Screen printing ...

[nevthedigger]

Hope this is posted in the right place: What's the best medium to use when screen printing glass paint, to fire in the kiln? I've normally used clove oil for painting, but am thinking gum arabic for screen print? I have some gum arabic, but there are no instructions for dilution - it's a thickish brown liquid.

[Glyn Burton]

Hi personally wouldn't use gum arabic as it will clog your screen. I use silkscreen printing medium from Potterycrafts, its made for printing ceramic transfers or decals and works a treat. You can print straight on to the glass if its flat (you need a few mm of snap off just like printing on paper) or you can print on to thermo-flat paper, then covercoat to make your own decals.

If you are printing with grisaille (tracing colour) then it may be worth grinding the powder down with a muller as it can be a bit gritty sometimes. Also if you have the option a slightly coarser screen can be a good idea.

Just for interest Kansa craft sell a very good etching paste which is perfect for silk screening on to glass.

[sarah t]

rachel at glass works would be the one i asked about it .....

http://www.rachel-elliott.com/

 she  runs courses in screen printing on glass (and great fun it was to ) and used to sell starter kits of the enemals she uses ...not sure if she still does but she would know what and where available ...

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

Yup, I teach and also sell the enamels, either as a tester set or in pots of any size too.  I buy my enamels in ready mixed with water friendly printing medium, which means you don't have so many issues with clean up and screen clogging.  It also means they are cheaper then mixing your own as it can take up to 5 parts powder to one part medium to get a good thickness.  The range I tend to use fires between 600c - 720c so is good for kiln-forming too.

Anyone interested is welcome to get in touch for more details.

[Glyn Burton]

Good to know Rachel, I will bookmark that for future reference.

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

No worries, at the moment 50g of standard opaque colour costs £5 plus postage, that's about the size of a film canister and plenty to get you started.