Tortoise MuSeuM

Trip to Tortoise Museum!!

I've Consolidated almost all the tortoise photos that i've took
@ Tortoise Museum (Next to Chinese Garden). For Tortoise Lovers,
Pls click: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25806126@N03/show/with/3107223937/

3 Little Pigeons

Happen to see these 3 little pigeons passby my door step. Looks like some kind of Nature Art to mi!! Such a Waste, Wasn't armed with a 75 - 300 mm Lense..

3 Little Pigeons sitting on the wall

Engraver @ Work!!

Signage completed!!

Cut to size & Drill Some holes for hanging

Tada... Now I've got Signages for my Tees

New Prints!!

Black Ink on White Tee

White Ink on Black Tee

Finally got this des. printed,

Wasted lotsa time & Emulsion just for this des.

Perfect Exposure!!

After investing in 1 more 1000 Watts Flood Light, I've finally achieved a consistent exposure over my whole screen.

Exposure Timing: 90 Seconds
Screen Size: 50cm By 60cm
Emulsion Coating: 2 layer on the Paper Side & 2 layer on the Squeegee Side

Snake Skull Head

This Design is so difficult to catch a perfect exposure timing.
Ruin 2 Screens on the previous practice.

Its Tattoo Art again!!
This time it took mi less than 3 min to washout this screen

Image Beautifully Transfered to my Screens!!

Washout Tips:

• Soak the washout area with water for @ least 1 min, Use a garden hose to spray on the image area (Start @ a distant of 1 Feet, than close up to target on the stubborn areas).
• Use your finger to rub against the stubborn area, this simple method works pretty well

Camera Used: 5 Yr Old Sony Cybershot 4.1MP

(Sometime i really thinks this cam can take better pics compared to my Nikon D40x)

Tips for buying a new camera:

• Always check the label on the camera itself, Make sure its make in Japan & not any other countries (for Sony, Canon & Nikon)
• Dun listen to wat the salesman say, always believe in wat u see

My 5 Yrs Old Sony Camera is still working as good as 5 yrs ago. Its made in Japan.
However my 1 Yr Old Nikon D40x is Dying. Got so much problem with the auto focus esp @ nite or dark areas. Its made in Thailand. Listened to wat my Ex-colleague cum salesman said, bought it from him due to our friendship & trust... Haiz..

Notes Written by: Tot Chua from HockGiftShop.com
Disclaimer: All the above information is from my personal experience, Do more practise & you will get used to the whole process. Always search thru forums, you can really learn lotsa tips from these discussions. Thank You for reading :)

K Box Session with Ex-Colleagues

Time Really Flies... Its been 6 month + since our last meet up @ Tampines Safra for a great Sakura Buffet Dinner. Thanks Crystal for organising this KTV Session @ AMK K Box. This time no 1 put areoplane, So happy to see everyone :) Ah Yao, Ah Keat, Gary, Tiffany, Crystal & Alan.. Miss all of ya so much!! Hey Ah Yao (If you happens to Read this), I'm Sincerely Happy to see you & ah Keat 2gether.. Must Cherish this blessing to bring 2 of you 2gether :) All the BEST!!

Ah Yao - Now not afraid Singing infront of us liao.. haha Keep it up, Sing more FIR Songs, Ur voice Suits Singing their songs

Ah Keat - Was very Quiet, However his deep voice was attractive, Suits Singing Canto Songs :)

Gary - Sang SHIN's 2 songs with Gary. Tian Gao Di Hou & Shi Jie Mo Ri.. So high to Scream With ya!! got the Brotherhood feeling.. Haha!! Sorry for rejecting your beer, I really dun like alcoholic Drinks.. I believe you will understand 1 lah Bro!!

Tiffany - Still As shy as 1st time i saw her @ New Kallang K Box.. Sang onli 2 Songs.. her voice is sweet.. Suits for Rainy, SHE, Jolin & Angela Songs..

Crystal - I seriously njoy listening to her Canto Songs.. althou i didnt understand wat the song is saying, but i like the way she bring out the melodies.. Her voice gave mi a happy feeling.. Keep it up :)

Alan - Njoy singing rap & Jay's songs, Always will appear in our KTV Session.. Very Steady Guy!! Didnt ask much about your work, cos i didnt really like to talk about work life during such group gathering. However, I can see you really njoy your nite too.. haha!!

Hey 2day didn't bring my Camera, if not confirm will take a group photo with them. Anyway I Do Njoy this Gathering, Hope you guy do njoy ur nite too :) Do take care & Meet up again soon!!
Its 0417 Hrs on my Mac, Time to slp!! Zzzzzzzz...

My 2008 Xmas Presents

Work @ Home

All my silk screen printing equipments are here!!

4 Color 1 Station Printing Press
My Mum Said it looks like a "Big Metallic Spider!!" Haha

Press Loaded with 1 White T-shirt

My 1st Print (Front Print on Grey Tee)

Back Print on a White Tee

Enlarged View

My 1600 Watts Hot Air Gun is Here!!

