...anybody?
Aluminum Pallets for Chaparral Press?
We recently bought a used Chaparral press that's missing the original pallets. I used to work on this very same press back in the late '90s, and I recall it having aluminum, quick-release pallets with a rubberized surface.
I've heard that Workhorse brackets/pallets will fit on this press, but they don't seem to have individual pallets available for purchase on their website.
The brackets on the pallets for my current press will fit on the arms of the Chaparral, but it's not a precise fit (there's a fair amount of slop) and I want to get away from the crap, particle-board pallets that I've been using on the old press.
So, does anyone know where I can find aluminum, quick-release pallets for this press? Or something from another manufacturer that will work?
I'm interested in the 15"x15" size to start off with, but I'd also like to source smaller youth-size pallets as well.
If the brackets are not quick-release, I can live with that, as long as they're a good fit.
Any info would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance!
Moss
I've heard that Workhorse brackets/pallets will fit on this press, but they don't seem to have individual pallets available for purchase on their website.
The brackets on the pallets for my current press will fit on the arms of the Chaparral, but it's not a precise fit (there's a fair amount of slop) and I want to get away from the crap, particle-board pallets that I've been using on the old press.
So, does anyone know where I can find aluminum, quick-release pallets for this press? Or something from another manufacturer that will work?
I'm interested in the 15"x15" size to start off with, but I'd also like to source smaller youth-size pallets as well.
If the brackets are not quick-release, I can live with that, as long as they're a good fit.
Any info would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance!
Moss
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
I have a Chaparral 6x6. I have a set of 16x18 and a set of 14x16 aluminum platens. They have the Hopkins brackets. They work perfectly. We printed between 10 and 20 thousand pieces (shirts and hoodies) with it last year.
We also have a couple 10x16, a couple 16x22 zipper platens, a couple 4x22 and a couple 6x22 aluminum platens.
I bought the platens through Ryonet. The platens are manufactured by Action Engineering.
I am like you, I never ever want to use wood platens again.
We also have a couple 10x16, a couple 16x22 zipper platens, a couple 4x22 and a couple 6x22 aluminum platens.
I bought the platens through Ryonet. The platens are manufactured by Action Engineering.
I am like you, I never ever want to use wood platens again.
Thanks Rex! I contacted Workhorse Products in the meantime, and they gave me a link to where I can buy their platens. Apparently, Chaparral Industries just changed their name to Workhorse. Their current press designs are not at all like Chaparral presses, but the brackets are the same size.
I checked screenprinting.com (top result in a search for Ryonet) and Action Engineering, and their pallets cost quite a bit more than Workhorse ($170 - $180 versus $120 from Workhorse). Here's the link if you're interested:
Odyssey & Mach Manual : Workhorse Screen Printing Equipment, Parts
I checked screenprinting.com (top result in a search for Ryonet) and Action Engineering, and their pallets cost quite a bit more than Workhorse ($170 - $180 versus $120 from Workhorse). Here's the link if you're interested:
Odyssey & Mach Manual : Workhorse Screen Printing Equipment, Parts
Thanks Rex! I contacted Workhorse Products in the meantime, and they gave me a link to where I can buy their platens. Apparently, Chaparral Industries just changed their name to Workhorse. Their current press designs are not at all like Chaparral presses, but the brackets are the same size.
I checked screenprinting.com (top result in a search for Ryonet) and Action Engineering, and their pallets cost quite a bit more than Workhorse ($170 - $180 versus $120 from Workhorse). Here's the link if you're interested:
Odyssey & Mach Manual : Workhorse Screen Printing Equipment, Parts
My 4/1 Odyssey has thinner aluminum platens. It warped from the constant flashing. I only had it 4-6 months. I now have a M&R manual and the platens are much thicker as well as that aluminum grade is higher. I also have action engineering platens and the are slightly thicker then the platens are much heavier then the M&R so I would say it’s a higher grade aluminum yet. Also there are honey comb aluminum platens and that’s what the workhorse odyssey may have had and are know for warping. If they are limit your flashing times or run a fan as a cooling station
Not all aluminum platens are created equally.
Thanks for the input... I hadn't considered the thickness of the pallets when I ordered them, but I never had any trouble with the ones on the last Chaparral press that I used back in the day, so it never really occurred to me that there might be an issue.My 4/1 Odyssey has thinner aluminum platens. It warped from the constant flashing. I only had it 4-6 months. I now have a M&R manual and the platens are much thicker as well as that aluminum grade is higher. I also have action engineering platens and the are slightly thicker then the platens are much heavier then the M&R so I would say it’s a higher grade aluminum yet. Also there are honey comb aluminum platens and that’s what the workhorse odyssey may have had and are know for warping. If they are limit your flashing times or run a fan as a cooling station
Not all aluminum platens are created equally.
At this shop, we don't do a lot of multi-color designs (our market is mostly the security industry), so there's not a lot of flashing, unless I'm printing light ink on dark cotton garments (p/f/p with about a 6-second dwell under the flash).
Also consider; with fewer stations (4 vs 6), the pallets have less cool-down time... When I'm using all 6 stations, I only ever have problems with pallets overheating on the longest of runs. Most of the orders we get are 1-6 dozen pieces, so they never really get too hot. We have clients who routinely place larger orders, but they are fewer and further between.
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
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