Screen Printing How-To: Stretching Screens on a Budget

A quick and easy screen printing how-to for stretching screen printing mesh over a wooden frame (at home!). This method allows you to reuse your wood frame over and over again once the mesh is worn out or the emulsion no longer clears.
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SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Screen printing mesh (110 Mesh (43T) used in this video)
Wood frame*
Canvas pliers
Staple gun
Staples
Scissors
Caulk
Matte medium
Screen printers tape
Paint brush
Baking soda
*We used a pre-built frame from Blick Art Materials in this video, but it is possible to build your own. However, building a frame is not as straightforward as it seems as the wood tends to warp over time with exposure to water during the printing process -- and a warped screen is just about useless!
Music:
Fin Zipper - Moving to California

[@kevmo759]

Love how they smile at each other

[@Handcockmcgee]

true love type shit

[@d.e.m.p.s.e.y]

Great tutorial! Thanks so much, hope there's more content down the line!

[@loisroberts9339]

Thanks for taking time to do the video. I'm gonna use it as a teaching resource

[@michaeldoherty7439]

Thank you both so much. I built a custom screen and used this video as a guide. I really appreciate your helpful advice!

[@spacetakers6062]

So glad it helped you out! Happy printing!

[@ssmm7621]

Thank you. I learned it from you - a million likes

[@footeloose1873]

omg canvas pliers make so much sense. Good call on the caulk.

[@johnbuhler8275]

Great video! Thank you guys so much for this.

[@SAQ1]

Hello, how are you? I would like to thank you for this beautiful post. Finally, I am waiting for a new creation. Please, please do not be late.

[@ch0obo]

If someone here is trying to stretch Higher mesh count mesh, be very careful not to stretch mesh too much! I tried stretch 120T mesh with those canvas pliers and ended up ripping mesh 3 times! In the end I stretched my mesh only by hand and the mesh is now good!

[@umtola]

Great idea

[@Ejarayal]

Thanks for good information for small scale

[@caitlinsands2548]

Thank you so much for this!

[@evolbrew]

This was a really helpful video. New frames are so pricey!

[@trendspot2545]

Nice the way you show the procedure

[@fakesupremebag]

Thanks just stretched my first with a picture frame!!! haha much love

[@dianemakes]

Great Tutorial! Thank you! This gives me confidence!

[@spacetakers6062]

So glad to hear!!

[@thegreatrknews8708]

Good luck and good work

[@mcaraangofficial9244]

nice video

[@saniraj9799]

Thanks for the video

[@JackSmith-ud9bg]

THANK YOU. GOOD VIEDO

[@corrielebon8216]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@mikemacinnes4470]

this might sound silly but when you stretch one side how does the other side not fly upwards?

[@KyawKyaw-YGN]

thank you guys.

[@munawarsoomro8958]

Awesome video. Thanks. Quick question. . How do pull all those staples out to rescreen the frame?

[@spacetakers6062]

There's an upholstery handtool you can use that makes it pretty easy - try searching "upholstery staple remover" online and you'll find it. Or you can dodge them for a couple re-streches.

[@wilfredndlovu8007]

I would like to have a close look at that mesh

[@rkmachinery907]

Good idea thankyou

[@mdnazmulhudabaccu7273]

Nice

[@thaliar2892]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I couldn't get the screen to stay taut and because of the canvas pliers I was able to create the screen on my own.

[@marywaters405]

Thank you for such a wonderful video! I feel confident about getting started. One question, does the baking soda eliminate the need for a screen degreaser? Thank you again!

[@spacetakers6062]

In theory, yes - it's to serve a similar purpose. I've personally never used screen degreaser and feel the baking soda is sufficient for home projects like this. Glad you found the video helpful!

[@flarpster3675]

Thank you!!!

[@pravinpatel4940]

Nice method

[@tomburton1037]

Thanks for the video. What about aluminum frames? Do you glue 2 sides, let them dry and then do the others?

[@spacetakers6062]

I haven't tried this with aluminum frames. I imagine that would be your best bet. If it works, do tell! I have a bunch of aluminum frames I'd love to re-stretch.

[@lockhartisha5374]

I don't have the canvas stretcher with me... And to get it... I have to travel.. Can you recommend a replacement to the canvas stretcher

[@spacetakers6062]

Hmm, I'm afraid it might be the only option to get even tension using this method, at least that I'm aware of. Here's a different video with a clever, low-tech way to stretch a screen without a stretcher, though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZanqp6siKlrsNU

[@monkey23gorilla]

First of luv the video, but I have a question. What's the baking soda for?

[@spacetakers6062]

The baking soda is just to prime the screen before applying emulsion. The abrasion of the baking soda can help the emulsion coat a bit easier.

[@johanherein6956]

Thanks!

[@jaihindkumar7562]

super

[@shoppixie444]

I am going to hit up BLICK for a wood frame! We are trying to build a 4 foot by 7 foot screen for some big format screen printing! Any advice at that size?

[@spacetakers6062]

Exciting!! The largest screen I've stretched was just shy of that and this method scales just fine. The biggest issue is actually the wood frame warping over time and with exposure to water. Good luck!

