If it stays (kept on the screen for repeat order) - it's aluminum.
If it goes (one-off job) - it's wood.
My wooden ones are double mortise and tenon jointed and then glued, screwed and then sealed. I have never had any problems with them.
I build the frames and then have them stretched by a friend who has a stretcher. I have purchased a few but it's stupid when I can do it myself.
Best Regards,
Matthew Riches
01473 399377
Last edited by Solmu; October 7th, 2008 at 06:39 AM.
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You guys rock! Thanks for all of the feedback and helpful information. I am just starting out. There is so much information out there and can easily get redirected. Thanks again.
Aluminum frames weigh a pound less than wooden frames. Properly made modern frames support the mesh the same as aluminum. If you have an automatic, buy wood, but if you have a manual press, buy aluminum.
__________________
How are you measuring? retired Ulano Technical Support Screen printing since 1979 - SGIA Academy Member
Yes Richard would you please explain that, I have never heard that either and I do just the opposite alum on auto, wooden on manual.
Aluminum frames weigh a pound less than wooden frames.
Properly made modern frames support the mesh the same as aluminum. In the early 1980's I did lots of measuring experiments with weights to determine the strength of aluminum and wood members for frames and found the deflection to be the same. As I was stretching my own mesh on the frames, I found the most important factor to be pre-bowing the frame in the stretching equipment. If you didn't, when the mesh is released and all the force supported by the frame, you lost 4-6 newtons instantly.
The real lesson is that all frames are stronger than the mesh and when you lose tension, IT IS BECAUSE THE THREADS HAVE ELONGATED as they relax or are stretched by the squeegee during printing.
I turns out that squeegee strokes align the polyester fibers and used mesh is actually stronger than virgin mesh, fresh off the bolt. Loss of tension has nothing to do with the frame.
I started buying 12 Newman Roller Frames per week, until I reached 600. I was able to print more opaque, thinner deposit of white ink, through a higher mesh at twice the speed at 30 to 40 newtons.
If you have an automatic, buy wood, but if you have a manual press, buy aluminum.
On a six color job, that's 6 pounds less to spin and stop, for each color. A gallon of milk weighs about 8 pounds. An auto has no trouble lifting the extra weight 600 times an hour and the heads don't spin.
__________________
How are you measuring? retired Ulano Technical Support Screen printing since 1979 - SGIA Academy Member
Last edited by RichardGreaves; October 9th, 2008 at 06:35 AM.
Wooden Screens 
