Make your own press for one color and multi-color printing. Critical steps: (1) Use Newman frame with tight mesh so mesh does not move within frame. (2) Screen rests on two piers (shown with 1/8" neoprene pads) and seats between two 1-1/2" wood pieces each lined with foam or door weather stripping. (3) Screen rests on-contact on 1/8" thick plexiglas which is on 3/4" MDF platen material purchased from Home Depot, but screen is off-contact by 1/8" when plexiglas is removed. (4) Platen slides along platen arm for different size screens, and locks in position with bolt that goes through parallel 1-1/2" wood and 2x4 which separates the two pieces of 1-1/2" wood which keep the platen always straight on the platen arm. Professional presses with metal platen brackets and knobs will rotate platen out of square when tightened, but problem is avoided by parallel strips of wood. (5) Door hinge allows loading and removing shirts, but prevents platen arm from bowing during print stroke as experienced with professional presses with steel and aluminum platen arms. (6) Multiple choices of places to put wood block on top of platen arm, depending on screen size, so screen is triangulated between wood block on top of platen arm and two piers on either side of screen. |