[@kerchalmier3013]

Why wouldn't you just use a spline and set it in the groove available in your frame?

[@DanielLarbi-yt2ij]

How can you make the design you want in the mesh

[@vinodbhadke285]

I want... All accessories.

[@mrmidnight32]

Where do you guys buy your empty frames from?

[@spacetakers6062]

This is just a pre-stretched frame from Blick Art Materials that we stripped the mesh off of once it got clogged. You could probably buy stretcher bars to make a custom sized frame, instead but it might get a little pricey.

[@scaldor]

Subscribed

[@JanineMKartist]

What’s the difference with yellow mesh? What’s better for silkscreening on paper or mixed media? Also can plexiglass be used instead of glass? Seems too hard to find cheap uv free glass. No idea if cheap dollar store picture frame glass would work or cheap frames from Michael’s (glass).. any idea?

[@spacetakers6062]

Yellow mesh usually has a higher mesh count, making it better for fine detail, but requires a longer exposure time. Honestly I print almost exclusively on fabric so I'm not sure if there's an advantage to using one or the other based on your medium - either should work but I'd make the decision based on the level of detail in your design. I've never heard of anyone successfully using plexiglass for exposure but I've used glass from picture frames and a halogen light and had good enough results, considering the low-tech approach.

[@JanineMKartist]

@@spacetakers6062 I’m thinking g of trying cheap frames from the dollar store or the cheapest ones at Michaels

[@spacetakers6062]

@@JanineMKartist not a bad idea to try to keep costs down. Good luck!

[@JanineMKartist]

@@spacetakers6062 I meant for the glass. Good or bad?

[@spacetakers6062]

@@JanineMKartist I think it'll work fine! You may need a longer exposure time/a few tests to find the sweet spot but I've even used a glass table before and had successful results. As long as you're not working with incredible detail I'd say go that route before you invest in making a real exposure unit.

[@AzimuthTao]

I'm getting some slight ripples on the edges of my stretched screen. I noticed yours had some slight rippling also. Should I be concerned with that and what causes it?

[@spacetakers6062]

Hi Rafael, don't worry too much about that. Since you'll be exposing your design on the center of the screen some rippling near the edges shouldn't mess anything up. You'll always get some rippling using this method because the staples pull the screen in very high tension but the areas between the staples are at a lesser tension. If you feel like it's rippling too much or near the center of the screen you could try putting the staples closer together when you're stretching it.

[@thakurboys5962]

May be you didn't stretch properly in first step. Also try to strech mesh diagonally and secure the corner with pins once you done with perpendicular sides.This will eliminate all sort of rippling. I usually do this way.

[@marcusdenomme4369]

Thanks for well made video! Q: After much printing do you find the screen looses its tension much? Does the screen ever rip around the staples? I am considering putting a layer of glue on top of the screen and staples around the frame in hopes to give it more strength and durability. Anywho curious about your thoughts! Thanks

[@spacetakers6062]

Eventually the screen will lose some tension, but usually over time from pressure washing out an old stencil. I find I can still use the screen as long as the tension is even. The screen should only be at risk of ripping while you're stretching it, and if it does start to rip at that time, just ease up on how tight you're stretching it. I usually run a border of duct tape /screen printing tape around the top border of the screen, above the staples when I'm done. I've never needed to use glue--couldn't hurt but might be harder to take off/re-stretch if residue remains. Hope that helps!

[@shahidsheikhshahidsheikh913]

I have experience 32 year you have job screen parinting silk parinting

[@killsunhee]

I did not freaking know that THAT kind of pliers even exited lmao, I suffered so much stretching screens manually 😭

[@spacetakers6062]

Oh yeah, this will change your life! I can't imagine the headaches of doing this without one. Good luck!

[@zgagatwet1221]

Why is it so expensive in Poland

[@ayb3555]

would a normal stapler work? the non heavy duty one

[@spacetakers6062]

Unfortunately not. But the heavy duty ones can be found fairly cheap at a hardware store.

[@ajm1971]

What stapler

[@DineshJoshi-xn2yn]

How to buy

[@Scatty100]

❤🖒🖒

[@healthinghand]

What type of paper is used for screen??

[@spacetakers6062]

It's typically a monofilament polyester mesh. You can find it online and it usually comes in a few yards, so you can use it for multiple projects. We used size 110, which is usually pretty good for home screen printers.

[@ajm1971]

What stapler ??

[@spacetakers6062]

I just used a manual staple gun, Dewalt brand, but any manual staple gun or electric staple gun should work.

[@muhammadnaeemkhan4994]

absalutly beautiful vedio dear i like like like very much & also subscribe ur channel today is also my first day in screen printing plz pray for my success

[@mia9118190]

Is matte medium paint?

[@spacetakers6062]

It's a paint additive. Here's the link to the exact kind I used: www.dickblick.com/items/00618-3215/

[@jaihindkumar7562]

please matterial name in india

[@joditrovato9348]

Cheaper to buy a new one at michaels

[@RalfUickerPhotography]

yreexplangtuuuspeedy