Discuss the different types of equipment needed for screen printing. Topics include manual screen printing presses, automatic presses, dryers, folding machines, starter kits and high end machines.
Howdy, Y'all
Looking for insight on stretching my own screens, not Newman frames but static screens. Thoughts about good systems. Also, anyone have a system for sale.
Thanks in advance
Slick
Static's are a waste of mesh and money honestly.
If you really want to go that route, use an oversize newman. Stretch and tension, then glue and cut.
__________________
If you can't afford to do it right the first time... then how can you afford to do it two, three.. even five times the wrong way? Are you LinkedIn?
Depending upon the type of printing you do, static frames can do just fine, and this device is designed to be easier for restretching them than using a roller frame.
It's just my opinion, but the one thing I've always liked about Diamond Chase; they know that there are reasons to use different types of frames: Static, Rollers, or Draw-Bars.
I'm making my own stretching device...it will be a few days before I have it complete, but it certainly will do the job without the need to go the expensive route of roller frames. I will post pics once it is finished. I've almost finished building my exposure box with a 1000w Metal Halide bulb with shutter system. I'll actually post my entire setup when it is all ready for production.
Cheers,
Tracy
__________________
Libertarians are the only individuals that do not want to restrict freedoms.
You'd be better off starting to buy used Newmans off of Ebay or the classified of some of the screenprinting forums. Or just paying to have your statics remeshed . . . even that isn't that expensive, if you're hooked on statics. You'll have to get rid of the old adhesive, and spend the same time stretching and retensioning to try and stabilize the mesh before gluing it down as you would with a roller frame, and the tension will still start to decline after using the screen. At least with a retensionable you can keep higher tension over the life of the mesh, and the frames last forever. The worst part about used ones is they're almost always filthy and require cleaning before using. That said, I've got a mess of them that I've had for years, and they're as servicable as the day they were made. Keep 'em clean and remeshing is a fairly straightforward job.
or you could look at panelframes, panelframes.com. Or better yet, check out the EZ frame from shurloc.com. After reading posts from this and another board (spof.com), I picked up some EZ frames and they are a life saver compared to newmans (low maintainence, low labor cost). Panelframes aren't compatible with my presses but are cheap and effective (had to return the ones i bought), so cheap there is no reason in this world to use statics.
EZ frames are higher quality though and give you greater tension, they are flat like statics, stretched easily (under 5 min per frame) so they are easier to use than newmans. I agree statics are a waste of time and mesh unless your work is so forgiving that it doesn't matter (i mean easy one and two color stuff).
I'm planning like others to phase out all of my statics and replace with EZ. I have a collection of newmans that i'll keep and run shurloc panels on those (again to save on that valuable labor cost).
If you have a company and overhead to consider, EZ or panelframes are going to save you money in labor, the largest expense my company has. If you consider your own time as a valuable resource, then seriously take a close look at these new and innovative screen systems.
I would trade my newmans (m3's 23 x 31) for EZ's in a heart beat.
Because the grove in the panelframe interferes with the pin bushings used by MHM's. The bushings also interfere with the movement of the tensioning tool. MHM's use pin bushings to hold the screens instead of air clamps.
Last edited by squeegee; November 28th, 2009 at 07:08 PM.
Screen Stretching Systems 
Re: Screen Stretching Systems 
