Silk screen frames and mesh, stocked in Tempe, AZ
Silk Screen Frames: Pre-Stretched Aluminum, Ready to Print
Order silk screen frames straight from this page. 42 pre-stretched aluminum frames in three press-standard sizes, plus Shur-Loc retensionable frames and Murakami mesh panels, sit on our Tempe shelves in 60 through 420 mesh, and every row below links to that exact frame in our online store with live pricing and Add to Cart.
Mesh count inked on every frame edge: pull the right silk screen frame every time
Start Here
Find the Right Silk Screen Frame In One Click
Frame size sets what your press can hold and how big you can print; the mesh stretched across it sets how much ink goes down. Pick your situation and we will point you at the frame size, the mesh counts to start with and the exact frames we stock for it.
The manual-press standard fits most standard platens and clamp spacings, hobby presses included. A 110 mesh for bold colors and a 160 for everyday detail cover most first jobs; both arrive pre-stretched, so you degrease, coat and print with no stretching equipment.
Running multi-color jobs on a manual? Build a matched set: 110 for underbases, 125 to 160 for spot colors, 200 and up for detail and halftones, all in the same frame size so registration and off-contact stay consistent across heads.
Four extra inches of length for jacket backs, tall layouts and better off-contact. This is also the size with our finest mesh in stock: 420 for super-fine halftone and graphic work.
The automatic-press standard, with room for oversize prints and multi-up layouts. Matched 23 x 31 sets keep pallets, clamps and micro-registration consistent across a long changeover day.
Frames you never throw away: pre-tensioned Murakami mesh panels snap into E-Z Endurance 125 frames in minutes, so worn mesh means a $20 panel, not a new frame, and tension dials back up between jobs.
Silk Screen Frame Size Chart
| Frame | Best For | Mesh Counts Stocked | From Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 x 24 Aluminum | Manual presses, hobby presses, standard platens | 11 counts, 60 - 355 | $27 |
| 20 x 28 Aluminum | Jacket backs, tall layouts, better off-contact | 13 counts, 86 - 420 | $30 |
| 23 x 31 Aluminum | Automatic presses, oversize and multi-up | 12 counts, 60 - 355 | $34 |
| Shur-Loc E-Z Retensionable | High-volume shops, lowest cost per print | Snap-in Murakami panels, 4 sizes | $19.79 |
Every frame pairs with a mesh count and a blade: the full mesh-by-mesh menus live on our Screen Print Screens guide, and durometer matching lives on the Screen Printing Squeegees guide, both stocked on the same Tempe shelves.
Know What You Are Buying
Anatomy of a Production-Ready Silk Screen Frame
Six specs separate a frame that registers, run after run, from one that fights you. Here is what each one does and how the frames on this page handle it.
Why "Silk" Screen? The Mesh Moved On, the Name Stayed
Early screen printers stretched actual silk over wooden frames, which is where "silk screen" and "silkscreening" come from. Silk gave way to nylon and then to today's precision-woven polyester, which holds tension longer, resists chemistry and weaves to exact thread counts, and the frames went from wood to welded aluminum along the way. So a modern silk screen frame contains no silk and, at production level, no wood; the name is the last thing left from 1910. Every frame on this page is polyester mesh on welded aluminum, and every technique the old term describes still applies.
Aluminum vs Wood
Wood frames swell, warp and lose tension in the wet reclaim cycle. Welded aluminum stays flat and rigid through hundreds of reclaims, weighs less than steel and handles easily on and off press.
Measured In N/cm
Consistent mesh tension keeps registration tight and ink shearing cleanly. These frames arrive pre-stretched to production tension; Shur-Loc frames let you dial it back up as mesh relaxes.
Threads Per Inch
Low counts (60 - 160) lay heavy, opaque deposits; high counts (230 - 420) hold fine detail with thinner deposits. The finder above pairs count to job, size by size.
White vs Yellow
Yellow mesh absorbs stray light during stencil exposure instead of scattering it, protecting fine detail. Our 200-and-up frames run yellow; workhorse low counts run white.
Count On the Edge
Mesh count is inked on the frame edge, the same way our warehouse racks are organized, so the right silk screen frame gets pulled every time and reorders match the last run.
