zip up hoodies???

[blue moon]

I've tried the expensive platten with the groove in it and did not find it to work very well. I ended spending $100 and paid Rick Roth from Mirror image to get the instructions on how to do it. I can get you in touch with him if you'd like.

look here:
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=73.msg10375#msg10375

pierre

[Action1]

I've tried the expensive platten with the groove in it and did not find it to work very well. I ended spending $100 and paid Rick Roth from Mirror image to get the instructions on how to do it. I can get you in touch with him if you'd like.

look here:
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=73.msg10375#msg10375

pierre

Every once in a while - we hear from people that are having challenges with the zipper hoodie pallet. Remember that thinning out the ink will help the hem transition. Also - on some brands of hoodies - the cover flap is puffy and problematic. We have seen brands of zipper hoodies that have an excellent hem seam and better suited for screen printing over them.

One of the tricks to making the print transition the zipper/hem assembly is to adjust your artwork in the specific area that goes over the zipper/ hem. When you have a pallet with a channel in it for the zipper to locate - this works very well. That is - grade the artwork by using a dot pattern instead of a solid over the seam. Also - you can eliminate the transition and bring the artwork right up next to the hem stitching and avoid going over the zipper cover flaps.

We recently redeveloped the Zipper Hoodie Pallets for use on MHM machinery, which I think you may have?  They are now made using honeycomb aluminum and we've received positive feedback.

We are easily able to accommodate your specific zipper requirements. We have a standard slot geometry that has worked well for many years. At times - we are requested to make slight changes and these can usually be done in a short time.

Action Engineering, Inc.
www.actionengineering.com

[Gabe]

It depends how often you run this kind of jobs and how many pieces each time
it make sense buying special pallets or cut out squeegees if you run them frequently
that said. if you run only 36 pcs. or so  if i were you i go to home depot and buy some laminated material
make sure is smooth on both sides this is the trick   no more than 1/4 of an inch thick
cut them accordingly to your design mark the center of your  pallet  and draw two more lines on each side 1/2 of inch apart from the center line this is groove where the zipper is gonna sit
once you got everything ready use web spray as well as pallet tape to secure the your homemade pallets in place
it works for me on small runs no more 72 pieces   auto or manual press
if flashing is needed keep an eye on the flash time
good printing j 

[Denis Kolar]

It depends how often you run this kind of jobs and how many pieces each time
it make sense buying special pallets or cut out squeegees if you run them frequently
that said. if you run only 36 pcs. or so  if i were you i go to home depot and buy some laminated material
make sure is smooth on both sides this is the trick   no more than 1/4 of an inch thick
cut them accordingly to your design mark the center of your  pallet  and draw two more lines on each side 1/2 of inch apart from the center line this is groove where the zipper is gonna sit
once you got everything ready use web spray as well as pallet tape to secure the your homemade pallets in place
it works for me on small runs no more 72 pieces   auto or manual press
if flashing is needed keep an eye on the flash time
good printing j 

Where is a "Like" button when you need it

[tpitman]

Here is the problem with the wood plattens, i run a Vastex press and attaching wood to it would not work. i guess im either going to have to order one from action or vastex or design and make my own...

Vastex does sell just the bracket part of the platen assembly for making your own. I switched over to the newer single-knob brackets when they first came out, and I've used the old brackets for sleeve platens and whatnot. You've gotta build them up to the right height, but it comes out to something like exactly 1-1/2" which makes it easy using 3/4" material. I welded up my longsleeve one since the all-wood version had a bit too much flex in it.

[blue moon]

I've tried the expensive platten with the groove in it and did not find it to work very well. I ended spending $100 and paid Rick Roth from Mirror image to get the instructions on how to do it. I can get you in touch with him if you'd like.

look here:
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=73.msg10375#msg10375

pierre

Every once in a while - we hear from people that are having challenges with the zipper hoodie pallet. Remember that thinning out the ink will help the hem transition. Also - on some brands of hoodies - the cover flap is puffy and problematic. We have seen brands of zipper hoodies that have an excellent hem seam and better suited for screen printing over them.

One of the tricks to making the print transition the zipper/hem assembly is to adjust your artwork in the specific area that goes over the zipper/ hem. When you have a pallet with a channel in it for the zipper to locate - this works very well. That is - grade the artwork by using a dot pattern instead of a solid over the seam. Also - you can eliminate the transition and bring the artwork right up next to the hem stitching and avoid going over the zipper cover flaps.

We recently redeveloped the Zipper Hoodie Pallets for use on MHM machinery, which I think you may have?  They are now made using honeycomb aluminum and we've received positive feedback.

We are easily able to accommodate your specific zipper requirements. We have a standard slot geometry that has worked well for many years. At times - we are requested to make slight changes and these can usually be done in a short time.

Action Engineering, Inc.
www.actionengineering.com

As always, your product quality is excellent, no issues there!

Our problem had to do with the fact that we use different types of zip hoodies that have different size hems/zippers/gaps and we were having problems with the garments moving within the groove. We compensated for this by taping the insides or adding filler material, but in the end it was much easier to do it with the padding. If we were using only one or two models of hoodies, the groove could be optimized for that particular brand and it would be easier to use than what we have now, alas we are contract printers though and do not get to choose the  garments we print on.

pierre