Tips for putting paper on palettes.

[Maxie]

Anyone got tips for putting paper onto palettes?
We put the paper on the width of the palette and need 2 people to do this.
I think it wastes a lot of time.
We got a very smooth result but I wonder if this is necessary.
Will creases and small bubbles affect printing?
Must be a faster and easier way.

[ffokazak]

We stick one side down ( the bottom of the pallet, furthest away from you) with a card ( credit or sign making plastic card) across the width of the board.
Then pull the pallet tape all the way towards you,
Rest it down on the pallet as flat as possible, and then pull one pass of the card directly down the centre of the pallet. I then make a "Union Jack" shape of the card, to ensure no bubbles appear. Moving in this pattern make sure all the tape is flattened. If some is not perfect, you can lift it up and re position. Doing the Union Jack means that you are only doing a quarter at a time. Pull towards the edge of the pallet from the middle.

If some bubble are formed, either force them out to the edge of the pallet, or use a razor to poke holes in them, and flatten them with your card.

This has worked well for me.

[Frog]

Action sells a device that holds the roll of tape, and there have been a few DIY examples posted here.
At least makes it a one person job.
Your question about creases and bubbles can't be answered definitively as there are big creases and not so big creases as well as big solid printed areas or a halftone not so tolerant of the uneven surface. Smooth is always best, and a plastic squeegee like used for bondo usually fixes these for me.

Here's one thread about tape helpers
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,19058.0.html