If you are a beginning screen printer and are wondering how to mount your screen, a good hinge clamp is a necessity. The Speedball hinge clamp is an excellent option. They mount to a table or free board, and are constructed from durable cast aluminum. This type of screen printing tool is very sturdy and will not break or fail. Its wide wing thumbscrews are also positive and ensure the screen will remain in place. This tool is rust-resistant, which is important if you are working with metal.
The hinge clamp will provide an easy way to mount your screen. Some come with screws, but you can also purchase alternative hardware. When you install the hinge clamp, you must make sure it can raise and lower the screen. You can also tape a large piece of acetate to the board for registration purposes. Slide the paper underneath the acetate to mark the position. Fold the acetate into an upright position to avoid smudging your screen. Once it’s positioned correctly, simply remove the paper and repeat the process.
A hinge clamp comes with screws, but they can also be used without them. Once mounted, they should be able to lift the screen up and down and stay in place. If the screen is very thick, you may need to buy an additional hinge if the one supplied doesn’t work for your project. In any case, a quality hinged clamp will last for many years. The Speedball Hinge Clamp is a good choice for beginning screen printers. It is constructed of heavy zinc alloy and comes with removable screw pins.
Before mounting your screen, you will need to determine the position of the hinge clamp. You should consider whether you’ll use the screws that come with it or you will have to buy additional ones. You should also consider the size of the screen. If you need to move the screen, make sure you’re able to lift it up and down. To do this, you can tape a large piece of acetate to the board, which will make it easier to register the paper. Once the acetate is positioned, you can fold it like a book page, so that it’s not blocking the image.