Shur-Loc® "E-Z" 125 Frame

[cclaud3]

Hello, I'm looking for anyone with first-hand experience on this specific thickness. This is the newer, thinner version. Do they seem to hold square and true? I've read every thread on the internet about the panel frames & the thicker 1.5 shurloc frames.

I'm wondering if this route, on this specific thickness frame, will allow a little higher tension and will hold it longer than statics. I do not have a newton scale and have no idea what the statics are holding now. They seem ok, nothing great, nothing horrible. I think they've accidentally swapped mesh a few times and sometimes I've gotten mesh that has been installed crooked.

I'm using 23x31 statics and have a local source to swap them for $13-15 per screen. So it's pretty cheap to keep on with them.
I've got about 50 screens that I'm considering swapping all to a new system. I could buy used roller frames for the price of the new shurloc 125 frames. I would also have to modify some things in the screen room for the racking the thicker roller frames. Space is tight, so the statics have the advantage over rollers or panels.
Thanks.

[alan802]

I didn't know they had a new frame out.  Just by looking at it I couldn't see why they wouldn't be as good as the 1.5's really.  They are almost half the price for a reason and I'd like to know exactly why before I spent any money on them.  I've used the 1.5's for years and they are WAY better than a static frame and they do not lose their tension near like a static does.  They start at a much higher tension and stay at a much higher tension than a static but they do lose 5-8 newtons over a period of time, but it's a long time.  I've got 110's that are two years old that are still 32-33 newtons.

[cclaud3]

Thanks for the info. Are you sing the shurloc or Newman panels? Economy or regular?

[Ryan]

I have the 125s. much lighter than the 1.5s. OK so here is my beef with them.( I'm sure Shurloc will chime in either verifying my statements or disproving them so take them as what they are). The deflection on the long bar is unappealing to me. This is natural and not a defect in the frame. From talking with them about my concerns, I believe they cut the panels with a little less tension in them than they do with the 1.5 frames. I have all 3 styles of EZ frames and these by far have the most deflection, actually first time in 5 years that I actually noticed any deflection, though my 1.5s have some too. They will be far better than the statics you currently use. Much lighter weight, I think more than 2 lbs lighter. With the EZ frame system you are committed to their panels. If you go with the ECon panels, no big deal, they are $20 at the high end and will last a long time if you take care of them. You can retension these (not like a roller frame), but I have not succesfully retensioned one in 5 years. usually they will break before you need to retension anyways. Hope this rambling helps. any other questions regarding them, fire away

[alan802]

I've used a variety of panels, the murakami smartmesh, sefar, saati, and I think I had a few newman 102's but I haven't used the sefar econ mesh in the EZ frame panel..  I tend to stay away from anything labeled "economy" unless I can analyze it and see that it's not an inferior product than the regular priced mesh and mesh is hard for me to analyze without having to pay for it first.  I have used the sefar econ mesh in their panel for roller frames but I didn't pay for them and they've performed ok.  It's a bad mesh count so it's hard for me to say whether or not the econ panels are great or not.

[Nation03]

Interesting sizing options they have. They should make a 21x28 frame to fit the need of the smaller auto market.

[cclaud3]

I have the 125s. much lighter than the 1.5s. OK so here is my beef with them.( I'm sure Shurloc will chime in either verifying my statements or disproving them so take them as what they are). The deflection on the long bar is unappealing to me. This is natural and not a defect in the frame. From talking with them about my concerns, I believe they cut the panels with a little less tension in them than they do with the 1.5 frames. I have all 3 styles of EZ frames and these by far have the most deflection, actually first time in 5 years that I actually noticed any deflection, though my 1.5s have some too. They will be far better than the statics you currently use. Much lighter weight, I think more than 2 lbs lighter. With the EZ frame system you are committed to their panels. If you go with the ECon panels, no big deal, they are $20 at the high end and will last a long time if you take care of them. You can retension these (not like a roller frame), but I have not succesfully retensioned one in 5 years. usually they will break before you need to retension anyways. Hope this rambling helps. any other questions regarding them, fire away

Hey, regarding the deflection on the long bar: The metal arm is bowing or the panel is deflecting while printing? I'm trying to visualize what's happening.
Regarding the panels: I'm looking at their site and it looks like they don't distinguish between the 1.5 & 1.25" frame panels. You bought panels made specifically for the 1.25"? Thanks.

[Ryan]

the metal bar "bowing". ITs about an 1/8" in the center of the bar. They don't distinguish panels because they work on either one. I read back what I wrote and I don't make sense (brain to fast for my hands). They WILL cut panels with a little less tension in them if the "bowing" is a problem. Less tension=Less bowing. I don't know the long term effects of the bowing. Frame will return to its original rectangle demension, but they did say that it could be a problem if you have screens that are like that for a couple years. I've had some of the original frames that have been stretched up for almost 5 years. I thought that it would have an effect on the mesh, moire problems etc., but it would only be on the very edges from what I am seeing. If you are printing that close to the edge, get bigger screens. So I guess I'm saying the screens are good, they are alot lighter than their 1.5 frames. I will post a couple pics of the "bowing" shortly.

[cclaud3]

Ok, thanks for taking the time. I see what you mean.

[ScreenFoo]

I always thought if there wasn't a little bow to your frames you either didn't have enough tension, or your frames weigh too much.   ;D

[chubsetc]

Thinking about getting some of these, just trying to figure out if the slight bow would effect registration with the triloc, any input would be appreciated.

[Ryan]

my guess there would be some slight issues with the tri-loc, but then again if you are using high enough tension screens to begin with, there would be some bowing in those too and if you don't have problems with them, then these wouldn't be any different. I use a Pin registration so mine register off the top bar so I am only speculating on the tri-loc

[Binkspot]

The Tri Loc uses the same reference points through the whole process from the pin bar to the exposure jig to the press jig. Even if you used a severely warped frame the same three reference points are still in the same place from start to finish. So to answer the question there should be no problems. If you are using statics now you would be hard pressed to find one that is perfectly square let alone two that are identical.

[chubsetc]

The Tri Loc uses the same reference points through the whole process from the pin bar to the exposure jig to the press jig. Even if you used a severely warped frame the same three reference points are still in the same place from start to finish. So to answer the question there should be no problems. If you are using statics now you would be hard pressed to find one that is perfectly square let alone two that are identical.

This is what I was thinking but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.  Thanks.

[Ryan]

The Tri Loc uses the same reference points through the whole process from the pin bar to the exposure jig to the press jig. Even if you used a severely warped frame the same three reference points are still in the same place from start to finish. So to answer the question there should be no problems. If you are using statics now you would be hard pressed to find one that is perfectly square let alone two that are identical.

Makes total sense. I was thinking more along the lines of how I register vs the triloc and the carrier sheets