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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: ericheartsu on November 17, 2015, 03:43:23 PM

Title: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: ericheartsu on November 17, 2015, 03:43:23 PM
How are these typically done on the auto?
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Colin on November 17, 2015, 03:55:29 PM
Define full sleeve print?

Size/Dimensions etc?
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: jvanick on November 17, 2015, 03:58:05 PM
we do it with sleeve platens.. (load the shirt through the neck-hole)

total pita
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: ericheartsu on November 17, 2015, 03:59:41 PM
Define full sleeve print?

Size/Dimensions etc?

i'm not sure on width, but length would be from shoulder to cuff!
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: kingscreen on November 17, 2015, 04:04:35 PM
What jvanick said.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Colin on November 17, 2015, 04:16:16 PM
You will need to get special sleeve boards to be able to load that far down/that close to the cuff on all your smaller shirts.    Loading and unloading will be a bitch!

The bracket on your auto takes up a lot of space....  Check with M&R or Action about what is available.

I havn't looked into this in years btw...
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: mimosatexas on November 17, 2015, 04:19:57 PM
yep, 4x22 platen loaded through the neck with the platen clamps adjusted to sit parallel with the arm of the press. Some suggested taping over the clamps as well to prevent hang ups in a recent thread.  It isn't a true shoulder to cuff length though, usually an inch or two from each seam to the edge of the platen.

I haven't had any issues loading smalls of standard brands (Gildan/Next Level/etc) on the M&R style boards basically to the cuff.  I could see women's or kids being a problem though...
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: alan802 on November 17, 2015, 05:14:54 PM
Suck
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Doug S on November 17, 2015, 06:46:07 PM
Suck

I most definitely agree, for me loading through the neck, I was at about 9 seconds loading and 10 for unloading.  I'll have to try the tape method next time.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Frog on November 17, 2015, 07:51:07 PM
Define full sleeve print?

Size/Dimensions etc?

i'm not sure on width, but length would be from shoulder to cuff!

Shoulder to cuff will vary on each size. So, are you going to run a different screen for each or size to the smallest?
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: LoneWolf2 on November 17, 2015, 08:14:31 PM
Would not want any part of that pain in the ass haha
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: brandon on November 17, 2015, 08:24:06 PM
Hey Eric and everyone,

Action does make sleeves platens yes but I recommend their individual koozies /pocket print ones instead. They are tapered at the end unlike the standard ones. Makes getting the smaller sizes on and more importantly off much easier. And you get 3 in 1 - long sleeves, pocket prints, and koozies. We bought a full round of them and sold off all of our standard ones. This Friday we have 50/50 Hoodies with multi color fronts, backs, both sleeves, and hoods. Yaaaaaaaay . . . . .
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: dirkdiggler on November 17, 2015, 08:31:32 PM
sleeve pallets here, we were printing full tattoo sleeves, like real tattoo sleeves 9 colors on both sleeves.  sux!  Load through the neck.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: 1964GN on November 18, 2015, 06:40:27 AM
Keep your max print stroke in mind as well. We are at 17" - 17.5" max. We have a customer that wants a 20" sleeve right now. Isn't going to happen on our DB
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Screen Dan on November 18, 2015, 08:42:30 AM
We use the 5" Action platens, non-tapered end.  It takes a little getting used to but I could easily run the press alone and do 40-50dz/hr once I got the hang of it. 

For loading grab it from the neck hole and scrunch it up a few inches to the neck, line up  the seam to the center, open up the neck hole (in all directions) and slide it on...once the cuff hits the end (you'll feel it) you pull the rest of the way up, the seam just off the platen and smooth it out....perhaps pulling downward underneath the platen before smoothing it out.  For unload grab the inside of the cuff...just past the cuff and give it a stiff tug.  Don't tug at the cuff, do it enough and you'll find out why.  If you didn't go crazy with the tack it'll pop off the pallet.  Now pull directly straight outward with no bias in any direction (up, down, left or right).  If you have your yellow clamps pushed all the way in (assuming an M&R) and you slide it off evenly you shouldn't have any problems and it'll just glide off.

I absolutely hated doing these at first...especially anything with a hood and draw strings, but eventually I got the hang of it and it's no big deal at all.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: jvanick on November 18, 2015, 08:55:49 AM
our biggest issue with doing sleeve prints like this is cleaning up all the lint and crap on the floor around the press first as the shirts 'drag' all the way around.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Frog on November 18, 2015, 08:58:05 AM
our biggest issue with doing sleeve prints like this is cleaning up all the lint and crap on the floor around the press first as the shirts 'drag' all the way around.

I have placed a "loop" of cut off sleeve on each arm in which to tuck each shirt so that it doesn't hang down and drag.
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: Screen Dan on November 18, 2015, 09:09:29 AM
We line the floor with cardboard.  I used to change my cardboard daily...these new kids these days just throw more on top.  It takes hours to clean the spray tac/cardboard mess up now.  But that ain't my department anymore.  I have no say.

...pfft...kids these days. 
Title: Re: Full Sleeve Prints
Post by: jvanick on November 18, 2015, 09:10:14 AM
I have placed a "loop" of cut off sleeve on each arm in which to tuck each shirt so that it doesn't hang down and drag.

this is an awesome idea.  Thank you!