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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: jason-23 on May 20, 2012, 12:03:08 AM

Title: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: jason-23 on May 20, 2012, 12:03:08 AM
Any body have a good source for one or a good diy for one?
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: Denis Kolar on May 20, 2012, 12:45:40 AM
http://www.pnwcnc.com/ (http://www.pnwcnc.com/)
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: screenxpress on May 20, 2012, 11:57:15 AM
Before I clicked the link, my thought was DIY, since I've made them before many times.

They are easy to make.  Cut out from MDF, a piece of Formica, some contact cement, your wife's rolling pin to roll out the air bubbles when putting down the Formica, and a router to trim the edges.

After clicking the link, that sure looks like a no-brainer.  Unless they kill you on the shipping charges.

It would be hard to pass up $15.

What I want to know is.............................

Why do they have a link on their site to T-Shirt Forums......and not here?
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: tpitman on May 20, 2012, 03:57:44 PM
I have a homespun short sleeve platen that I added a piece of 1/8" aluminum to that I hacked out with a sabre saw, with sort of a "tongue" sticking out on the front, 4" wide and about as deep, to slip a pocket over. Works great.
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: jason-23 on May 21, 2012, 02:53:37 PM
I have a homespun short sleeve platen that I added a piece of 1/8" aluminum to that I hacked out with a sabre saw, with sort of a "tongue" sticking out on the front, 4" wide and about as deep, to slip a pocket over. Works great.
got a pic?
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: tpitman on May 21, 2012, 08:35:18 PM
It's sitting in my storage unit. I'll fetch it tomorrow and take a pic.

I used an older Vastex platen bracket (the ones with two hand screws instead of the single one on the corner underneath) and built up with a couple of pieces of MDF or particle board. You need exactly 1-1/2" to reach print height comparable to the standard platens. I welded up a nicer long sleeve/leg platen, but the short sleeve/pocked one is short enough so there's virtually no flex using wood materials.
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: sweetts on May 21, 2012, 09:29:56 PM
I agree with Dennis   http://www.pnwcnc.com/ (http://www.pnwcnc.com/) very good prices
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: jason-23 on May 21, 2012, 10:14:29 PM
I agree with Dennis   [url]http://www.pnwcnc.com/[/url] ([url]http://www.pnwcnc.com/[/url]) very good prices
Nice price but does it have a bracket and will it work on a vastex?
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: 3Deep on May 21, 2012, 10:23:26 PM
Looks like to me you buy the platen and use your own brackets....I might have to buy one and see how well they work...wish they would fit an auto.

Darryl
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on May 21, 2012, 10:25:30 PM
No they don't come with brackets. But they are good quality for what they are and the will custom cut any size/configuration for you as well.
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: tpitman on May 22, 2012, 12:58:59 PM
I have a homespun short sleeve platen that I added a piece of 1/8" aluminum to that I hacked out with a sabre saw, with sort of a "tongue" sticking out on the front, 4" wide and about as deep, to slip a pocket over. Works great.
got a pic?

Here ya go:
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: jason-23 on May 22, 2012, 09:03:59 PM
thanks for the pics. awesome work
Title: Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
Post by: tpitman on May 22, 2012, 09:48:30 PM
Pockets slip over the thin part, short sleeves over that or the wider extension behind it.
Obviously, as you know, Vastex platens are a bit different than most others, and homespun platens are a bit more difficult to cobble up. Vastex does sell just the base for DIYers.