Tension meter?

[Denis Kolar]

Would it be beneficial to have a tension meter if you only run static screens?
I have a chance to buy Newman TM for a reasonable amount.

Thanks

[bimmridder]

At the least, you would be able to set a standard where you decide not to use a screen any more. When it reaches "X" Newtons. it's time  to retire it. Do you see retensionables in your  future? If it was a good deal. I'd buy it.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Buy it. I think you'll be amazed how low tensions are in statics.

[Printficient]

Buy it. I think you'll be amazed how low tensions are in statics.

Then you will know by your prints that screen tension alone is but one of many parameters for a good print.  If you are able to print high detail with your statics then maybe you can spend your money on other things in your shop instead of the almighty reten.

[mk162]

I tried retens, I didn't have great luck with them.  I think our press is a little too far out of tune for them.  I even replaced all the platens and leveled everything, but I have some funky things goind on with registration and off contact right now.  I might revisit them later.  But I get better prints off well tensioned statics.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Buy it. I think you'll be amazed how low tensions are in statics.

Then you will know by your prints that screen tension alone is but one of many parameters for a good print.  If you are able to print high detail with your statics then maybe you can spend your money on other things in your shop instead of the almighty reten.

No crap.

[Evo]

I tried retens, I didn't have great luck with them.  I think our press is a little too far out of tune for them.  I even replaced all the platens and leveled everything, but I have some funky things goind on with registration and off contact right now.  I might revisit them later.  But I get better prints off well tensioned statics.

What press is it?

[mk162]

1999 Gauntlet

[3Deep]

In most cases a tension meter is a want more than a need...example I wanted one and bought one, used every now and then and I use statics, retens, panel frames just a mix of frames.  I really don't think you need a tension meter to know when a mesh is headed to dump just a touch of the old finger and you got your answer.   Now if your looking to have all your screens be the same in tension on every job you do yes.

Darryl

[JBLUE]

1999 Gauntlet

Check the rod ends on your micros. If those are sloppy then they will move around on you. You may have to replace them if there is a lot of slop.

[mk162]

They seem tight if you are talking about the ball joint itself.  Is there a way to make sure they are good and tight other than taking pressure off and wiggling them around?

[alan802]

Buy it.  Then use it to cull out the lowest tensioned statics and start having a standard.  Once you start using your highest tensioned screens on a regular basis, especially for those tougher jobs, then you'll start to realize the benefits of high tension. 

[Printficient]

Buy it.  Then use it to cull out the lowest tensioned statics and start having a standard.  Once you start using your highest tensioned screens on a regular basis, especially for those tougher jobs, then you'll start to realize the benefits of high tension.

Not to jump on your case Alan, and maybe this should be another post, but what tension is "high"?

[Denis Kolar]

Buy it.  Then use it to cull out the lowest tensioned statics and start having a standard.  Once you start using your highest tensioned screens on a regular basis, especially for those tougher jobs, then you'll start to realize the benefits of high tension.

Not to jump on your case Alan, and maybe this should be another post, but what tension is "high"?

Thanks everybody on the comments.
I might be buying his tonight, very close to it.

Sonny, I believe Alan said highest and not high tension. Even if I have most screens in the low teens, I could benefit to know that my higher tension screens are @ 17-19 range and could benefit from using those instead of the ones that are 12-13.
17-19 Newtons is not high, but it is highest and the best that I have in that case

[jsheridan]

Yes buy it. It's an invaluable tool for pre-press operations.

I've seen many times the tension on a static isn't even enough to get the meter to read it.. 17-19 is pretty high.. most static's end up around the 10-14
range.

We put a meter on a BRAND NEW static at the Ft Worth show.. for a 110 it read 16n..

High tension is anything over 40n.

The optimum range for decent printing is in the 25n to 35n range.