The Hot Rod Gauntlet Thread

[ericheartsu]

Reviving this thread from the dead. Is it possible to  alter a head to make it have a longer print stroke? Thinking about bringing ours back from the dead for bandannas

[Ross_S]

Can't you just use every other head with bigger screens?  What model Guantlet and year I thought you could adjust the screen holders to allow a larger screen thus longer stroke?  I could be wrong

[ericheartsu]

on ours, it's a gauntlet s, so the print stroke maxes out at a certain point. i think it's 17". maybe 15"

[jvanick]

it's likely dependent on the length of the stroke cylinder (and clearance of it), along with the travel for the linear bearings that the squeegee/flood carriage run on...

if you were to be able to extend both of those you could get some extra travel, but you're probably looking at some serious modifications to the press to make that happen.

[ZooCity]

If the head can accommodate the larger screeen, a longer stroke cyl and some mods to the rear holder might do it.    Or buy a single head from a challenger or larger gauntlet of similar vintage and slap it on one head.

Let us know what you work out, I think turning an old Gauntlet into a 1 color oversize printer would be brilliant for a machine at the end of it's life, i.e. center bushing going out.  <which, as far as I can tell, is the only thing that will ever kill these presses.

[ericheartsu]

so according to these pics, we'd need to extend:
-the rear screen clamp
-get a shorter, but longer print stroke cylinder

anything else?

[ZooCity]

If there's nowhere for the stroke cyl to go inward toward the center shaft than you'd need a long print arm.  Not aware of a cyl that is both "shorter and longer", sounds like magic.

[ericheartsu]

If there's nowhere for the stroke cyl to go inward toward the center shaft than you'd need a long print arm.  Not aware of a cyl that is both "shorter and longer", sounds like magic.

don't you know that's all i do. Magic.

[jvanick]

you may be able to pick up some extra distance by drilling a big hole into the center mount of the press and pushing the cylinder back into there.

(or if you were modifying, maybe a 'band' cylinder...)

[ZooCity]

Whoa, band cyls look magic enough to me.  Try that if they don't cost a fortune. 

[ScreenFoo]

Retrofitting that cast head for a band cylinder will be magic, for sure. 
Post pics if you do it. 

IIRC, JS did something like this with longer cylinders and rails a few years back.  Maybe he has pics to post.