Smart Mesh and Panel Frames

[Lonestarapparel]

I have been hearing different stories on this topic.  I just purchased some panel frames from Reece Supply.  They are telling me that Murakami smart mesh cannot be put in the panel frames.  Why not?  I talked to someone a while back and I thought he had it in his panel frames but had a tough time with it ripping during install.  So my two questions are...

1) Can smart mesh capatiable with panel frames?
2) Is there a specific trick to tightening the mesh more than a standard mesh? 

Thanks for the insight

[jsheridan]

Smartmesh is a low micron thread, large opening mesh that works best in the 20-28 tension range. The panel frames may pull the mesh to a higher tension than the mesh can w/stand.

[Northland]

I've got a dozen 20x24 panelframes and six 20x28 panelframes.... 'never been able to get better than 20n/cm, most are about 15 after first use.
Maybe Smartmesh and low tension are not a good match... as John points out ??

I am suprised how well the ink clears the panelframe mesh, most of the time (even at 15n/cm).

[Nation03]

I didn't think Murakami made a panel for the panel frame yet... were they custom made? I'd like to see an s-thread panel for the panel frame.

[shurloc]

Hey Guys,

First off, the Murakami line of mesh is called "SmartMesh". The common mistake is substituting "S thread" for SmartMesh. SmartMesh is available in all mesh counts from a 10/500 to a 460/27. The "S-Thread" fabrics are as follows: 60/71, 80/71, 110/71, 135/48, 150/48, 160/48, 180/48, 200/48, 225/40, 310/30, 330/30 and 350/30. These fabrics all max out at 25N according to Murakami. The newest mesh, the "LX" line, combines the advantages of the larger openings at lower tensions with a new bonding method that virtually eliminates the knuckles of the fabric.

Now, with that cleared up, unfortunately, the pricing of the PanelFrame panels would never allow for a mesh that is the quality of the Murakami line. For example, the 230y 20x24 PanelFrame panel costs $11.90, the shur-loc E-con fabric costs $16.00 and the premium 225/40 fabric costs $21.55. So using those numbers, you'd be looking at $17-18 per fabric minimum to get SmartMesh on your PanelFrame.

For those that are interested in getting the premium mesh selection, you can check out our "E-Z" Angle Conversion Kits to convert your static frames. You can check out our online videos of how to convert your frames, stretch them in under a minute and see 40-50N tensions on your lower mesh.

www.shurloc.com

[Nation03]

Is there any updated news on shurloc buying out PanelFrame?

[shurloc]

Yes, there is definitely an update for everyone...

First, Shur-Loc has purchased PanelFRAME and RollerPANEL names only from Rex White. Rex has been retained by Shur-Loc as our primary sales liaison for both product lines.

Second, we have worked with various mesh suppliers to decrease the cost of fabrics to the end users (yes, this means cheaper panels for everyone!) and relaunch our economy line of panels. We only had these available in a few mesh counts before now, but with the new deals, we can offer almost everything from an 83 to a 305 in our economy line.

Finally, we understand how frustrated everyone is with the PanelFRAME situation. We were approached to help with the situation and are working with our suppliers as quickly as possible to get all the parts and pieces together to manufacture the PanelFRAME panels. Hopefully, we will be back to stocking distributor's shelves in the near future, but for now, we are still waiting on suppliers.

Now, with that said, we want to make everyone happy and are going to make a offer to everyone with a PanelFRAME that cannot find supplies to continue using them. Contact us today at (360) 805-4140 or email ron@shurloc.com and we will offer you a $20 credit on each PanelFRAME that you want to trade-in against a Shur-Loc EZ Frame, EZ Angle Conversion Kit or premium fabric panel for your roller frames. We are only running this special offer through 11/19 so call me today to get the deal before it's gone.

We know this whole situation has been frustrating for all of you, but we hope this will ease the expense of getting into a frame system that allows you to use any mesh count or thread diameter we offer and will get you a frame system that will provide you years of trouble free operation and quality support from Shur-Loc fabrics.

[Frog]

Once the newer Sefar panels were available, (from Rex at least if not from Midwest and Nazdar), I was not frustrated.
I also have not tried to buy any  panels in the last month, if that's the main source of frustration right now. Are folks saying that there aren't any?

For those of us who are happy with the product, I take it from what you just said, that you will be contracting the manufacturing of panels for us in the near future. I assume that all of Rex's problems have now been noted and are not to be repeated (a risk increased with bargain priced contractors)
Even with only eighteen frames and panels, I  don't really want to change systems, especially if it means losing half of my present investment, and perhaps needing new tools and/or equipment to boot, your generous offer notwithstanding.

I guess what I and others probably would like is an approximate time line on panel availability. weeks? months?

[pwalsh]

Once the newer Sefar panels were available, (from Rex at least if not from Midwest and Nazdar), I was not frustrated.
I also have not tried to buy any  panels in the last month, if that's the main source of frustration right now. Are folks saying that there aren't any?

