uncrichie Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I received my screen material this past week. All the screens are 12" by 24". My question is should I cut them to 12" x 18" or leave them the full length of 24". I'm getting ready to build the frames and thought I'd ask the experts before doing any cutting. What size do you find best 12 x 18 or 12 x 24. Thanks in advance. Kurt
JFeve81 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 What are you using the screens for? Drying screens? Personally though, I would keep them at the 24" length.
uncrichie Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 What are you using the screens for? Drying screens? Personally though, I would keep them at the 24" length. Mixing chems, 20, 40, 100 mesh.
FlaMtnBkr Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 If you paid for the whole length might as well use it. I have heard many people say they wish their screens are bigger than the standard 12x12. I don't think 24" is unmanageable. If you have tile floor that are 12x12, a quick glance shows 2 tiles next to each other looks like a good size compared to one and a half.
Bobosan Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Based on my 12 x 12" screen use, I would also opt for the larger size. Shellac or polyurethane the wood frames for easier cleanup of the finished screens.
uncrichie Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 I cut a piece of cardboard to 12 x 18 and it seemed like a good size. I also made one for 12 x 24 and it looks (to me) alittle on the large size. However, what do I know. I never screened chems so I really don't know what to look for. I suppose I could always cut the frame down from 24 to 18 if it was too unwieldy or bulky after using them for awhile. Thanks so far for the suggestions.
mikeee Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Make sure you have a good set of cutters for the stainless steel screen.The stainless steel screen is hard to cut if you don't use the correct tool to cut the screen with.A standard set of tin snips will not cut certain grades of stainless steel screen cleanly.
uncrichie Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 Thanks for the tip Mike, I hadn't even thought of that. Worse comes to worse I'll clamp the screen between two pieces of angle iron and use a dremel cut-off wheel.
killforfood Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 A pair of straight aviation snips works just fine.
hindsight Posted October 18, 2013 Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Looking at the McMaster-Carr site, there is a dizzying array of stainless steel screens: http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-wire-mesh/=ozq9we . Any suggestions for screen for cutting stars here? Edited October 18, 2013 by hindsight
Xtreme Pyro Posted October 18, 2013 Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Looking at the McMaster-Carr site, there is a dizzying array of stainless steel screens: http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-wire-mesh/=ozq9we . Any suggestions for screen for cutting stars here? I'd go with something like this or similar, galvanized steel to avoid rust. It's pretty much what skylighter sells i'd say. Weather-Resistant Galvanized Steel Wire Clothhttp://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-wire-mesh/=ozscfu Edited October 18, 2013 by Xtreme Pyro
hindsight Posted October 18, 2013 Posted October 18, 2013 Xtreme Pyro-- When Skylighter isn't out of stock, what they carry is stainless steel, which seems preferable. So out of Mcmaster-Carr's selection of screen, which would be the most desirable for pushing a star comp pattie through? I'd be okay with paying Skylighter's higher price except they are out of stock on screen (and a number of other items).Thanks.
hindsight Posted October 21, 2013 Posted October 21, 2013 Okay, this is answering my own question, in case anyone else is interested. Just had a chance to inspect some 304 stainless steel screen samples from McMaster-Carr in the 3X3 and 4X4 mesh sizes. The woven wire cloth has uneven opening sizes and is also irregular in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the mesh. The "Easy-to-Form" welded wire cloth looks much more appropriate for star making. They have different wire diameter at any given mesh size, so, of course the thickest wire diameter would be the most rigid/most desirable. The more expensive, more corrosion resistant 316 stainless screens are available in fewer sizes.
Seymour Posted October 22, 2013 Posted October 22, 2013 I'm going to go with what most people have said - do not cut up your screens! Wait until they are damaged in five, ten or twenty years and when you cut off the broken bits you'll be glad that they were full size prior to repair. Personally I thing 12 by 24" sounds about perfect for mixing and grading. I'm always wishing screens were bigger. Wanting them smaller is very rare indeed.
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