M&R Platen Resurfacing

[Admiral]

So the 14 pallets we received with the CH3 we just bought are in rough shape.  They have had millions of prints on them and look a lot worse than our pallets.  We need to at least resurface them.  The aluminum is a bit banged up even and pretty dirty so it will take awhile to clean up.  A couple of them even are burnt a bit (hopefully not warped).

So I plan on buying the rubber and 3M adhesive from M&R or Action Engineering but is there anything I should be concerned with?  Should I load up each one individually on the same arm on a press and check flatness with a floodbar to make sure all of the pallets are good?

Would it be a better idea to buy 14 new pallets and sell these ones?  I wanted to exchange them for new ones but M&R doesn't play that game. 

I only want to pursue redoing all of them if they will end up working fine and save us some money.

[Printficient]

If it were me I would buy new.  The time and frustration to refurb these obviously well used platens just does not justify itself.  Action Engineering would be my goto guy.

[244]

So the 14 pallets we received with the CH3 we just bought are in rough shape.  They have had millions of prints on them and look a lot worse than our pallets.  We need to at least resurface them.  The aluminum is a bit banged up even and pretty dirty so it will take awhile to clean up.  A couple of them even are burnt a bit (hopefully not warped).

So I plan on buying the rubber and 3M adhesive from M&R or Action Engineering but is there anything I should be concerned with?  Should I load up each one individually on the same arm on a press and check flatness with a floodbar to make sure all of the pallets are good?

Would it be a better idea to buy 14 new pallets and sell these ones?  I wanted to exchange them for new ones but M&R doesn't play that game. 

I only want to pursue redoing all of them if they will end up working fine and save us some money.

You can send them back for resurfacing here if they are origional M&R units. The cost is about $15.00 per pallet over the cost of the rubber. If made by someone else we will not resurface.

[ebscreen]

Having both removed and applied new rubber, SPEND THE $15!!!

I would check the metal itself first though, no point in refurbing warped pallets.

[244]

Having both removed and applied new rubber, SPEND THE $15!!!

I would check the metal itself first though, no point in refurbing warped pallets.

If the aluminum is ours we put it through a machine to address any warp before re-laminating.

[cbjamel]

Putting new rubber down not that hard, order it getthe glue and a heatgun to help loosen front the board, do all of them , re glue and compress with bricks, Something, etcc let sit over night, done.
I have done a couple of mine no biggie.
Shane
 

[tonypep]

Don't forget freight in and out to M&R. If you go the Action way I suggest the "new" self adhering rubber. Pricey but easy and probably cheaper than the M$R method. Remember its $15 rubberplus the cost of rubber   and again the freight. You check for leveling by carefully placing the on the exposure unit glass surface.

[T Shirt Farmer]

What is the benefit of the rubber top?

[mimosatexas]

having just started printing on the rubber topped pallets after using mdf for years, I would never go back...

Prints are definitely smoother for whatever reason, and it seems like my glue is lasting longer and gripping better as well, probably because you can really press the garment into the glue better with each stroke.  I think for some one color jobs you could almost go without glue and there wouldnt be any issues.

[Admiral]

I was told they were definitely the pallets from the CH3 we bought which should be original M&R.  Only way to know for sure is probably look up the S/N and see if it was bought with the pallets.  I don't see why these wouldn't have been M&R.  Close to 5mil prints on them though.

I will check them out tonight to make sure they are all flat then see if shipping them to M&R and having them resurface will be the best route.

[cbjamel]

On the bottom of them will part number with M&R Sticker if they are.
Usually. My Gauntlet 2 have them.
Shane

[244]

What is the benefit of the rubber top?

Print deposit will be better with rubber coated pallets and your flash time will be faster.

[ZooCity]

If the shipping doesn't kill the deal, I would def send those suckers to M&R.  $15 is a screaming deal to have all that done for you. 

It's not hard to do in the shop, you roll the glue on and work quick, kinda stressful and can be a distraction but not too horrible.

[tonypep]

Remember its $15 over the cost of the rubber. My guess is its closer to $40 total plus freight

[beanie357]

New rubber is kinda a regular thing if you like high maintained equipment. I am a scrounger and built our pallet sets out of used, and most needed rubber. And Ickes stickee and some emery on the edges. As long as you use right adhesive it is just not hard. We work in a warm area, gut to size, acetone the surface, apply, weight it. Wait a day. Done. Make sure you have a flat surface for adhering and cure time.