For those of us who are happy with the product, I take it from what you just said, that you will be contracting the manufacturing of panels for us in the near future. I assume that all of Rex's problems have now been noted and are not to be repeated (a risk increased with bargain priced contractors)
Even with only eighteen frames and panels, I  don't really want to change systems, especially if it means losing half of my present investment, and perhaps needing new tools and/or equipment to boot, your generous offer notwithstanding.

I guess what I and others probably would like is an approximate time line on panel availability. weeks? months?

Andy:  I apologize that I haven’t been staying as close to the situation with the Panel frames as I might have, but here is an update from one of our Nazdar SourceOne Product Managers on the current situation with our company transitioning over to the newer manufacturer / supplier of the products formerly known as Panel Frames.  It would appear that we are weeks away from having a reliable source of the products that we were previously used to, and also a new source of Panel Frames options from our friends at Shurloc. 

Panel Frames are now TRAX Frames and Panels.  As you have likely heard, Panel Frame has gone through a transition. There has been some confusion about the source of the product. Currently, the existing product and the exact replacement product will be represented by Golf City Products. This is the original manufacturer of the Panel Frames we currently have in stock. The new name will be TRAX Fames and Panels

Please review the conversion chart below for a cross reference of panels, tools and frames.
• Pricing has not changed.
• Existing inventory has been converted to the new item numbers.

"NEW" TRAX Frame & Panels                                  "OLD" Panel Frame & Panels
Item#   Description                                    Item#   Description
GRF2331H TRAX RS FRAME 23X31 HD 1.6                      RPF2331HD   ROLLER PANEL FRAME 23X31HD 1.6
GRF2331L   TRAX RS FRAME 23X31 STD 1.4      RPF2331S    ROLLER PANEL FRAME 23X31 STD
GTF2024   TRAX FRAME 20X24 W/LOCKS                      PF2024                   PF PANEL FRAME 20X24 W/LOCKS
GTF2331   TRAX FRAME 23X31 W/LOCKS                      PF2331                    PF PANEL FRAME 23X31 W/LOCKS
GTT20   TRAX FRAME 20X24 INSTALL TOOL      PF2024TOOL   PF2024 PANEL FR TENSION TOOL
GTT30   TRAX FRAME 23X31 INSTALL TOOL      PF2331TOOL   PF2331 PANEL FR TENSION TOOL
MSA110   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 110 WHT 6BX      MP2024110W   MESH PANEL 20X24 110WHITE 6BX
MSA160   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 160 WHT 6BX      MP2024160W   MESH PANEL 20X24 160WHITE 6BX
MSA180   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 YELLOW 6BX      MP2024180Y   MESH PANEL 20X24 180YELLOW 6BX
MSA230   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 230 YLW 6BX      MP2024230Y   MESH PANEL 20X24 230YELLOW 6BX
MSA260   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 260 YLW 6BX      MP2024260Y   MESH PANEL 20X24 260YELLOW 6BX
MSA305   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 305 YLW 6BX      MP2024305Y   MESH PANEL 20X24 305YELLOW 6BX
MSA80   TRAX SCREEN 20X24 80 WHITE 6BX      MP202480W   MESH PANEL 20X24 80WHITE 6BX
MSB110   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 110 WHT 6BX      MP2331110W   MESH PANEL 23X31 110WHITE 6BX
MSB125   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 125 WHT 6BX      MP2331125W   MESH PANEL 23X31 125WHITE 6BX
MSB160   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 160 WHT 6BX      MP2331160W   MESH PANEL 23X31 160WHITE 6BX
MSB180   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 180 YLW 6BX      MP2331180Y   MESH PANEL 23X31 180YELLOW 6BX
MSB200   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 200 YLW 6BX      MP2331200Y   MESH PANEL 23X31 200YEL 6BX
MSB230   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 230 YLW 6BX      MP2331230Y   MESH PANEL 23X31 230YELLOW 6BX
MSB260   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 260 YLW 6BX      MP2331260Y   MESH PANEL 23X31 260YELLOW 6BX
MSB305   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 305 YLW 6BX      MP2331305Y   MESH PANEL 23X31 305YELLOW 6BX
MSB80   TRAX SCREEN 23X31 80 WHITE 6BX      MP233180W   MESH PANEL 23X31 80WHITE 6BX
RFSB110   TRAX RS MESH 23X31 110WHT 6BX      RMP2331110W   ROLLER PANEL 23X31 110W 6BX
RFSB305   TRAX RS MESH 23X31 305YEL 6BX      RMP2331305Y   ROLLER PANEL 23X31 305Y 6BX

[Homer]

so the nuts and bolts of it is -when you guys know, we will know.  I am patiently waiting to get new 305's that don't pop on me. I am on my fifth box, this time from a nazdar warehouse in Ca, so maybe I can get lucky! Now, what happens with the current stock of mesh that is in all the warehouses? recall on it or are we going to use it up til it's gone? or is it already gone?

[ccsign]

I see no nothing about the 20x28 mesh for us that have the Titan and Horizions will we be able to get those panels. I just invested in a new auto 7 months a go and have 24 20x28 frames.  "NEED PANELS"

Thanks,Charlie

[inkman996]

Yes, there is definitely an update for everyone...

First, Shur-Loc has purchased PanelFRAME and RollerPANEL from Rex White. Rex has been retained by Shur-Loc as our primary sales liaison for both product lines.

