stretching newman roller frames

[mknudy]

so, I got some newman frames from ebay (the ones with all 4 sides with rollers, not the 3 roller sides and one straight side), and I don't really know how to stretch them, other than the youtube vids that newman has. is there a way to stretch these things with a cheaper tension meter (if it exists), and a ratchet wrench? or should I have a shop do this until i can afford it?

so far, I havent found any shops in my area that know how to do it...

[caribou]

I do mine by hand with a ratchet and vice grips. i don't have a tension meter, either. seems to work pretty well. just make sure that you soften the corners of the mesh (loosen up the screen a bit at the corners of the frame...if you don't, as you tighten it, it may rip the mesh). I think i got an instruction PDF from either the newman website or the atlas screen website.

[caribou]

forgot to mention i have the 3 side round, 1 side square frame. not sure if there's a difference in how they're stretched.

[mknudy]

whats the mesh count youre working with?

i got 280 (or 230) i dont remember off the top of my head now

[caribou]

the old mesh i had in there was like 160. i put some new mesh on a few weeks back that was 180.

[jimmyfredman]

soften the corners like mentioned above... stretch it...then let it relax... then come back in like the next day and re-tension it a bit...
the newton meter helps out as does the proper stretching method but not necessary unless your doing some hi end printing with half tones and crap like that where moire may be an issue... good luck to you..

[mknudy]

thanks!

...but how do I know when to stop?

[The Fresh Prints]

should be fairly tight and able to bounce a quarter back into your hand.

again, soften the corners and try to hand feel the tightness around the screen with your hand. if it seems loose more on one side than the other, you may need to go back and readjust your mesh.

i do anywhere from 110-305's this way with good results.

[mknudy]

sweet, ill let you know how soon i tear a huge hole in the mesh

[mknudy]

did you use the clips and everything? all i have that came with are those long tabs that slide in