I've a question on Screens

[screenxpress]

I'm at a bit of a crossroad.  I have about 15 roller frames and a sh!tload of old 18 x 20 wooden (I.D. 14 7/8 x 16 7/8).

I know I should just start using the rollers, but I hate to throw stuff away.  However, I might.

I have a tension meter and the 18 x 20s are like 12 - 15 newtons, pretty much a joke.

I took one of the empty rollers and added 2 washers to extend the side bars about 1/16 of an inch and found that I could use the roller to stretch new mesh, cut the mesh off the wooden frames and glue to the wood and get very usable newtons, but still 18 x 20 OD.

So here's the question -
Should I sh!tcan all the wood frames for reasons of size?  Or should I for reasons of old-school?  Or would any of you consider doing what I'm thinking about doing where the only cost is mesh and glue?  Cannot count time as that would be the same for rollers or rollers-to-wood. 

I'm not going to be doing all-over prints and the 18 x 20s can still print images about 11 1/2 by 13 1/2.

So what say you?

[Frog]

Not to take away any great feeling of innovation on your part, but roller frames have been a definite seat of the pants stretching device for years.

Now, especially with good tensions, you still have to contend with warping and joints loosening, two of the inherent problems with many wooden frames.

Another time and potential PITA and health factor you need to consider is cleaning the mesh and glue from the old frames. Wear a mask when grinding or sanding this glue!  You may get away with using the flip side for the first re-stretch, but then you still need to sand down a potential hand-cutting edge of cut mesh and glue on the other side.

[tpitman]

I bought a Diamond Chase roller frame off eBay, and cut some lumber and made a couple of frames when I first got started. They were unusable. Couldn't get the mesh to adhere properly. I don't think I ever got to use any I cobbled up. Maybe it was me.
Almost all my roller frames are 18x20 Newmans anyway, and it covers just about everything I do. Not trying to discourage you from trying it, but for myself it was a waste of time.

[jsheridan]

Get nostalgic for old things like cars and old knifes, not old wooden frames.

Do yourself a favor and just throw em away or burn em. Then never look back to crappy frames ever again. Look for some used rollers. I see them all the time. Buy a few here, a few there and before you know it. You have a couple dozen.

I have 6 manual frames.  This past week I printed 2 6 color jobs, a 3 color and 2 1 colors.

If I can use 6, you should be doing pretty good with 15 

[screenxpress]

Get nostalgic for old things like cars and old knifes, not old wooden frames.

Lol.

Tom, I have used the super-glue screen mesh glue before and with a hardener, it's pretty awesome stuff.

Andy, you raise some good points about the peel off and hand-cutting-ability.

[blue moon]

if I may add what have heard and also seen on my press, the sweet spot is actually rather small area of the frame. Closer you get to the edge, harder it is to print. So I would get rid of them for the size if anything!

pierre

[mooseman]

Mechanically speaking only... wood never stops moving...never. Humidity, stress, handling etc are all a collective factor.
Taking your wood frames from 12-15 newtons to 30 newtons will really give the wood frames a challenge and schiznit will happen.
Foe nastalgia,  coat them, expose a cool design and hang em up for decoration.
mooseman

[jsheridan]

Foe nastalgia,  coat them, expose a cool design and hang em up for decoration.

No matter the industry, we hang stuff on walls. Must be a guy thing 

[Prosperi-Tees]

Anyone have any pics of old screens used for decoration? Or your showroom for that matter?

[Printficient]

I'm at a bit of a crossroad.  I have about 15 roller frames and a sh!tload of old 18 x 20 wooden (I.D. 14 7/8 x 16 7/8).

I know I should just start using the rollers, but I hate to throw stuff away.  However, I might.

I have a tension meter and the 18 x 20s are like 12 - 15 newtons, pretty much a joke.

I took one of the empty rollers and added 2 washers to extend the side bars about 1/16 of an inch and found that I could use the roller to stretch new mesh, cut the mesh off the wooden frames and glue to the wood and get very usable newtons, but still 18 x 20 OD.

So here's the question -
Should I sh!tcan all the wood frames for reasons of size?  Or should I for reasons of old-school?  Or would any of you consider doing what I'm thinking about doing where the only cost is mesh and glue?  Cannot count time as that would be the same for rollers or rollers-to-wood. 

I'm not going to be doing all-over prints and the 18 x 20s can still print images about 11 1/2 by 13 1/2.

So what say you?

If you want, I can remesh them for you.  We do it all the time at Xenon and still manufacture new wood frames.  Call me and I'll get you a quote.  404-895-1796

[rmonks]

I seldom print the same job twice. But the jobs that are repeat i put them on static aluminum frames, and the one time jobs i use my rollers.

[Socalfmf]

Do yourself a favor and only use the newmans for 2 weeks...after that you will know your answer...you will get faster set ups ( due to registration) you will get a cleaner print ( you wont be pushing the mesh you will be shearing the ink off) and you will be happier....

sam

[tpitman]

Wayne, the fact that you've already got a tension meter is a reason to use the roller frames. It's usually the last piece that people add, if at all, because of the expense so you're ahead of the game. Having tight screens with consistent tension makes work easier and eliminates a variable.

[inkman996]

I'm at a bit of a crossroad.  I have about 15 roller frames and a sh!tload of old 18 x 20 wooden (I.D. 14 7/8 x 16 7/8).

I know I should just start using the rollers, but I hate to throw stuff away.  However, I might.

I have a tension meter and the 18 x 20s are like 12 - 15 newtons, pretty much a joke.

I took one of the empty rollers and added 2 washers to extend the side bars about 1/16 of an inch and found that I could use the roller to stretch new mesh, cut the mesh off the wooden frames and glue to the wood and get very usable newtons, but still 18 x 20 OD.

So here's the question -
Should I sh!tcan all the wood frames for reasons of size?  Or should I for reasons of old-school?  Or would any of you consider doing what I'm thinking about doing where the only cost is mesh and glue?  Cannot count time as that would be the same for rollers or rollers-to-wood. 

I'm not going to be doing all-over prints and the 18 x 20s can still print images about 11 1/2 by 13 1/2.

So what say you?

If you want, I can remesh them for you.  We do it all the time at Xenon and still manufacture new wood frames.  Call me and I'll get you a quote.  404-895-1796

No offense Sonny but come on you are supposed to be a friend to the industry why encourage someone to spend money on shipping and stretching of wood frames, someone would have to be out of their mind to spend money on wood frames. As said before wood is alive it will constantly move warp rack etc. you cannot put high tensions on wood sceens unless you want a surf board.

[3Deep]

LOL Inkman if what you said is true why so many shops still use wood frames?  I know tons of shops running wood frames on there auto maybe not high tension jobs and still the big chose for manual press shops.
  Now far as the 18x20 wood frames I still have some from the manual days and I use them on my auto for left chest prints, less emulsion and plus they are still pretty dam tight.