How Do You Set Up A Nontoxic Print Shop For Silk-Screening?
Printing the old-fashioned way required oil-based inks and solvents and – even with a good ventilation system – was hard on the lungs (not to mention the liver and kidneys). Here’s how to detoxify the process. Use water-soluble rather than oil-based inks. This is the single most effective step you can take to detoxify your shop – everything else is built on this. Stock the shop with long pants and long-sleeved shirts (or coveralls) and latex or rubber gloves. Water-based inks are much safer than oil, but they’re still not good for your skin. Keep the shop cool to prevent the inks from evaporating (this also keeps the prints from drying as quickly). Create a ventilation system that pulls air out of the shop – this will create a vacuum effect that draws fresh air in. Even a window fan can do this. Buy a pressure washer, and buy or build a spray booth in which to clean your silk screens. This lets you spray, rather than scrub, the screens and minimizes contact with the ink. Stock up on go