Shop By Frame Size
Silk Screen Frames In Three Press-Standard Sizes
Most-Ordered Frames, Straight From the Rack
The counts Arizona shops reorder most, in all three sizes. Every frame arrives pre-stretched to production tension on welded aluminum; prices are live store prices, and the full 42-frame menu by mesh count is on the Screen Print Screens guide.
| Frame Size | Mesh | Mesh Color | Best For | Price | Order Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 20 x 24 | 110 mesh | White | White underbases and bold spot colors | $27 | Order |
 20 x 24 | 125 mesh | White | Everyday plastisol spot colors | $27 | Order |
 20 x 24 | 160 mesh | White | Standard colors with a smoother hand | $28 | Order |
 20 x 24 | 200 mesh | Yellow | Fine detail and lighter ink deposits | $30 | Order |
 20 x 24 | 230 mesh | Yellow | Halftones and fine line art | $30 | Order |
 20 x 28 | 110 mesh | White | White underbases and bold spot colors | $30 | Order |
 20 x 28 | 160 mesh | White | Standard colors with a smoother hand | $31 | Order |
 20 x 28 | 200 mesh | Yellow | Fine detail and lighter ink deposits | $32.50 | Order |
 20 x 28 | 230 mesh | Yellow | Halftones and fine line art | $32.50 | Order |
 20 x 28 | 305 mesh | Yellow | Simulated process, fine text and waterbase detail | $34.50 | Order |
 23 x 31 | 110 mesh | White | White underbases and bold spot colors | $34 | Order |
 23 x 31 | 160 mesh | White | Standard colors with a smoother hand | $35 | Order |
 23 x 31 | 230 mesh | Yellow | Halftones and fine line art | $37 | Order |
 23 x 31 | 305 mesh | Yellow | Simulated process, fine text and waterbase detail | $39 | Order |
Need a count you do not see here? All 42 frames are in stock and orderable from the full screens menu, or call the order desk at (480) 229-7806 and it rides the next van.
Retension Instead of Restretch
Retensionable Silk Screen Frames: The Shur-Loc E-Z System
The Shur-Loc E-Z system separates the frame from the fabric. Pre-tensioned Murakami mesh panels snap into E-Z Endurance 125 frames in minutes, so when mesh wears out you replace a $20 panel instead of a whole frame, and you can dial tension back up between jobs. It is the lowest cost-per-print way to keep sharp, consistent silk screen frames in rotation. Want the deep dive? Read our Shur-Loc frames guide.
| Item | Price | Order Online |
|---|---|---|
 20 x 24 Shur-Loc E-Z Fabric Panel (Murakami) | $19.79 | Order |
 20 x 28 Shur-Loc E-Z Fabric Panel (Murakami) | $19.79 | Order |
 23 x 31 Shur-Loc E-Z Fabric Panel (Murakami) | $19.79 | Order |
 25 x 36 Shur-Loc E-Z Fabric Panel (Murakami) | $23.01 | Order |
 20 x 28 Shur-Loc E-Z Endurance 125 Series Frame | $44.95 | Order |
 23 x 31 Shur-Loc E-Z Endurance 125 Series Frame with Endurance Bars | $57.95 | Order |
The 20-frame rack: organized frames are reorderable frames.
Protect the Investment
Frame Storage That Pays For Itself
Warped, dinged or dusty frames waste emulsion and press time. A dedicated rack keeps coated silk screen frames vertical, separated and dark-room ready, and a cover keeps dust and shop light off stencils between runs.
Screen Rack (Holds 20 Frames) - $350
Screen Rack Cover 20 x 28 - $195.95
Make Frames Last
Silk Screen Frame Care From the Supply Counter
- Degrease before you coat. New mesh carries oils from manufacturing and handling. A quick degrease is the difference between emulsion that bonds and pinholes on press.
- Handle by the frame, not the mesh. Fingers, rings and squeegee corners are how fine mesh dies young. Carry frames by the aluminum and rack them separated.
- Watch tension over time. Aluminum holds tension well but nothing lasts forever. When registration drifts or deposit changes, it is the mesh talking; Shur-Loc panels let you retension instead of tossing the frame.
- Reclaim gently. Stencil remover, a pressure rinse and a dehaze when needed keep mesh printable for many cycles. Skip aggressive scrubbing that bruises high counts.
- Label everything. Mesh count on the frame edge, like the racks in our warehouse, means the right frame gets pulled every time and reorders match.
Everything mentioned here, from degreaser and emulsion to tapes and reclaim chemistry, is stocked alongside the frames at our screen printing supply hub.
One Stop, One Delivery
The Frame Carries the Stencil. Ink and Blade Do the Rest.
Frame, mesh, blade and ink work as one system: 110 mesh with a soft 60 durometer squeegee for bright underbases, 230-and-up with a firm 80 blade for halftone top colors. Our Screen Printing Squeegees guide matches durometer to your new frames, and the Screen Printing Pantone Ink page puts 75+ stocked Wilflex and W.M. Plastics colors one click from your cart, with custom PMS matching mixed in-house.
Order frames, squeegees and ink together and they ride the same van: same-day delivery routes across Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale and the greater Valley, will-call pickup in Tempe, and nationwide shipping with shipping included on orders over $250.
Match a Squeegee to Your FrameFrom Order to Press
Four Steps, One Van
Use the finder at the top of this page or call the counter with your press and your art.
Every frame on this page links straight to Add to Cart with live pricing.
Four stocked vans run the Valley daily; pick up in Tempe Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Frames arrive pre-stretched to production tension; no stretching equipment needed.
