Homemade exposure unit ???

Hi anyone,
I am starting to get all the supplies to build a vaccummed exposure table for silkscreening, however does anyone reccomend a specific type of rubber blanket to use/ where to find it?
also can anyone reccomend a great site to buy the light bulbs?
or how to attach the vaccum to the rubber?
any help would be great!
thanks::)

topbulbs.com for the 40 watt black light bulbs by GE, they are only $10 each.
For the rubber, I don't have the source in front of me right now, but there are
some places that sell it much cheaper than AWT screenprinting. I go enough for a 48 x36
for about 40 bucks as opposed to 200. I welded a frame around my box for the lid and then took self driving bolts with a stip of metal to attach the rubber to the frame. Then connect your vaccum pump hose into the steel frame. When you put your glass in your bottom frame, tape off, really good the glass to the wooden frame you built(if that is what you did) the key is to have a tight seal or your vaccum will not work. I used weather striping for all around my lid so when it sets on the glass it has a nice seal. I build a 48x 36" self timing table for about 200. Glass was about 60 of it. As opposed to thousands. It works great. good luck, i'll see if i can find the invoice to the blanket supplier. it is the same stuff as wet suits i know that.

veromodini wrote:
Hi anyone,
I am starting to get all the supplies to build a vaccummed exposure table for silkscreening, however does anyone reccomend a specific type of rubber blanket to use/ where to find it?
also can anyone reccomend a great site to buy the light bulbs?
or how to attach the vaccum to the rubber?
any help would be great!
thanks::)

you don't need all that crap. I have been using a home made exposure unit that uses 2 500 bulbs from home depot. made the whole thing for about 50.00 and it works great. email me and i will send you a pic if you like. chopperparts@msn.com

Mark Pflueger

sure you can build one for 50 bucks, but if you want to do the job yourself than
go the little extra mile. My exposure unit burns two screens at once, so my time
is cut in half which is nice. Plus I can do oversized stuff, that is why I needed to
make it so big. My friend has an AWT that cost him thousands and mine is identical
only home built. Go the 50 dollar route if you are short on time and money, but
nothing beats a vaccum blanket. Sorry I haven't looked for that invoice yet.