Simple mesh stretching method

[G14]

YouTube - Screen Printing 1/12 - Screen Stretcher

[Thornysarus]

Ok. That's it. I'm building one of these things. The site linked to the video sells 5 of the nail strips for $40 USD. Trying to figure out how to make these myself.

[Thornysarus]

This may work and they come in 4 foot strips. Wonder if they'd send me a couple just to "try out"?

[gozo]

You could do a similar system but instead of that metal bar, just hammer in so many nails protuding about 1 cm, cut the heads off.and you're done.

[Andymac]

go to a carpet store and check their dumpsters, they throw those strips out all time, either bits from new installs, or old stuff they pull out. or the re-store (2nd hand)

That video is from one of my students, who came over from Hong Kong for a course. His family run a screenprinting supply store there. Cool guy, that's a pretty slick and simple method. Not so sure the tension is controlable, but certainly better than 'cord in groove' or pulling and stapling.

[oldbox]

I recently posted my streching setup, (DIY screen streching question and I had some problems with uneven tension,so I wonder how can you strech the screen evenly when you glue down 3 sides, and pull on the last one like so:

wouldn't the fibers in mesh go like pictured abowe? -that cant be good....
:/

[Thornysarus]

You lock down two sides, then stretch the other two.

[Quinine]

Looks pretty slick for a DIY setup if you're using wooden frames. Is it possible to do this w/ aluminum?

[oldbox]

You lock down two sides, then stretch the other two.

yes but not simultaneously, so in the end you have 3 sides locked and pull on the last one ...

[Thornysarus]

True. If I were doing a full color process run I would probably hesitate to use a screen tensioned this way, but most of my work is very forgiving registration and detail-wise. I'm excited about giving it a try.