Invested in another 1000 Watts Flood Light
Just Nice for a 2 Foot By 1 Foot Fish Tank

My Silk Screen Printing Equipment List:

• 4 Color 1 Station Printing Press - $1262.60
• 8 Aluminium Screen (Mesh Count TP1200, 50cm by 60cm) - $205.44
• 8 Cans of Ink (2 Black, White, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Magenta) - $136.96
• 2 Cans of Emulsion - $60.00
• 4 Squeegees - $98.44
• 1 Scoop Coater (38") - $81.32
• 1 Water Based Ink Cleanser - $21.40
• 1 Emulsion Stripping Powder - $21.40
• 1 Bosch Hot Air Gun (1600 Watts) - $105.00
• 2 Flood Lights (1000 Watts Each) - $60.00
• 1 Garden Hose - $18.00
• 1 Fish Tank - Found in Store room
• 1 Drying Rack - Dismantle a Shoe rack & rebuild it into a Screen Drying Rack. Holds up to 5 Screens
• Hangers - Found @ home

Total Cost = $2070.56

Work @ Shop

Plague Engraving

Keychains With Watch Compass attached



Event Logo Engraving on Stainless Steel Namecard Holder


Heart Shape Pendant Keychain with Name Engravings

Notes Written by: Tot Chua from HockGiftShop.com
Disclaimer: All the above information is from my personal experience, Do more practise & you will get used to the whole process. Always search thru forums, you can really learn lotsa tips from these discussions. Thank You for reading :)

Process: Coating Screens wif Emulsion

Yesterday, I have succesfully coated 4 Screens without tearing any screen. so afraid to apply too much pressure while coating (Still can rmb tearing 2 screen last week).

NOTE: Always ensure there is no sharp edge on your scoop coater!! If there is any, use a rough surface sand paper (Used for Metal Type) to smoothen the edges.

Coating Screens With Emulsion (Darkroom Required)

Step 1: Wash & dry your screens, make sure they are dirt free & dried completely before proceeding

Dry Your Screen in a standing position

Place 2 Little Blocks to hold the screen @ 85 Deg against the wall
I've used 2 pieces of my Diving Sea Pearls

NOTE: In order to achieve a good coat, push against the screen & make sure there is no movement on the screen

Step 2: Open up the Emulsion Container & stir from the bottom. This will ensure the emulsion is mixed evenly before use.

Step 3: Pour the emulsion evenly to cover min. 3/4 of the center portion of your scoop coater. This will be sufficient to coat 1 to 2 screens.

Step 4: Leave the emulsion to settle in your scoop coater for 45 sec to 1 min

Step 5: Hold your scoop coater with both hands on both ends. Place the scoop coater @ the lowest point of the screen. Tilt it to an angle where the upper edge of the coater meets with the screen surface. Allows the emulsion to slowly meet with the screen surface & form a line @ the meeting point. Tilt the coater slightly backwards & pull the coater up to the top of the screen. Stop 1 Inch before hitting the top of the screen. Tilt the coater further back to allow the emulsion to flow back. This will allow a clean cut off & also to prevent any unnecessary drips.

NOTE: Holding the scoop coater on both ends, Apply pressure to the center portion of the coater when coating the screen. Always start coating from the paper side (Outside) of the screen, then the Squeegee Side (Inside). This will allow you to have a smooth surface on the squeegee side after the image wash out.

Sld be holding on both hands on both ends of your scoop coater
For this photo, my right hand is taking the photo.

Tilt Coater, Upper Edge meets with screen surface
Allow emulsion to meet & form a line on the screen surface

Tilt Coater alittle back & Pull coater up all the way up (1" Off the top)

Step 6: Place your screens Neatly in a Drying Rack, as Horizontally as possible.

Place your Coated screens in a Drying cabinet
(As Horizontally as possible)
I've built this drying cabinet myself using some recycle wood i found @ home
Retail Price for a 10 Screens Drying rack may cost a few hundreds Bucks

NOTE: Place this cabinet @ a Darkroom & close to your washout point. This will prevent unnecessary exposure.

Step 7: Leave your screens to dry completely

Get a Fan to speed up the drying process
With Fan, 2 Hrs will dry your Screens completely

IMPORTANT!! Step 1 to Step 7 need to be done in a darkroom.

Step 8: Always Spend my waiting time doing something that makes me happy :)

Its DRAMA CHEONGING Time!!

Crunchyroll.com is also a good way to kill time happily!! haha

Notes Written by: Tot Chua from HockGiftShop.com
Disclaimer: All the above information is from my personal experience, Do more practise & you will get used to the whole process. Always search thru forums, you can really learn lotsa tips from these discussions. Thank You for reading :)

My 2nd Tee Print + Essential Equipments for Silk Screen Printing

Its a Saturday Morning!! haha... I love Saturdays!! hmm... just completed my 2nd Tee Print last nite. This time i've also tried printing on some Singlets. This Design looks cool to me, I've also keep 1 piece for myself :) the rest can be bought @ Hock Gift Shop. Hope you'll like the print too!!

