How to Restretch a Silkscreen Frame With Adhesive

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Clean your silkscreen frame with a unbinding solvent like acetone.

   This will remove ink, oil, dirt and remaining adhesive from your frame. ,, It helps overall adhesion by creating places on which the glue can easily attach and hold.
   
   Aluminum frames do not need to be sanded. ,, They are often identified by low and high viscosity, and what you need will depend on your mesh count.
   
   There are many trade grades of adhesive available for mesh counts from 110 to
   355.
   
   Ask your printing supplier for recommendations.
   
   The right adhesive is essential to bond the fabric to the frame., Mesh is sold by the meter., The wooden blocks will increase the tension between the stretching device and the mesh.,,, A thick coat increases drying time and may not dry correctly.
   
   Add another thin coat if you feel that the first coat was not strong enough., If you have chosen to activate the adhesive with cyanoacrylate adhesive, a substance similar to super glue, be sure to mist it very lightly, or it could adversely affect the glue's adhesion.
   
   This glue is often referred to as s a "kicker" because it is a quick and secure way to bond the glue.
   
   However, it is harder to control than the liquid adhesive.
   
   Make sure not to cover too much of your mesh with the "kicker."
   
   A warped frame would unevenly distribute ink during silk screening., Now you can add your stencil and begin printing.
2. 2

   Step 2: Peel the used mesh off the frame after the acetone solvent has been used to clean the adhesive off.

3. 3

   Step 3: Use 80-grit sandpaper to roughen up the areas of your frame that will be glued

4. 4

   Step 4: if your frame is wooden.

5. 5

   Step 5: Wipe the frame with a tack cloth.

6. 6

   Step 6: Choose an adhesive.

7. 7

   Step 7: Cut a new piece of mesh to size that is slightly bigger than the frame.

8. 8

   Step 8: Place the frame on wooden blocks in the middle of your screen stretching machine or device.

9. 9

   Step 9: Place the mesh over the frame and insert it into the tension bars on your stretching device.

10. 10

    Step 10: Increase the tension slowly

11. 11

    Step 11: checking the tension with a mesh tension meter

12. 12

    Step 12: until you have reached the tension that was last used on the frame.

13. 13

    Step 13: Apply a thin coat of adhesive where the fabric attaches to the frame using a plastic applicator or a tongue depressor.

14. 14

    Step 14: Allow the adhesive to dry and cure according to package instructions.

15. 15

    Step 15: Use weights on top of the drying frame to ensure it does not warp or bend.

16. 16

    Step 16: Remove the tension bars and cut any excess mesh surrounding the frame.

Detailed Guide

About the Author