DIY screen streching question

[oldbox]

Hi fellow printers!
I've recently decided to strech my own screens using an super-ghetto streching setup (pict below). It has 2 fixed sides and 2 sides that are pulled by cargo-belts-fastening-things.... I mana ged to make 2 screens like that, and they work fine for me, but i noticed some weird lack of tension in the marked area -why? is it because 2 sides are fixed? what's wrong?

[caribou]

i'd guess because the screen can't stretch in the area where it's fixed compared to the area right next to it where it can stretch. seems like if you've already rigged up a system like this to stretch the screens, why not just make some modifications and have all sides stretched by the cargo belts? that way the screen is being stretched equally in all directions.

[chrispunx]

YouTube - T-Shirt Printing - Homemade Screen Stretching
just gonna leave this here.

[crosshair]

Hi fellow printers!
I've recently decided to strech my own screens using an super-ghetto streching setup

okay...

what's wrong?

I think you answered your own question.

[Andymac]

it's that gap between your two pieces of metal. the mesh has slipped there. Put a longer gripper bar there, with 3 clamps, you won't have that slack.

better than cord-in-groove or staples.

An even stretch on all sides is the best.

[oldbox]

Thanks to all!!!!
first, I'm going to modify it to strech all sides like suggested, if it wont work ill build the one on youtube.
why i didn't go for the youtube one first?- I have those belts lying around... -I'd had to buy spanners and consoles ....
will see...

[strawberryluna]

ok, i'm not trying to be a jerk...

but why do folks who have "ghetto" aka low-fi set ups ever try to stretch their own screens? i mean, shit. is $25 for a perfectly tight stretched screen really all that out of reach financially? what is 2-4 hours of your time worth trying to finagle a poorly stretched screen system?

i just think that if you aren't running a big huge shop with massive output it's a huge waste. unless i am missing something? fuck that noise. i just want to print, not get more pissed off.

[Tom]

I fully agree with the above statement.

[crosshair]

ok, i'm not trying to be a jerk...

but why do folks who have "ghetto" aka low-fi set ups ever try to stretch their own screens? i mean, shit. is $25 for a perfectly tight stretched screen really all that out of reach financially? what is 2-4 hours of your time worth trying to finagle a poorly stretched screen system?

i just think that if you aren't running a big huge shop with massive output it's a huge waste. unless i am missing something? fuck that noise. i just want to print, not get more pissed off.

In defense of oldbox' decision to rig his own system... I don't know if screenprint suppliers are as plentiful or competitively priced in Slovenia as they are here. So in his case taking this approach might make more sense than some American kid DIYing it for the sake of DIYing it.

[Andymac]

I don't know about Slovenia, but here in Canuckistan I pay about $55-60 for a23x31 230 mesh screen. a restretch costs $30-40 per, plus shipping both ways, add another $30.

I restretch retensionables for the local high school and charge them $35 ea (includes 230 mesh)

You guys in the states have it really good as far as supplies and equipment go. China is probably better, if you lived there. If I could buy screens as cheap as you get them from victory or whoever, well, that's more beer for me.

Oldbox has the right idea. Like I said, way better than staples and cord in groove, which is still used on many frames sold through art stores. That's the real waste of time/effort in screenprinting.