Material for building platens up - Zip Hoodies

[Stinkhorn Press]

It's hoodie season.
We've got 2 zippered hoodies orders coming up.

What are the best go to materials for building up the platen temporarily to leave the zipper gap?
What's the best method for attaching the material to the platens?

*we are NOT a sign shop - so sign vinyl/cloroplast(sp?) isn't especially easy to get/at hand*

pics appreciated too!

[im_mcguire]

Do you have any sleeve platens?  We just ran a 5 color job with sleeve platens and it worked out great.  We used the edge of the platen to make sure everything was straight, and blew through it.

[Frog]

Do you have any sleeve platens?  We just ran a 5 color job with sleeve platens and it worked out great.  We used the edge of the platen to make sure everything was straight, and blew through it.

That assumes a small breast print.
Designs that go right over the zipper are popular with many also.

[Stinkhorn Press]

Do you have any sleeve platens?  We just ran a 5 color job with sleeve platens and it worked out great.  We used the edge of the platen to make sure everything was straight, and blew through it.

we do - but they are 4" wide AND not perfect to each other (which loses another 1/4") which makes the print only 3.5" wide. pretty puny.
we need the intermediate step to buying a set of zipper platens. because so far no one is ordering 1,500 hoodies from us yet.
what frog said.

[im_mcguire]

Do you have any sleeve platens?  We just ran a 5 color job with sleeve platens and it worked out great.  We used the edge of the platen to make sure everything was straight, and blew through it.

That assumes a small breast print.
Designs that go right over the zipper are popular with many also.

True. That was me projecting every front print of a sweatshirt I've ever done. I've never been asked to print over the seam of a zipper hoodie. I was given the recommendation of laminate floor liner from Home Depot. You can use it to build up the platen, cut out a center channel and then tape over the whole thing. It holds up to heat pretty well.

I'll see if I can get a link here soon.

[im_mcguire]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/FloorMuffler-100-sq-ft-4-ft-x-25-ft-x-0-08-in-Underlayment-for-Engineered-Hardwood-and-Laminate-Floors-0264049/204077418

Here is a good solution for building up platens.  I think it is like $60 for an entire roll.

[Stinkhorn Press]

would foam board insulation hold up to flashing?

[TORB]

Hi Stinkhorn Press, using polyurethane foam is the best way to print over the zipper, use two pieces of foam to cover your platten, adhere the foam with spray web adhesive and cover it with pallet tape, make sure the gap in the middle of your platten fits with the zipper.

[Stinkhorn Press]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kingspan-Insulation-Common-0-75-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Actual-0-75-in-x-4-ft-x-8-Feet-R-4-Unfaced-Polystyrene-Foam-Board-Insulation/999973072

this stuff?
what's the best thickness? how many prints does this stand up to?

[Frog]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kingspan-Insulation-Common-0-75-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Actual-0-75-in-x-4-ft-x-8-Feet-R-4-Unfaced-Polystyrene-Foam-Board-Insulation/999973072

this stuff?
what's the best thickness? how many prints does this stand up to?

No, that's a rigid polystyrene. TORB is talking about a soft foam more like wet suit material.
If you search here enough, you may find old threads that covered this topic, and had other suggestions. I know that it has been discussed.