Do it Yourself UV Lightbox.
This video will show how to make a 24inch long ultraviolet light box for curing photopolymer media. The user will need to experiment with her light box to get the exposure times right. It stands to reason that wattage of bulbs, diameter of bulbs (T-8) and proximity of the bulb to the photopolymer will all have an impact on the duration of exposure for proper hardening of the Solarplate. For my first exposure I cut the plate in half (3.5x 5inch) so as to get two experimental plates out of a 5x7 and it was the 2nd plate that printed well. VERY IMPORTANT: The bulb you need is a Philips Actinic BL; T-8 24inch (TL-DK 36 w/10). http://www.bulbs.com/espec.aspx?ID=16079
Shown is a workshop-built box made of 1x4 inch pine and 1/2inch particle board with 4 grow-light fixtures and a six-plex electrical strip outlet. The bulbs are 24 inches long and the box measures 18"wide and 32" long and 4 inches high. It cost about $170 total to make; half price of a ready made box. I use this UV lightbox to cure Solarplate for art etchings and the duration time is about double that of sunlight at noon on a cloudless day in March, USA Midwest. Ie, one minute sunlight and 2 minutes under this light box.
The box is large enough to accommodate the largest Solarplate and does not take up much space when in storage. It may also be used for screen printing photopolymer curing. The box is not so large as some others shown on Youtube videos which would take up more space than necessary for my purposes and might be unwieldy . Grow lights:$10 each (discard the bulbs and keep the fixtures), florescent 24inch UV bulbs: $20 each from Bulbs.com. Particle board:$28 (1/2inch thick and 4x8ft , way more than you need). A couple of bucks for 1x4inch pine boards and some screws and paint (Kilz stain sealer and then latex). A 6-plex electrical outlet ($11) with a single switch which allows you to turn all 4 lamps on and off at one time. And some little walnut wood scraps for box handles.
Four UV light bulbs , 24 inches long and T-8 size. 35 watt, Philips
4 plant lights, use the fixtures only , not the plant light bulbs.
1inch by 4 inch pine boards cut to 18 inch length (2) and 32 inches (2 of them also).
Boards screwed together to make the box frame and covered with an 18x32 inch sheet of 1/2in particle board. Painted white. And fixtures attached to the inside.
Transparency printed in black and white with copy paper backing . Cut transparency to 5x7 size . Lay Solarplate on foam sheet with transparency over it with glass sheet over that and clipped down under pressure.
Overlay light box and turn it on , in this case for 2 minutes. Remove Solarplate and wash it in tap water which will etch the design into the photopolymer. Then dry and harden the plate under the lightbox for 10-20 minutes.
Ink the plate and wipe it then take the inked plate to the etching press, overlay art paper and make the impression.