Second, we have worked with various mesh suppliers to decrease the cost of fabrics to the end users (yes, this means cheaper panels for everyone!) and relaunch our economy line of panels. We only had these available in a few mesh counts before now, but with the new deals, we can offer almost everything from an 83 to a 305 in our economy line.

Finally, we understand how frustrated everyone is with the PanelFRAME situation. We were approached to help with the situation and are working with our suppliers as quickly as possible to get all the parts and pieces together to manufacture the PanelFRAME panels. Hopefully, we will be back to stocking distributor's shelves in the near future, but for now, we are still waiting on suppliers.

Now, with that said, we want to make everyone happy and are going to make a offer to everyone with a PanelFRAME that cannot find supplies to continue using them. Contact us today at (360) 805-4140 or email ron@shurloc.com and we will offer you a $20 credit on each PanelFRAME that you want to trade-in against a Shur-Loc EZ Frame, EZ Angle Conversion Kit or premium fabric panel for your roller frames. We are only running this special offer through 11/19 so call me today to get the deal before it's gone.

We know this whole situation has been frustrating for all of you, but we hope this will ease the expense of getting into a frame system that allows you to use any mesh count or thread diameter we offer and will get you a frame system that will provide you years of trouble free operation and quality support from Shur-Loc fabrics.

I have invested in quite a few of these frames and your comments above scare me. First you keep mentioning economy mesh, what does that mean other than a cheaper mesh for the end users. Does it mean crap panels that frustrated everyone in the beginning?

Second the offer of a trade in for your main line of products is smelling a lot like panel frames is not going to come back and you are more interested in getting folks buying the shurloc system.

If the panels end up being junk or panels do not become available after a while I will have a ton of aluminum for recycle.

[shurloc]

Wow, this is getting a bit crazy...

Just so we can be clear, yes, we will have PanelFRAME fabric panels made from Sefar eMesh just like the fabrics that had replaced the original panels that many experienced size consistency issues etc. with- not mesh usability issues. Keep in mind, this is not a premium mesh line in our standards, but if the replacement fabrics have worked for you, you will have as good - if not better results from the new fabrics. These fabrics will be made 100% in the US, in our facilities with our staff. We do not want to outsource the jobs to China or another overseas country to save a buck or two and sacrifice the quality controls that we have in place here. We also do not want to create a shortage of products that crippled the supply of fabrics. The reason for the delay is to get the parts extruded to make the fabrics takes 6-8 weeks to get online. This deal was made just over 6 weeks ago and the design process began immediately following that agreement. We are expecting to begin shipping fabrics soon as supplies become available.

Going back to the OP, this topic began with a user wanting to get a Murakami "S" thread fabric on a PanelFRAME. This is something that will not be offered, at least in the short term, because of pricing and the ability to control the tension of the frames.

[inkman996]

Wow, this is getting a bit crazy...

Just so we can be clear, yes, we will have PanelFRAME fabric panels made from Sefar eMesh just like the fabrics that had replaced the original panels that many experienced size consistency issues etc. with- not mesh usability issues. Keep in mind, this is not a premium mesh line in our standards, but if the replacement fabrics have worked for you, you will have as good - if not better results from the new fabrics. These fabrics will be made 100% in the US, in our facilities with our staff. We do not want to outsource the jobs to China or another overseas country to save a buck or two and sacrifice the quality controls that we have in place here. We also do not want to create a shortage of products that crippled the supply of fabrics. The reason for the delay is to get the parts extruded to make the fabrics takes 6-8 weeks to get online. This deal was made just over 6 weeks ago and the design process began immediately following that agreement. We are expecting to begin shipping fabrics soon as supplies become available.

Going back to the OP, this topic began with a user wanting to get a Murakami "S" thread fabric on a PanelFRAME. This is something that will not be offered, at least in the short term, because of pricing and the ability to control the tension of the frames.

I really didnt mean to sound so harsh bad day. It is something I will always have in the back of my mind tho many times i have seen the competitor but the competition only to kill it and I just hope that this does not happen here since we have invested quite a bit already in these frames.

Thanks

[shurloc]

No problems, everyone just has to realize that we are coming at this playing catch up since Rex came to us for help. We are trying to get his customers taken care of and deliver a quality product at a price that beats anything else on the market.

We just know that won't be soon enough for some, which is why we have the option of going to EZ Frames or Angles - or even roller frame panels if needed for the short term. We also hope to have a solid answer on shipping times with the fabrics for the original PanelFRAME in the next week or two. Again, in the mean time, look at the cost effectiveness of the EZ Angle Conversion kit for any of the static frames you have laying around and see if that is a good option for you or not. All the performance of the EZ Frame, at about 1/3 the cost of the original.

A 20x24 EZ Angle Kit ($21.75) + 110 E-con Sefar fabric panel ($14.50) = $36.25 - $20.00 trade in = $16.75 per frame including new mesh.

For a Tensioning Tool + 6 frames and 6 fabrics you are looking at a grand total of about $300...

How to install the angle kit - http://youtu.be/3wbl6NFK8S0