Tape Sucks!

[alan802]

If I were going tapeless the only way I would do it is the EZ frames.  I bought a bunch of statics the last few months to fill the void in screens that I couldn't stretch and I've always had some statics in here in some capacity or another.  I won't get into the argument of rollers versus static because I've used them fairly regularly side by side for about 10 years and I know the benefits and reasons for using each.  And nothing I say will do much to persuade anyone who is doing their own thing.  The only way they're going to know the difference is to use them side by side and compare them with a decent degree of scrutiny, or high standards.  It's up to the individual on whether or not you will live with each one's pros and cons.  Each shop can do what they want and that's that.         

[Stinkhorn Press]

If I were going tapeless the only way I would do it is the EZ frames.  I bought a bunch of statics the last few months to fill the void in screens that I couldn't stretch and I've always had some statics in here in some capacity or another.  I won't get into the argument of rollers versus static because I've used them fairly regularly side by side for about 10 years and I know the benefits and reasons for using each.  And nothing I say will do much to persuade anyone who is doing their own thing.  The only way they're going to know the difference is to use them side by side and compare them with a decent degree of scrutiny, or high standards.  It's up to the individual on whether or not you will live with each one's pros and cons.  Each shop can do what they want and that's that.       

Tape-less:roller - most difficult, rare would be the shop that has needs and processes that put that to great use
Tape-less:EZ/stretch your own statics - I assume that would that require applying your own blockout?
Tape-less:static - should come correct for a reasonable price from your maker

am i missing anything obvious?

[richard@national]

We have actually taken a bead of the adhesive and ran it on the inside of the frame instead of the caulk. It leaves a much smaller bead if any at all and helps adhere the mesh to the frame. We have not had any problems doing that so far but we just started trying that a few weeks ago.

[shurloc]

Not to drag up this oldie but goody again here, but we've started running our M3 Endurance Panels and would love some feed back on them if anyone is interested. We only have 23x31 M3 available at this time, but MZX will be one of the next ones up. If anyone is interested in getting a sample panel to try these out, please shoot me an email - ron@shurloc.com and I'll get some headed to you as quick as we can.

Thanks!
Ron

[ffokazak]

Tapeless rollers are achievable, but you just need to go to 25x36" for regular sized prints. Get a wide scoop coater, put the image on in the right spot and there is never any ink getting on shirts here.

With a 16" squeegee and plastisol, it is easy to achieve tapeless rollers.

Anything larger than about 14x18" would need to be taped.

[DannyGruninger]

Tapeless rollers are achievable, but you just need to go to 25x36" for regular sized prints. Get a wide scoop coater, put the image on in the right spot and there is never any ink getting on shirts here.

With a 16" squeegee and plastisol, it is easy to achieve tapeless rollers.

Anything larger than about 14x18" would need to be taped.

We are printing more h2o ink then plastisol these days so for us due to ink properties not possible. I wish there was a tape less roller option out there. Newman told me at iss they are working on some options so hopefully that’s the case. S mesh on new mzx rollers is the best combo out there imo.

[Colin]

We are printing more h2o ink then plastisol these days so for us due to ink properties not possible. I wish there was a tape less roller option out there. Newman told me at iss they are working on some options so hopefully that’s the case. S mesh on new mzx rollers is the best combo out there imo.

Why the MZX and not rollers on all sides?

[Atownsend]

We are printing more h2o ink then plastisol these days so for us due to ink properties not possible. I wish there was a tape less roller option out there. Newman told me at iss they are working on some options so hopefully that’s the case. S mesh on new mzx rollers is the best combo out there imo.

Why the MZX and not rollers on all sides?

We use 4 Roller MZX frames. They are a little lighter than the M3's and less expensive. Much higher than 30N and the frame will start to bow due to the smaller tube diameter. But with S thread it doesnt matter since they don't get that high.

[ffokazak]

I agree danny, with a short bodied plastisol, you dont have issues with ink moving around.

Waterbased, or thinner inks would not go over well haha

[Colin]

We are printing more h2o ink then plastisol these days so for us due to ink properties not possible. I wish there was a tape less roller option out there. Newman told me at iss they are working on some options so hopefully that’s the case. S mesh on new mzx rollers is the best combo out there imo.

Why the MZX and not rollers on all sides?

We use 4 Roller MZX frames. They are a little lighter than the M3's and less expensive. Much higher than 30N and the frame will start to bow due to the smaller tube diameter. But with S thread it doesnt matter since they don't get that high.

Ahhhhhh *light bulb moment*  No Square backs.

[ZooCity]

I emailed right away on this but agree that it's doubtful that tapeless rollers can be achieved with wb. 

If someone came up with a way to do it I'd be first in line to try it but over 10yrs or pondering how to do it and I still can't say if it's even possible.    Especially so given the way we print wb/dc/hsa here- it's all max speed double stroking with a large amount of ink in the screen.  If there were a weak point in the barrier the ink would get to it.   For a discharge happy shop like ours that's a lot of shirts in the tester bin potentially by the time someone catches the first DC leak at the back of the dryer. 

[DannyGruninger]

I emailed right away on this but agree that it's doubtful that tapeless rollers can be achieved with wb. 

If someone came up with a way to do it I'd be first in line to try it but over 10yrs or pondering how to do it and I still can't say if it's even possible.    Especially so given the way we print wb/dc/hsa here- it's all max speed double stroking with a large amount of ink in the screen.  If there were a weak point in the barrier the ink would get to it.   For a discharge happy shop like ours that's a lot of shirts in the tester bin potentially by the time someone catches the first DC leak at the back of the dryer.

Same story here.... We are doing more and more wb, d charge, hsa...... We have a 6 month plan here right now to phase out all plastisol inks as its so difficult trying to run both types under the same roof.

[ericheartsu]

Not only is this a HUGE issue for us, (one of the main reasons why we switched) but our rollers and the I-Image, did not see eye to eye.

[Doug S]

Eric,

Just curious as to why your rollers and I image don't jive together?  We used to have a little problem with that until we started ordering our panels with the corners cut.

[ericheartsu]

Eric,

Just curious as to why your rollers and I image don't jive together?  We used to have a little problem with that until we started ordering our panels with the corners cut.

having to tape up the corners for WB/DC was a huge time suck, and issue.