Screws into Screens & Elbows :: hand screen printing tips

Apologies it has been a while. We have been so busy we haven't managed to get another blog post out. We have been asked by a print house in Leeds from the UK about screws in screens with stops from our previous post. This post will follow on quite nicely. This is how we do it.

Below Javed is drilling into the aluminium screen frame, we do it 10cm from each edge all the way through.

As you can see below, all drill holes will line up. Making for a better print on a one rail system, as the feet will hit in the same spot for each screen. 

As seen below, we use 1/4 inch roofing screws as their thread goes from top to bottom, because we need two bolts to lock it onto the frame.

Below bolt has already been wound onto screw

Next bolt to lock the screw onto frame

We draw a straight line on the table, as we are going to straight line the screen design.

Our straight line design, left side on line, right side on line, so the line up is flat

Below are the tools used to tighten up bolts and to get screen flat line from left to right.

Getting registration with the most detailed screen, we will match other screens to this by screwing their screws in or out, applied for a multi-colour job. We will also apply an elbow for up and down registration.

As you can see below, an elbow will be needed to start up and down registration for multi colour print jobs. 

This is just to get you started with screws in screens. See how you go and please comment below, if you have any further questions in regards to this.
thanks
Mark

Stop Rulers & Stops :: handscreen printing tips

Stop Rulers and stops are for your registration of your repeat. Mark's stop ruler was passed down to him from Mr Juan. Mr Juan was Mark' Mr Miyagi! "Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off" and a quick slap to the back of the head when he was wrong.

Below we use a right angle rail made from steel. It is 40mm x 40mm x L (as long as your table). This is screwed to the edge of your printing table and it is what your screens will butt up against. Important to get as straight as possible

Below are our stops. These are milled out of steel, we have had these custom made as we have never found them available for sale. Good to have friends that work with steel. These stops sit onto the steel rail.

The Stop Ruler, it is a meterage printers "sword"

Stops were used to create a starting edge… 

and an adjustable edge (below)

Ruler has been mounted onto a aluminium bar, to keep it straight.

Notice grooves in back of stops (above) to sit it on rail

First stop should be set at zero and second stop (right) should be set at repeat of design for printing. 

Stop ruler is sitting on rail and stops have been set to repeat.

15mm spanner works a treat when tightening stops 

We can expand further on information if needed. Please feel free to flick us an email here.

Mark Follow my blog with Bloglovin