Newman Mesh Flaps

[Grumpy Ole Artist]

So, I finally have a guy with some experience taking care of my reclaiming now...I walked into the screen room yesterday, and I caught him taking scissors and cutting off all of the small "flaps" (1/4-1/2") of mesh that I leave sticking out of the locking grooves. He said that the flaps make it more difficult to de-ink/ reclaim.
It has been a long time since I had any training on the care and feeding of Newmans, but don't the locking strips "bite" on both edges of the strip? (the inside AND outside of the locking groove?) My concern is that I am going to have a bunch of failures now that he has "flush cut" my flaps...Before I go all "medieval" on him, am I over-reacting?

[alan802]

I cut my mesh off right at the edge of the outward channel everywhere except the corners where I leave a little more mesh, about a 1/4" for additional corner softening later if needed.  So I've got about 1/8" of mesh "flap".  Some might argue with me but after a few reclaims those locking strips are stuck in that channel and even if only the front of the locking strip was touching mesh and the outside had no mesh to grab, that mesh isn't going anywhere.  Brand new frames, mesh and locking strips would need mesh on both sides of the channel but yours will be fine.

[Socalfmf]

we trim ours as well..heck even on the shur-locs we do...just makes for flatter mesh especially with dts.

sam

[GaryG]

Yeah I'd say if you were looking "down the channel" like a tiny little screen mite,
the force pulling up against the inside edge is enough to keep for the long haul.
It is nice to have some flap though just in case higher meshes slip any, but shouldn't
after tensioned.
 

[Grumpy Ole Artist]

Thanx for the concensus...After a little digging, I have discovered that the Busy Little Beaver has done it to EVERY newman back there! Nice to know I don't have to worry....That 1/4 inch of salvage past the strip just gave me a warm, fuzzy, clampy feeling, and, while I DO NOT want to return to screen tank duties, I am loathe to turn anything over and let anybody ELSE run with the ball...(Personal problem, I'm working on it Hee!) so,  I'll take a few cleansing breaths, let him do his thing, and say nothing, LOL! Thanx again! And my reclaimer also says (albeit unknowingly!) "thanx!" LOL! Happy Holidays, all!

[Gilligan]

Thanx for the concensus...After a little digging, I have discovered that the Busy Little Beaver has done it to EVERY newman back there! Nice to know I don't have to worry....That 1/4 inch of salvage past the strip just gave me a warm, fuzzy, clampy feeling, and, while I DO NOT want to return to screen tank duties, I am loathe to turn anything over and let anybody ELSE run with the ball...(Personal problem, I'm working on it Hee!) so,  I'll take a few cleansing breaths, let him do his thing, and say nothing, LOL! Thanx again! And my reclaimer also says (albeit unknowingly!) "thanx!" LOL! Happy Holidays, all!

Yeah, you definitely don't want to deflate that go gettem attitude.

My guy does things differently than I would... I try my best to just keep my mouth shut and let him go with it.  If it backfires then I can always say "this is how I've done it in the past..." or something to that effect.  But unless it's blatantly wrong, I don't get in the way.

They called me the other day and asked a question, I said "test it and google it to see if anyone else has tried it".  My office manager said "he said you would say that."  THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS JUST DO IT!!! That is my thoughts at least.

[alan802]

I've had to step back over the years and give the guys a little more freedom with some of the little things and only if they don't work or cause a hiccup in the process do I get involved and correct things.  The days of finding someone who can analyze and figure out best practices on their own are like unicorns so if you've managed to find someone who is active in finding better ways to do things then he's a keeper.