a weekend . Once a month the guy broke down and cleaned the gun like a weapon ,he was an ex Marine I think . Another company used mineral oil to shoot through once a week.

[@danielw24]

Good video.. but turn the music down. Put all that effort into making a video and ruin it with loud ass music. Keep hustlin

[@KevinHackett]

Lol I swear. This video is cursed to forever get comments about the music in it! I get it but I think I’ve replied to 100 comments at this point explaining the music. You’re right though! And thank you.

[@danielw24]

@@KevinHackett Haha I feel you man. I used to make YT videos a while ago. I saw those comments.. thought you'd just like one more. But honestly take it as a compliment.. from me at least.. I wanted to hear what you had to say (I'm sure everyone else that said it meant it that way too). Good content.

[@yogeshrabin3404]

How to sikiran bord

[@kimcraft5539]

try to learn how to talk to cameras better, that is funny. i think you did a good job

[@KevinHackett]

Lol thank you

[@KevinHackett]

I see you guys are outfitters. Do you ever outsource for screen printing or embroidery?

[@mikeydee4597]

Well that music was horrendous

[@KevinHackett]

Lol yes... 🤦‍♂️ I know. I’m sorry!!!

[@leadteks]

great video but this music sucks so much, i cant even explain it.

[@KevinHackett]

Lol I know!! Everyone says this just read the comments lmao. It’s terrible. I agree. Wasn’t totally my fault and I wish we never used it lol

[@63italic]

Very annoying music

[@KevinHackett]

Yep! I agree. Sorry!

[@thommeinert9072]

Music annoying !

[@KevinHackett]

Fer sher

[@SomeWhereOverland]

You made this look more difficult than it really is. I’ve been in printing for 20 years and it’s not as hard as you make it look. Your adjustments are very Over exaggerated. I do customs shirts with 8 color and fine lines and adjust the the screens very quick. Not sure if you are new to this or were taught the wrong way.

[@KevinHackett]

Lol! I was wondering when someone was going to comment about this. I totally messed up and did way more than I had to for sure lol. I was a little rusty and the camera was rolling so I just went with it. I didn’t edit this myself but if I had I would have cut all the mistakes out. I thought the editor would be he didn’t so I thought oh well and just uploaded it anyways.

[@KevinHackett]

I am relatively new I suppose but have been printing for about 3 years

[@vidneypopples]

Need better lighting.

[@KevinHackett]

Agreed