How This Page Stays Accurate
Sources and Further Reading
Prices and stock on this page were pulled from our live store on August 25, 2026 and are confirmed at checkout. Frame, mesh and tension guidance reflects what our counter recommends to Arizona print shops every day, cross-checked against the manufacturers whose products are on our shelves. If you want to go deeper than a supply page should, start here:
Have a question these resources do not answer? Call the order desk at (480) 229-7806 and talk to people who print. Feel welcome to cite or link this guide; it is kept current as stock and pricing change.
Why Printers Buy Frames Here
A Supplier With Roots In the Press Room
- Stock you can walk in and touch. Frames, panels and mesh live in our Tempe warehouse with a showroom and demo room, minutes from Arizona State University.
- Advice from people who print. Tell us the art and the garment and we will point you at the frame and the mesh count, not just take the order.
- Same frame, next order. Marked frames and consistent suppliers mean the 230 you buy in October prints like the one from March.
Showroom, Warehouse and Will-Call
Visit Buckets of Ink in Tempe
Buckets of Ink LLC
Address: 906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85281
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday
Main line and order desk: (480) 229-7806
Order line, Amber Anderson: (480) 851-0556
Need a size or mesh you do not see?
We stock more than the web store shows and we special-order unusual frame sizes and mesh counts routinely. Call the order desk with your press and your art and we will have the right silk screen frame on the next van.
906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe: two minutes off Loop 202, minutes from ASU.
Straight Answers
Silk Screen Frame FAQ
What is a silk screen frame?
It is the rigid border, wood or aluminum, that holds a tightly tensioned mesh so the mesh can carry a stencil. Ink is pulled across the stencil with a squeegee and shears through the open mesh onto the shirt. The frame's job is to hold that mesh flat, square and at consistent tension, print after print.
Why is it called a silk screen if there is no silk?
Because a century ago the mesh really was silk stretched over wood. Silk gave way to nylon and then to modern precision-woven polyester, which holds tension longer and weaves to exact thread counts, but the name stuck. "Silk screen frame," "screen printing frame" and "screen print screen" all describe the same tool today.
What size silk screen frame do I need for t-shirts?
20 x 24 is the manual-press standard and covers most shirt prints on standard platens. Go 20 x 28 for jacket backs, tall layouts and extra off-contact, and 23 x 31 if you run an automatic press or print oversize and multi-up. Check your press clamp spacing before ordering.
Should I buy a wood or aluminum silk screen frame?
Aluminum, for anything beyond one-off craft work. Wood frames swell and warp in the wet reclaim cycle, and warped frames lose tension and registration. Welded aluminum stays flat through hundreds of reclaims, weighs less than steel and is what every frame on this page is built from.
What mesh count comes on the frames?
Your choice: we stock 42 frames from 60 mesh for glitter and heavy deposits up to 420 for super-fine halftones. If you are starting out, a 110 and a 160 in 20 x 24 cover bold colors and everyday detail; the finder at the top of this page matches count to job.
Do silk screen frames come pre-stretched and ready to use?
Yes. Every aluminum frame here arrives pre-stretched to production tension. Degrease the mesh, let it dry, then coat with emulsion and expose; no stretching equipment needed.
Can a silk screen frame be re-meshed or reused?
Aluminum frames can be professionally re-meshed when the mesh wears out, though many shops simply replace workhorse counts at these prices. The Shur-Loc E-Z system is built for reuse: the frame stays, and a fresh pre-tensioned Murakami panel snaps in for about $20.
What are retensionable silk screen frames?
Frames that let you bring mesh tension back up as the fabric relaxes with use, instead of living with drift or restretching. Our Shur-Loc E-Z Endurance 125 frames take snap-in Murakami panels and retension in minutes, which keeps registration tight at the lowest cost per print for high-volume shops.
What tension should a silk screen frame hold?
Tension is measured in Newtons per centimeter (N/cm) with a tension meter, and consistency across your frame set matters more than chasing a single number. Pre-stretched frames arrive at production tension; when tension drops with wear, registration drifts and ink deposit changes, and retensionable frames let you dial it back up.
Can I get silk screen frames same-day in the Phoenix area?
Yes. Four stocked delivery vans run daily across Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert and the greater Valley, and will-call pickup is available at the Tempe warehouse Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Orders over $250 ship nationwide with shipping included.
Keep Researching
Related Screen Printing Resources
Silk Screen Frames - Buckets of Ink LLC, 906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85281. Page updated August 25, 2026.
Prices shown were pulled from our live store on August 25, 2026 and are subject to change; current pricing is always shown on each product page and confirmed at checkout. Frame and mesh recommendations are general guidance; art, ink and press setup all affect results.
Shur-Loc is a registered trademark of Shur-Loc Fabric System. Murakami is a trademark of Murakami Co., Ltd. Nortech Graphics is a trademark of its respective owner. Buckets of Ink is an independent supplier.
