Platen material and size?

29347 Views 87 Replies 26 Participants Last post by BroJames, Jan 27, 2014

jehd

Discussion Starter · Jul 2, 2010

what material do you use for your platen?
or do you do anything or put anything special on the board? how do you keep the shirt from moving when using a table press?
any particular sizes? is the one with a curve for the neck better?

Any suggestions is very much appreciated.

Salamat po!

1 - 20 of 88 Posts

chard

· #2 · Jul 5, 2010

sir ang gamit ko po ay 3/4 marine plywood tapos may formica po sya sa ibabaw..nilalagyan po ng table adhesive or spray adhesive para di po gumalaw yung shirt pag nagtatatak..

regarding po sa sizes check nyo po 2 para po malaman nyo ang mga standard sizes..
http://www.silkscreeningsupplies.com/site/799934/page/846217

Reactions: 1

BroJames

· #3 · Jul 8, 2010

For the platen, anything that is level, stiff and durable should do. MDF are popular in some countries but 3/4 plywood is common in the Philippines.

Cover your platen with a smooth surface. You can add a lining of 1/4" foam but the trend is towards a harder surface. Laminates are popular with rotary presses and canvas with line or long table presses. Aluminum platens have also been used.

Platen sizes pretty much depends on the size of shirts you will be printing more often. 16x19 is a good general purpose size and so is 12x19. I use a 16x24 platen. Shaped platens have better aesthetics and do offer some advantages but there is no problem with a rectangular platen. I used to have a platen with head and shoulders but my platens now have a simple triangular shape that tapers towards the neck. This makes my platen a pentagon. On a rectangular platen, you can mark it to show its vertical center so the shape is really not an issue.

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Reactions: 2

jehd

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 12, 2010

the ink tends to mark the platen's surface when printing. how do you solve that problem?

BroJames

· #5 · Jul 13, 2010

jehd said:
the ink tends to mark the platen's surface when printing. how do you solve that problem?

Ink penetrates fabric? If so possibly too much print pressure or fabric too "thin" or knit too loose

jedai

· #6 · Jul 16, 2010

is it good to have a platten made of 3/4 plywood topped with foam and wrapped with tarpaulin?

BroJames

· #7 · Jul 16, 2010

If you will be using a polyurethane squeegee like those sold by most screen printing suppliers don't include the foam.

jedai

· #8 · Jul 16, 2010

If you will be using a polyurethane squeegee like those sold by most screen printing suppliers don't include the foam.

i'm a little bit confused bro james.. the type of platten is dependent to the squeegee?

BroJames

· #9 · Jul 16, 2010

Not dependent but preferable.

Let me rephrase a little. You can use both soft(with foam) or hard (no foam) platen with any squeegee. But if you will be using a sharp squeegee(polyurethane), then use a hard platen for sharper edges. If you have used rubber squeegees like those sold at bookstores then you know the feeling that inks simply seems to slip through under the squeegee. But if you use a hard squeegee on a soft platen you just can't maximize its benefits with a soft platen. I can't really explain why but that's just the way it is.

Reactions: 3

jedai

· #10 · Jul 17, 2010

Not dependent but preferable.

Let me rephrase a little. You can use both soft(with foam) or hard (no foam) platen with any squeegee. But if you will be using a sharp squeegee(polyurethane), then use a hard platen for sharper edges. If you have used rubber squeegees like those sold at bookstores then you know the feeling that inks simply seems to slip through under the squeegee. But if you use a hard squeegee on a soft platen you just can't maximize its benefits with a soft platen. I can't really explain why but that's just the way it is.

i see. do you know what type of squeegee tulco sells? i bought mine there.

BroJames

· #11 · Jul 17, 2010

polyurethane na iyan.

jedai

· #12 · Jul 17, 2010

polyurethane na iyan.

pwede ba sakin ung platten na 3/4 marine plywood tapos may formica sa ibabaw? like chard's post.

jhesiems

· #13 · Jul 17, 2010

pwedeng pwede po sir

Reactions: 1

BroJames

· #14 · Jul 17, 2010

Pwede na iyan. Sa akin canvass lang. May all wood din ako pero may sealer at polyurethane. Kahit na anong materyales mo basta matigas, makinis at pwede i-flash cure. Balak ko nga gumawa ng de-tiles.

Reactions: 1

nishoto

· #15 · Jul 17, 2010

jedai said:
pwede ba sakin ung platten na 3/4 marine plywood tapos may formica sa ibabaw? like chard's post.

dagdag lang po na tip sir ung formica pong hanapin nyo is ung heat resistant it cost about 1,700 pra pag gumamit kayo ng flash cure d masisira ang formica mo sa katagalan.

Reactions: 1

BroJames

· #16 · Jul 17, 2010

Or melamine on MDF.

jedai

· #17 · Jul 17, 2010

Or melamine on MDF.

ano po ung MDF?

BroJames

· #18 · Jul 17, 2010

mediunm density fiberboard o parang recycled o particle board. So far iyon pa lang ang nakita kong board na may melamine.

jedai

· #19 · Jul 17, 2010

MDF alone pwede nang platen?

BroJames

· #20 · Jul 18, 2010

jedai said:
MDF alone pwede nang platen?

Tingin ko kailangan ng laminate. Pero kung plywood pakinisin mo ang ibabaw + sealer o outdoor polyurethane pwede.

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