KaceMN

After using my first few newmans several times now...I've encountered a few things I don't like. First and foremost...I hate applying emulsion, because the soft corners get thick and messy (maybe more so with Shur-Loc panels than with mesh from a roll??).

Is there a technique behind dealing with loose corners when applying emulsion?? The "softer" corners just seem to invite emulsion buildup...and it annoys me!

 

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pezlo4750

Hi, Kace. First, if the screens are even marginally tensioned well (at least 16 Nm), there shouldn't be that much looseness at the corners (even if you "bag" corners). Next, I'm not sure what design you are emulsioning for, but it's not advisable to be printing that close to the corners. So you don't HAVE to emulsion the entire screen mesh. Just wherever the design will be exposed. Then comes the tape. How are you tensioning the screens? Do you have a tensioning table? I have screens with loose corners like you're talking about, but I've never really had a problem applying emulsion. But, yes, to answer your question. Tensioning your own screens from roll mesh is better than shur-loc. You're able to work-harden screens with retensioning. In the long run, it's cheaper,too.

 

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KaceMN

I have ShurLocs tensioned to 30 newtons. I'm envisioning that ShurLocs leave looser corners than mesh from a roll...and maybe this is where my problem lies??

 

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inkbrigade

Quote: Originally Posted by KaceMN After using my first few newmans several times now...I've encountered a few things I don't like. First and foremost...I hate applying emulsion, because the soft corners get thick and messy (maybe more so with Shur-Loc panels than with mesh from a roll??). Is there a technique behind dealing with loose corners when applying emulsion?? The "softer" corners just seem to invite emulsion buildup...and it annoys me!

It's kind of a drag i know. I usually coat right above and up to the corners. Because it not an image area any way and it will get covered with tape before you print.

I just recorded a video for my how to site tonight. check out Squeegeegeeks! in a day or so. - jamie

 

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alan802

I have found the shurloc panels to be easier and have had no problems with soft corners. I've stretched about 20 or so with the shurlocs and none of them were remotely baggy in the corners. Every panel I have received from them was perfect, maybe you got a bad panel or two. How many screens have had this problem?

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John_Sheridan

Quote: Originally Posted by KaceMN I have ShurLocs tensioned to 30 newtons. I'm envisioning that ShurLocs leave looser corners than mesh from a roll...and maybe this is where my problem lies??

I'm a big fan of the panels. No need to align the mesh and slip in the locking strips. Just pop em in and tension!

The corners will stay loose at first until they've gone through a few re-tension cycles to take up the slack. Until then, don't coat into the corners, if you do keep a few pieces of square carboard scraps to scape the excess out with.

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KaceMN

Took the tension up to 40 newtons and it seemed to keep the corners a bit tighter!! I'm sure as I break them in, they'll get even better yet!! Now I'm excited to check out the improved printing at this new tension (they're about TWICE as tight as the statics I've been using up until now)!!

 

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eccApparel

I've had the same problem with some of my shur-loc panels. The corners definately tightened up after a couple retensions. It was more annoying than anything else, but the benefits outweigh the downside for sure.

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tpitman

As to your question as to whether or not you'd get better results using bolt mesh, maybe and maybe not. I've bought used frames with mesh installed with pretty tight corners, but my own experience has been less than successful unless I made damn sure the corners were softened sufficiently. The loose mesh I have left is going to Shurloc to get made up into panels. I've got a Newman table, but I've busted a lot of 305 mesh on it due to insufficient corner softening. On 230's, 195's and 156's, I can tension successfully up to 40nm (which is as high as my older Newman meter will read), but the panels will tension up to specifications without tearing. I've only busted one and that's when I dropped an metal ink knife on it. Some of my other older panels are wearing on the edges where they wrap around the bars, but that's because I don't tape or use mesh guards on my frames. Taken care of, they'll last a long time and the ease and consistency of installation makes the Shurloc panels a pretty good deal in spite of the cost. The same goes for Newman roller frames. They're not cheap, but they last forever and give you tight screens all the time . . . not just when the mesh is first put on like a static screen.

 

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