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screen printing => Screen Making => Topic started by: Maxie on June 17, 2016, 10:21:03 AM

Title: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Maxie on June 17, 2016, 10:21:03 AM
I am planning on building a screen holder for coating.
It will be easier to have the screen rotate but I've read that it's better to flip the screen. (Top to bottom)
I haven't seen a commercial coater that flips
Anyone have any experience with this?
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Sbrem on June 17, 2016, 10:38:49 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Frog on June 17, 2016, 10:40:24 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve

If that's the case, all I could do is search, or browse through the DIY section like anyone else.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: kingscreen on June 17, 2016, 10:45:13 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve


http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,15094.0.html (http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,15094.0.html)
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: jsheridan on June 17, 2016, 10:45:47 AM
want an easy stand..

lean 3 screens against the wall leaving the one in front pulled back to create a ledge.. place screen on, two handed inside coat, flip, coat outside and put in rack.

Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Sbrem on June 17, 2016, 10:51:14 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve

If that's the case, all I could do is search, or browse through the DIY section like anyone else.

Sorry Andy, I wasn't trying to make work for you, it's just that you do it so well, and a lot of times I can't seem to find what I'm looking for...

Steve
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: kingscreen on June 17, 2016, 10:52:05 AM
We flip.  We coat two handed on a worktable made of 2x4s and plywood with two 2x4s to hold the screen in place.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: starchild on June 17, 2016, 10:57:37 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve

If that's the case, all I could do is search, or browse through the DIY section like anyone else.

Sorry Andy, I wasn't trying to make work for you, it's just that you do it so well, and a lot of times I can't seem to find what I'm looking for...

Steve
I agree

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Frog on June 17, 2016, 11:06:33 AM
Bottom line is that the search feature here is far from robust, and often exacerbated by less-than-perfect subject lines. I can do no better than any of you.
However, I have found seemingly better success lately clicking the Search option by Home Forum Help Search Admin Profile, etc rather than the window in the upper right corner.
Of course, it may just be my imagination that it's any better

For something like this, I would have just browsed the DIY section as it is not saturated, and this thread would be easy to spot.

edit:
Actually I just tried both searches, and if I was clever enough to use the term "DIY Screen Coater" it showed up on both
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: mimosatexas on June 17, 2016, 11:32:42 AM
I always flipped and rotated etc until about 2 months ago.  Now I just rotate for 1/1 but from the same "bottom" of the screen.  I've seen literally no difference at all in the finished screen.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: tonypep on June 17, 2016, 11:35:15 AM
Mine is not DYI however it uses a hydraulic cylinder to hold the screen snug. Replaceable at Auto Parts store. Designed to flip for better stencil. Posted a pic a long while back.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: screenprintguy on June 17, 2016, 02:27:32 PM
I always flipped and rotated etc until about 2 months ago.  Now I just rotate for 1/1 but from the same "bottom" of the screen.  I've seen literally no difference at all in the finished screen.

Same here, flipping did NOTHING, so just a quick spin, but 2 and then 1. I've been recently asking guys about their coating techniques, seems people go different ways. The last 4 years have been 2 pulls on the shirt side, spin and then 1 pull on the squeegee side to push back through, but I'm hearing some guys are doing that reversed. I used to do it reversed till someone "important" told me I was doing it backwards and incorrect, lol. What's your technique guys????
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: jsheridan on June 17, 2016, 02:37:50 PM
I always flipped and rotated etc until about 2 months ago.  Now I just rotate for 1/1 but from the same "bottom" of the screen.  I've seen literally no difference at all in the finished screen.

Same here, flipping did NOTHING, so just a quick spin, but 2 and then 1. I've been recently asking guys about their coating techniques, seems people go different ways. The last 4 years have been 2 pulls on the shirt side, spin and then 1 pull on the squeegee side to push back through, but I'm hearing some guys are doing that reversed. I used to do it reversed till someone "important" told me I was doing it backwards and incorrect, lol. What's your technique guys????

The answer to that is you create an inkwell above the mesh vs and inkwell below the mesh.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: mimosatexas on June 17, 2016, 02:45:21 PM
I used to do 2/1 like you (shirt/squeegee), but with SP1400 and thin thread mesh 1/1 is perfect for basically everything.  I am in the process of testing out a bunch of variations though because I just had a handful of screens stretched with 83/71 mesh and the whole idea of those screens is one hit whites and shimmers etc.  Basically I am trying to get big eom with the same emulsion I like for everything else.  We'll see how that goes...
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: screenprintguy on June 17, 2016, 02:49:16 PM
I always flipped and rotated etc until about 2 months ago.  Now I just rotate for 1/1 but from the same "bottom" of the screen.  I've seen literally no difference at all in the finished screen.

Same here, flipping did NOTHING, so just a quick spin, but 2 and then 1. I've been recently asking guys about their coating techniques, seems people go different ways. The last 4 years have been 2 pulls on the shirt side, spin and then 1 pull on the squeegee side to push back through, but I'm hearing some guys are doing that reversed. I used to do it reversed till someone "important" told me I was doing it backwards and incorrect, lol. What's your technique guys????

The answer to that is you create an inkwell above the mesh vs and inkwell below the mesh.

