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Message 1
From: Juergen Stieler
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:38:23 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42468] Re: Your favorite press?
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>1. If you could buy any press at all, which would you get? Why?/_

Well, if any at all, I would go to a machine factory and let one be
built for my purposes: 80 cm bed width and upper roller driven with a
gear and a suitable diameter of the rollers.

Next to that, this one is one I like, although it is driven by the lower
roller:

http://www.polymetaal.nl/siteDE/shopdework/de/dept_83.html

Much lower in price, but still an amount of money, is model HP 80 of the
same factory, polymetaal, more lightweight, smaller diameter of the
upper roller, but directly driven upper roller. Why will I prefer upper
rollers? I haven't been using one at all, but have been told that this
type would be ideal for collagraph prints and relief prints. And the bed
width of 80 cm I would buy because there are standard frame sizes of 80
x 100 and 80 x 120 cm here in Germany, so prints of that large size
could be framed without any circumstances.
Dicovering the market if I could afford the money, I am sure there are
more good presses to buy, making it needless to go to a factory.

>2. What press do you use? What do you like most about it? What (if
anything) don't you like? /_

The press I use is a rather cheap one, without any hints for the factory
(I assume it is one of the former GDR because of the typical "machine"
blue hue it is covered), bed width of 50 cm and a roller diameter of 5
(yes, only five) cm. A few years ago I bought this used press very very
cheap, and it is, well how to say, yes, cheap but it works. More or less
good. I was able to print intaglio on sheets of 50 x 70 cm, but had my
problems with even smaller collagraph prints caused by the small roller
diameter and overrunning rollers (that's right? I mean rolling without
any grip).
You asked what I like most about it... Well, the fact that I have it,
that I could buy a press for a low price and have one at all. What I
don't like I mentioned already.

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Message 2
From: Lana Lambert
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:05:16 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42469] Re: Your favorite press?
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Hi Melissa!
 
 
Just to respond to your questions:
 
1. If you could buy any press at all, which would you get? Why?
-I'd probably try to score a nice large bed etching press.  That way I could print large scale prints from plywood with a nice impression and also have the option to do etching or chine colle.  I miss gum arabic transfers too!

2. What press do you use? What do you like most about it? What (if
anything) don't you like?
-I have a Vandercook and a C&P Pilot.  I like the reliable impression of the Vandercook but mine lacks a registration system so that is sometimes a pain.  I like my C&P's registration system and using it is a pleasure when it is all set up because once it gets going an edtion of a hundred or more goes pretty swiftly.  It is a Pilot press though so work must be small.
 
Guess I better save up for an etching press!
I learned my lesson printing large scale Moku Hanga.  I'm not saying it can't be done but I will say it's an undertaking.
 
-Lana

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Message 3
From: Shireen Holman
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:26:45 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42470] Re: Your favorite press?
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I use a Whelan Pro press from Mel Whelan in Santa Fe. It's an
excellent press and it has two great advantages. One is that since the
roller moves instead of the press bed moving, you can have a large bed
in half the amount of space other presses would require. The other is
that it is relatively light so you don't need to worry about the
weight on your floor.

Shireen

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Message 4
From: "Ramsey Household"
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:12:14 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42471] Re: Your favorite press?
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Takach Etching Press. I love it. Moves smoothly, is easy to register, has
pressure gauges to lower and raise the roller. I have a big one, but
smaller ones would work well if you are not working large. The people at
Takach are helpful also. They are located in New Mexico. It is expensive
but perhaps you could find a used one (probably still expensive.)

Carolyn

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Message 5
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:56:37 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42472] Re: 2010 Christmas Card
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Thank you Audley and Eileen. I found the project to be quite a learning experience. I reworked both blocks 3 and 4 times for one thing or another. Mostly to open up the cuts more (I have a tendency to carve too lightly), but the last time to remove areas from one block that were print areas on the other. Apparently the second block will lift some color from the the area where the first one printed if it isn't dry. Being basically a lazy and last-minute person, of course I was printing while the thing was still wet. ;-j

Alignment was no problem the way I print. I lay the paper down on the press bed and the block on top. This makes it quite easy to align the second block. It's how I learned to do it in the printlab.

Now I'm anxious to try another multiple block print. This was an adventure and I'm looking forward to another. 8-]

Ellen

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Message 6
From: Louise Cass
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:47:52 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42473] Re: 2010 Christmas Card
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Am curious to see your Xmas card print, Ellen - didn't see
the link!?
Louise C

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Message 7
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:24:06 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42474] Re: Your favorite press?
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I'm sure that in heaven they have nothing but Takach presses - they
are the Rolls Royce of presses, in my humble opinion. What ever press
you end up with, be sure it has a large diameter top roller. I have a
Conrad, which is certainly adequate, but it has the smaller roller.
On the other hand, it gives me a good workout and I save on gym fees.

Cheers ~
Sharri

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Message 8
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:15:22 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42475] RE: Your favorite press?
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I like the Whelan, saved up my precious pennies for several years to get one
so that answers the first question.
Advantages are that it is lightweight yet powerful as any large-diameter
roller press I've ever tried. The roller assembly moves, not the bed, which
makes it nice and compact. I purchased the large Whelan Pro and I love it,
everything about it.

But the absolute nicest feature is the "true" pressure gauges. First you set
the height of the block or locked/chase assembly depending on how you print.
One gauge gives you the height measurement so that if you take notes for
printing, that's a good thing to jot down. Then the pressure gauge gives you
the pressure setting and they are dead accurate. Can you tell I just love
this press?
The only thing is that I would get a smaller wheel if I could. The larger
wheel just gets in my way sometimes but I've found the perfect position for
my press and has become a non-issue.

I currently have the Whelan Pro, an old Challenger letterpress proofing
press, a 5x7 Excelsior letterpress, and, of course! a home-baked bottle-jack
press. I use the bottle-jack press for proofing small prints and sometimes
to print a small run. I haven't "fired up" my 5x7 letterpress yet but I did
take it apart and clean it and put it back together.

Okay, next is my new trick for all woodcut press users. I have found in all
those presses the absolute BEST way to get the cleanest most perfect prints,
even with engravings which are notoriously touchy to print on an etching
press.
The secret is rubber blankets like graphic presses use. They come in various
thicknesses which really doesn't much matter for woodcuts. The compressible
but stiff rubber gives perfect impressions. I have thrown away all my other
matboard tympans, all the blotter/cardstock packings, all the felt blankets
(naaah, I didn't throw those away!).
The compressed rubber blankets give PERFECT impressions with less pressure,
less ink, no low spots, no smudging, no shifting of the paper, no blotters
needed...bliss, I tell you!

Give them a try, available on ebay the cheapest, just search for rubber
graphic blankets, or printing press rubber blankets or something like that.

Maria

[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
www.1000woodcuts.com
www.artfestivalguide.info
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

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Message 9
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:24:03 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42476] Re: 2010 Christmas Card
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Sure thing. It's on my blog:
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-christmas-card.html

Waiting for the cards to get back from the printer. That's the last hurdle.

Ellen

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Subject: Studying Peace
Posted by: Annie B

This item is taken from the blog woodblock dreams.
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Subject: Exchange #47 Spoiler Alert!
Posted by: Pistoles Press

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Subject: Next up?

This item is taken from the blog Against the grain.
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Subject: A Night With Friends Not Wasted

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