--- Go to the Opening Page of the [Baren] web site ---

Message 1
From: "Angee Lennard"
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 08:25:59 -0500
Subject: [Baren 35580] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V43 #4312 (Apr 8, 2008)
Send Message: To this poster

Hey all,

I recently posted about signing up for the 3-D Print Show and Exchange
through Spudnik Press. Gayle asked me if the stonehenge paper works for hand
pulled prints. I did a test and printed oil based ink on dry stonehenge, and
it seemed to work just fine. Just wanted to pass on that nugget of
information in hopes that it will inspire more wonderful woodblock artists
to create some "3-D" work...

Again, all the info is at www.spudnikpress.com/3Dshow.html

Angee

• [Back to message index]

Message 2
From: "Clive.ca"
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:35:05 -0400
Subject: [Baren 35581] Re: Press chasing....
Send Message: To this poster

Michelle, if you go to Google Images and type in "nipping press"
you'll see a lot of photos of nipping presses.

Clive

• [Back to message index]

Message 3
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 08:25:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 35582] Re: Press chasing....
Send Message: To this poster

I checked today, and there do not seem to be any of the traditional cast iron variety on Ebay at the momment. You will find photos of the classic sort of cast iron nipping presses here:

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=18204

Cheers ...... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 4
From: Lester Dore
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:37:19 -0500
Subject: [Baren 35583] Re: Plans for making one's own press
Send Message: To this poster

In the research I've done I've found plans for making an etching
press, which seems like a lot of work and takes some mechanical
aptitude. The url is http://www.dougforsythegallery.com/
EtchingPress.html
I've also seen plans for making a small press with a small hydraulic
bottle jack, much more affordable and easier to build--I haven't
built it yet (hard enough just to find time enough to make prints!),
but I've assembled all the materials. It think one would be confined
to relatively small prints--unless you redesigned it to use two
bottle jacks. There are a few different plans out there.
urls:
http://www.woodblockart.ca/bottlejack/

http://www.mossworks.com/docs/BottleJackPress.pdf

Here's plans for making a press using a veneer press screw:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Letterpress-%26-Use-It-to-
Print-Things/

• [Back to message index]

Message 5
From: David Harrison
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:53:04 +0100
Subject: [Baren 35584] Re: Plans for making one's own press
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Lester,

I have a blog post on a fabricated steel hydraulic press, here:

http://blog.olansa.co.uk/2007/09/27/enter-the-blue-meanie/

The frame might be a little heavy for your taste (and I was lucky because the
fabrication didn't cost me!), but there are a few tips for bungee return cords
with safe clips, a strong ply/mdf platen, etc. I saw a few pictures of
bungee-cord-related eye injuries (yeck) when making design decisions so I
turned chicken and opted for plastic clips all round! They're still 'as new' 6
months later.

Anyway, you've obviously run across Charles's PDF which is pretty much the
paper of record on hydraulic presses!

cheers,

David H

• [Back to message index]

Message 6
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:16:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 35585] Re: Plans for making one's own press
Send Message: To this poster

My bottle jack press on the mossworks website will indeed print small etchings, although you will not get as much plate tone as with a standard etching press. My press has a fixed bed and movable platen, just like an old letter press. The platen also self-retracts when the pressure is released.

To do a good job on larger etchings, you would need a much more robust frame and about a 20 ton jack. It would be easier and cheaper to add a bed to a commercially available hydraulic press made specifically for machine shops. These presses may be had for about $150 US.

I would not recommend a veneer screw for making a press. Such screws have a relatively fine thread and take too long to move the platen. Also, the handle is generally too short to give much leverage. A much better bet is to use a screw made for a wood vise, such as this shoulder vise screw from Lee Valley Tools:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=31134&cat=1,41659

The coarser thread is much stronger and faster in action. The design also allows you to add a handle of whatever length you find comfortable ... longer means more leverage, which translates into more pressure.

But none of the screw type presses can match the pressure of a bottle jack press.

Cheers ..... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 7
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:22:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 35586] Re: Plans for making one's own press
Send Message: To this poster

Many thanks to David for posting. I did not recall that David is on Baren, or I would have yelled at him to jump in!!!

I have not seen David's press in action, but he was kind enough to send me photos and a description. It is a lovely beast, and with the welded steel frame, it should take about all the pressure you would care to apply. It is probably over-kill for relief prints, but should work well for etchings. If weight is not a consideration, then a welded steel frame like David's would be a good bet.

Cheers ..... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 8
From: Jurgen Stieler
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:08:52 +0200
Subject: [Baren 35587] Re: Plans for making one's own press
Send Message: To this poster

Dear Lester,

thank you very much for posting those plans/links. Together with my
eldest son I have been wondering for a time how to build such a press
using a jack, (and we didn't find concrete plans). Now things seem to be
easier.

Best - Johnny

• [Back to message index]

Message 9
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:16:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 35588] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V43 #4312 (Apr 8, 2008)
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Jean,
I've been doing a little experimenting with solarplate
recently. I decided my barrier is that I don't have
a tried and true exposure plan.

I rigged up a UV exposure unit that does work but
I've always been too impatient and cheap (false
thriftiness!) to do test strips so I cut some strips
and began testing.

I use a work lamp from the hardware store that was
labelled "do not remove this glass cover due to danger
of UV exposure.' So I just removed the cover! I
found a darkroom enlarger that was missing the
exposure unit and I strapped my worklight into the
empty housing of the enlarger. The light can be moved
up and down the column. From past experiments I
picked a height that was just far enough away to not
get the solarplate too hot, I think.

So now I figure all I need to know is the optimum
time of exposure. I use a contact exposure thingie
from darkroom equipment to sandwich the negative and
solarplate together. Don't laugh but I had built my
own vacuum exposure unit but it was too complicated to
use and then seemed to spring a leak!

I keep goofing on my test strips--for example on my
last strip I wrote the number of minutes on each
section. but when I put it into the frame over the
solarplate I'm not sure if I aligned it right so that
the exposure was the way I wrote it or if I did it
backwards. sheesh. Still, having a single, reliable
light setup should make the whole process reliable.

So how are you going about making your relief/rubber
stamp results and what are your problems?
Lynn

http://www.LynnAllisonStarun.com
http://www.artisanlyn.etsy.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 10
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:09:20 -0700
Subject: [Baren 35589] Exchange #37 alternate
Send Message: To this poster

Exchange #37 filled with people who did not participate in #36! The one-week
waiting period for prior participants is now over and everyone may sign up.

The Alternate Exchange #37 is open; everyone is welcomed to participate in
this exchange. The Theme is Voyages and this will be a double exchange.
Participants only need to prepare 31 prints as usual but there will be two
groups exchanging prints.

Keep the sign ups coming!
The page has been updated with all the latest participants.
http://barenforum.org/exchange/exchange_sign-up.html

Maria


Maria Arango
http://1000woodcuts.com
http://artfestivalguide.info

• [Back to message index]

End of [Baren] Digest