Screenprinting in a Wheelchair

[Hey Monkey]

Hello all!

Wondering if anyone here has any experience, knows anyone etc. I have a 15 year old daughter who is in a wheelchair. Her upper body strength is something to see. With my new shop she wants to spend some days there with me this summer learning how to print. If she can nail it like I know she can, I will have her help me on simple one-color jobs to start. So I want to rig a one-color press to a table that would work for wheelchair users. This would also allow me to have people in chairs take workshops with me as well.

I am thinking of having an adjustable slant on a table with the press mounted to it so the squeegee is being brought towards the user (or away if they want to push stroke) so they can see the entire design they want to print. Any thoughts, ideas or stories would be greatly appreciated.

Best
Lenny

[3Deep]

If you have a spare manual press like a four color 4 station press I would cut the legs down to size just for her or get her a chair that can raise her up to the press.  Our shop is in a plaza and we are next to a laundry, had this guy come in to wash  his clothes I notice he was in a wheel chair getting out his car, so I went out and offered to help him, he said thanks  I got it man, been doing this for a long time he said...so let her be as independent as she can be.

darryl

[screenprintguy]

As crazy as it sounds, I had to work from a wheel chair last year. It was tough, but doable. I lined up jobs on the auto, stretched newmans, caught shirts, and loaded shirts. None of it is easy, but it can be done. The biggest thing was having proper space to move around and oh man, make sure you don't have any ink on the floor or talk about a mess, lol. That would be awesome if this works out for you and her. This is very inspiring!!! Keep us informed please!

Mike

[alan802]

I tried to work after every knee surgery I had and I was very limited to doing only a few tasks.  I applaud your effort in doing this.  I think doing a slant type of table printing would be a good approach.  I think you should do a youtube search of table printing facilities, there is a lot of them.  One color jobs would be a breeze and doing multi-colored work can be perfected as well.

[Printficient]

I coach quads and paras in tennis.  I would ask what level is her injury.  Also maybe tilt the whole press slightly towards her so she is pulling the squeegee downwards.

[mk162]

i would recommend a push stroke...especially if she has ZERO experience with a pull stroke.  it's hard to unlearn that one for me.

a lower press or a ramp might be a better option since the belt is a decent height too...might level the field a bit for her.

[blue moon]

i would recommend a push stroke...especially if she has ZERO experience with a pull stroke.  it's hard to unlearn that one for me.

a lower press or a ramp might be a better option since the belt is a decent height too...might level the field a bit for her.

I really like the ramp idea. It allows for the equipment to stay as is (usable by anybody) which in turn would let the students go and work in any shop (as long as there is room). Figuring the ramp height my be a little bit of a process, but once dialed in should be a winner.

Let us know if there is anything we can help you with.

pierre

[mk162]

we had a really short lady working here and we stapled an anti-fatigue mat to the top of a well built shipping pallet and it worked perfectly...we could move it around to different print stations and she could use it anywhere...I would imagine this would be bigger and harder to move, but something similar that is "tiled" might work to make it more moveable..

[Hey Monkey]

Thanks everyone! Great thoughts and ideas. Printficent - She is a t-10 since birth. 3deep - Independence is no problem for her. As soon as I found out she would not be able to walk (since birth) I have pushed her hard to be as independent as possible. I was thinking of starting with a 1-color though I do have a 4-color one station silver press I could start her on. My first preference is to keep her (and any chair user) on the ground. By far that gives them the best stability and is the safest option. But I do see what some of you are saying about trying not to adjust the equipment but adjust the environment to the equipment so anyone can print on it. Stuff to think about and I will update you as I move forward. Once I get my new shop setup with all my new toys that is the next task at hand. She is super-excited about it and I love the thought of us working together and her learning a great trade and creative skill.

Keep the ideas and thoughts coming! Thank you!

Lenny

[blue moon]

Thanks everyone! Great thoughts and ideas. Printficent - She is a t-10 since birth. 3deep - Independence is no problem for her. As soon as I found out she would not be able to walk (since birth) I have pushed her hard to be as independent as possible. I was thinking of starting with a 1-color though I do have a 4-color one station silver press I could start her on. My first preference is to keep her (and any chair user) on the ground. By far that gives them the best stability and is the safest option. But I do see what some of you are saying about trying not to adjust the equipment but adjust the environment to the equipment so anyone can print on it. Stuff to think about and I will update you as I move forward. Once I get my new shop setup with all my new toys that is the next task at hand. She is super-excited about it and I love the thought of us working together and her learning a great trade and creative skill.

Keep the ideas and thoughts coming! Thank you!

Lenny

just another thought here, I know those wheels usually come off pretty easily. Could you get larger wheels to get her higher up? It would keep her on the ground.

pierre

[kingscreen]

I think a ramp/platform combination would be the most ideal. It could be easily built from wood and if moving it around could be an issue, just put it on lockable casters.

[Printficient]

Thanks everyone! Great thoughts and ideas. Printficent - She is a t-10 since birth. 3deep - Independence is no problem for her. As soon as I found out she would not be able to walk (since birth) I have pushed her hard to be as independent as possible. I was thinking of starting with a 1-color though I do have a 4-color one station silver press I could start her on. My first preference is to keep her (and any chair user) on the ground. By far that gives them the best stability and is the safest option. But I do see what some of you are saying about trying not to adjust the equipment but adjust the environment to the equipment so anyone can print on it. Stuff to think about and I will update you as I move forward. Once I get my new shop setup with all my new toys that is the next task at hand. She is super-excited about it and I love the thought of us working together and her learning a great trade and creative skill.

Keep the ideas and thoughts coming! Thank you!

Lenny

Does she play any sports? Tennis is great and we have two pro level tournaments in Atlanta every year if you want to see one let me know and I'll introduce her to some top ten players.

[Hey Monkey]

She did baseball for 5 years and then basketball for 5. Made it to nationals and helped her team rise from 11 to 6th in the country. Once she hit early teens she just didn't feel like playing anymore. She has played some tennis. If we get into the Atlanta area I will drop a note. We do drive through there every once and while. Thanks!

[Hey Monkey]

I think a ramp/platform combination would be the most ideal. It could be easily built from wood and if moving it around could be an issue, just put it on lockable casters.

Doable but if I have to raise her 6 inches (which would be about right, maybe more though) that would be a 6 foot ramp. Needs to be an foot per inch. I could fudge it a bit and do 3 feet possibly. Going to draw all this up soon and look at both options though!

[Binkspot]

Possibly make a platform about 18" high to mount the Silver press on. Pull up next to the pallet, load and print from the side. Go a little further, make a ground level platform to roll the chair onto part of the stand. You could secure the chair to the platform and have the added benefit of the extra weight making the whole rig more sturdy.

I would be happy to fabricate any parts you may need, may even to get needed parts donated.