Soooooo, what's your favorite technique John?
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: jsheridan on June 17, 2016, 02:49:29 PM
I used to do 2/1 like you (shirt/squeegee), but with SP1400 and thin thread mesh 1/1 is perfect for basically everything.  I am in the process of testing out a bunch of variations though because I just had a handful of screens stretched with 83/71 mesh and the whole idea of those screens is one hit whites and shimmers etc.  Basically I am trying to get big eom with the same emulsion I like for everything else.  We'll see how that goes...

Actually the 83/71 was made for High Density ink as it can hold high tension with large openings for a super thick ink with a 500 micron capillary film.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: mimosatexas on June 17, 2016, 03:56:12 PM
The whole idea FOR ME*

Haven't been happy with just having the 135 S statics, and I am all statics here, so I had some statics stretched with this mesh since I know it will clear with basically no pressure.  If the SP1400 isn't up to the task though when it comes to eom, I will likely look at other emulsions or cap film.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Sbrem on June 17, 2016, 04:31:25 PM
I used to do 2/1 like you (shirt/squeegee), but with SP1400 and thin thread mesh 1/1 is perfect for basically everything.  I am in the process of testing out a bunch of variations though because I just had a handful of screens stretched with 83/71 mesh and the whole idea of those screens is one hit whites and shimmers etc.  Basically I am trying to get big eom with the same emulsion I like for everything else.  We'll see how that goes...

you need to try 81SDE (saati sell it) It's an 81 thin thread...

Steve
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: mimosatexas on June 17, 2016, 04:46:08 PM
This is thin thread mesh and the specs are close to the 81/70 from Saati and 80/71 from murakami.  I didn't ask what brand it was honestly, but clearing it is MUCH easier than the standard 80/100 mesh I already had in stock.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: farmboygraphics on June 18, 2016, 05:55:27 AM
https://youtu.be/6rDdq1BK88s (https://youtu.be/6rDdq1BK88s)
This is how I do it. Works for me.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Rockers on June 18, 2016, 08:08:52 AM
one of our fellow board members posted a very cool stand he built a few months ago, maybe someone (Andy?) can post the link... lots of pics too

Steve

http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,14449.msg139646.html#msg139646 (http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,14449.msg139646.html#msg139646)
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Maff on June 18, 2016, 09:41:44 AM
We just rotate, no flip. Been doing it that way for 10 years. It always has worked fine for us. Usually 2/1 shirt/squeegee side.
I always thought that if the automated coaters don't flip, than its probably not necessary. I just figure they probably spent a good deal of time and money researching the best way to coat.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Frog on June 18, 2016, 10:40:25 AM
We just rotate, no flip. Been doing it that way for 10 years. It always has worked fine for us. Usually 2/1 shirt/squeegee side.
I always thought that if the automated coaters don't flip, than its probably not necessary. I just figure they probably spent a good deal of time and money researching the best way to coat.

That's just it. The reason for flipping for the second coat is to compensate for the inconsistency of us humans, and the tendency to leave a slightly thicker deposit at the beginning of the stroke. It has been pointed out however, by someone far more knowledgeable than me, that in textile work, the difference is probably negligible.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Sbrem on June 18, 2016, 11:43:31 AM
This is thin thread mesh and the specs are close to the 81/70 from Saati and 80/71 from murakami.  I didn't ask what brand it was honestly, but clearing it is MUCH easier than the standard 80/100 mesh I already had in stock.

the 81SDE I spoke of is also a 70 thread, it's just so easy to get ink through, and the thin thread allows for more detail than the thicker threads...

Steve
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: jsheridan on June 18, 2016, 02:01:22 PM
It has been pointed out however, by someone far more knowledgeable than me, that in textile work, the difference is probably negligible.

+1

Our side of the screen printing realm is so low detail compared to electronic circuit and solar panel style printing that you can slob emulsion all over a screen with a nappy paint roller and still be able to expose and print it.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: alan802 on June 21, 2016, 03:08:36 PM
As far as the tools I have to measure stencils with, there is no difference between a screen that was coated, flipped, then coated again versus coated, spin around, coat.  Perhaps there is another way to measure or a tool that could show us a difference but I don't have it.  I've also measured hundreds of screens that were coated with the scoop coater full, half full, and virtually empty and there is never any measurable difference in those screens.  I had a screen guy that was filling up the scoop coater after every screen and of course when I told him it didn't matter and he was wasting SRI's time he didn't think I knew what I was talking about.  We did the test together and since that day he's been much more willing to listen to what I have to say about things.

I've done similar testing with coating speed and I've tried my best to test with different coating pressures but that was very difficult to do manually.  There is a noticeable difference between screens coated at 5-6"/sec and 15"/sec but there was no difference between 10"/sec and 15"/sec.  I saw more pinholes the faster we coated but that's to be expected.  It's fairly hard to coat much faster than 15/sec and honestly doing this type of testing manually isn't easy and therefore I'm not sure how accurate my results are.  I'd also like to do this test with an automatic scoop coater.
Title: Re: Coating screens Rotate or flip?
Post by: Itsa Little CrOoked on June 21, 2016, 07:45:27 PM
I too, have gone back to spinning. I was sold on flipping for several years because I thought I got fewer pinholes. 

Not so....

I hope I didn't mislead too many people into wasting all that time and effort, because I posted it on some forums. (Embarrassed....) It isn't worth the trouble.

I do 2 over 2 with the sharp edge of an AWT, but not the one Tom showed in his video above. I have that one too, I just don't care for the smaller capacity.