Author Topic: pocket platten cheap or diy?  (Read 3689 times)

Offline jason-23

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pocket platten cheap or diy?
« on: May 20, 2012, 12:03:08 AM »
Any body have a good source for one or a good diy for one?


Offline Denis Kolar

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2012, 12:45:40 AM »

Offline screenxpress

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #2 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?
Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do.  Will Rogers

Offline tpitman

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #3 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.
Work is the curse of the drinking class . . .

Offline jason-23

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #4 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?

Offline tpitman

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #5 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.
Work is the curse of the drinking class . . .

Offline sweetts

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2012, 09:29:56 PM »
I agree with Dennis   http://www.pnwcnc.com/ very good prices
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Offline jason-23

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2012, 10:14:29 PM »
I agree with Dennis   http://www.pnwcnc.com/ very good prices
Nice price but does it have a bracket and will it work on a vastex?

Offline 3Deep

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #8 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
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Offline Prosperi-Tees

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #9 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.

Offline tpitman

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #10 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:
Work is the curse of the drinking class . . .

Offline jason-23

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2012, 09:03:59 PM »
thanks for the pics. awesome work

Offline tpitman

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Re: pocket platten cheap or diy?
« Reply #12 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.
Work is the curse of the drinking class . . .