My Tee Front Print

Zoom in Shot
(This Time I've keep the back Print Free)

My Singlet Front Print

Zoom in Shot

Silk Screen Essential Kit

Scoop Coater
(For apply emulsion onto your screen)

• A good Scoop Coater must have not rough or pointed edges. Such edges can tear your screen during the coating process.
• Make sure you wash off all excessive emulsion in the scoop coater after every use. never allows the emulsion to dry in your scoop coater. This would ruin your Scoop Coater.
• Be careful when washing your scoop coater, Never drop or knock it against hard object. If there is any dents on the coating side, you will not be able to achieve a thin perfect coat of emulsion.
• Width of Scoop Coater should be roughly 1-2 Inch shorter than the width of your Screen

A Good Squeegee

• For T-shirt Printing, You will need to use a Squeegee with Hard & Sharp Rubber Blade
• For Paper Printing, You may want to use a soft blade Squeegee
• Make Sure your Squeegee is wider thank your image
• I'll recommend you getting a Squeegee that is roughly 2 Inch shorter than your Scoop Coater (If I'm doing small Prints, i will not need to type up the perimeter of the screen that is not covered by the emulsion)
• Before every print, ensure there is no broken edges on the blade
• A hard & sharp pointed Blade will allows you to achieve a better print as it can effectively push all the ink thru your screen

My Screens

• Im using a 50cm by 60cm Screen, Mesh Count TP1200, Aluminium Frame (Highly recommended if you are planning to use them for Yrs, Wood Frame may get out of shape after sometime due to washing & soaking in water)
• Always make sure there is dry & dirt free before every use
• After every print, quickly wash away the unwanted ink, if you allow the ink to dry on your screen, you will have a hard time cleaning it in the future.
• You can also use a damp cloth to clean away the unwanted ink
• Excessive ink can be kept in an air-tight container after every Print

My 2nd Design (Military Skull Head)

• Make sure the print is free from ink before leaving it to dry.
• If there is any ink left dry in your image, Ink will not be pass thru during your next print. Eventually, you will have to re-do everything, all over again.

My 1000 Watt Flood Bulb
(Usually used for shinning signboards)

• When replacing the Bulb of your Flood Bulb, never touch the glass tube to the new bulb. Hold the tube by the side ends & push the new bulb into position.
• By touching the glass tube, bulb will be spoilt or even if it still works, it will not last very long.

I did not want to buy a big Vacuum Exposure Unit & I did not want to spend time building a Light box. so i used a glass fish tank instead. im getting a short & cool exposure using this idea

Just place my Flood Light in the Fish Tank & I can start burning my screens!!

• May need to invest in 2 flood light for a larger exposure area.
• Currently all my prints are A4 Size, so if the print is slightly bigger, I would need 2 Flood Light in the tank.

Emulsion, Sensitizer & 2 little Bottles (Given by your supplier)

• Always Remember, Once your Emulsion is mixed with the Sensitizer, you onli can keep it for 3 weeks @ 25 Degree Cel Room Temperature, you can also keep in a fridge (By keeping the sensitized emulsion in a fridge will prolong it lifetime up to 2 months).
• In the mixing process, Pour all the sensitizer into 1 of the little brown bottles. Fill the other bottle with warm water (40 to 50 Deg Cel) to the brim. Pour half of the water into the bottle filled with sensitizer. Shake it for 2 mins, then pour the rest of the warm water into the well mixed portion. shake it for another 30 sec. pour the solution into the emulsion. stir it evenly for 5 mins or when you only can see 1 color emulsion. Close the cap & allow the Sensitized Emulsion to sit for 1 hr, this will allow the bubbles to dissolve away. Now you can start using your Sensitized Emulsion.

* Caution: If you are keeping your emulsion in a fridge, make sure there is not food or drink in that fridge.

Get some Basic Color Ink on hand.

• Basic Color (Black, White, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange)
• The rest of the colors can always be achieved by mixing ard with your basic colors
  (EG. Pink = Red + White, Grey = White + Black)
• Keep your Bottled Inks in a cool area, away from direct sunlight

Emulsion Stripping Powder

• Pour all powder into a 10 Litres Container.
• Fill the container will water to the brim.
• Shake the bottle for 5 mins
• You will onli need a small amount of the solution to damp & strip all the emulsion from each screen.

Water Based Ink Cleanser
(So far I've not use this, cos i cant stand the strong ammonia smell)

Notes Written by: Tot Chua from HockGiftShop.com

Disclaimer: All the above information is from my personal experience, Do more practise & you will get used to the whole process. Always search thru forums, you can really learn lotsa tips from these discussions. Thank You for reading :)