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Message 1
From: Elizabeth Busey
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:38:02 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42478] Re: Your favorite press?
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Maria,

I'm intrigued by your suggestion of rubber blankets. I use mat board, but over
time, it degrades and changes how my image is printing. I looked on ebay and
saw some blankets with holes along the sides. Are these what you have? I'd be
looking for a small one for cards, and a much larger one for my main print work.
Maybe as big as 24 x 30. Did you see any that big?

Thanks for the suggestions! I always find your information so valuable -- I
have two of your hanging drying racks in my studio.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth Busey
www.elizabethbusey.com

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Message 2
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:01:55 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42479] Re: Your favorite press?
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Hi Elizabeth,

Small ones can be had without perforations (you can always cut those off)
from ebay seller lgsstorage, item number 200490494384
These are about 20 x 17”

Larger ones you can order from them off ebay (I never said that) by
contacting them at the name above lgsstorage AT aol DOT com
They come as large as 96x52!!! He will cut to size for you.

You will never print with anything else, guaranteed. They work with the
bottle jack press, by hand, the Wheelan and of course they are made for
printing on letterpress presses. What a find! Perfect for engravings, I had
never had such an easy time printing wood engravings with my etching press.

Maria

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

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Message 3
From: Tibi Chelcea
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:22:01 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42480] Re: Your favorite press?
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"What ever press you end up with, be sure it has a large diameter top roller."

Why is this important? I'm asking because I was considering buying the
medium press from the "deluxe" line of presses at Jerry's Artarama
(http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/printmaking-supplies/deluxe-etching-presses.htm
-- the 3650 unit), but this one has the upper roll diameter of 6cm
(2.3"). I'm mostly printing relief (woodcuts and/or found objects),
with the occasional collagraph. The big advantage of this is that it's
only 88lb -- since I'll probably have to move a couple of times in the
future, it's a plus.

Tibi

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Message 4
From: Jan Telfer
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:27:23 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42481] Re: 2011 New Year Sign up for the Year of the Rabbit
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2011 - Year of the Rabbit

I am curious as to when the sign up sheet will be on site for the 2011
New Year Exchange, please?

I should be the last one asking as I haven't been able to complete my
tiger as yet due to work commitments but as I am one of those who have
been in this exchange since the Year of the Dragon I do look forward to
doing one each year and I promise I will have my tiger "out of the
woods" before the rabbits are let loose!

I really miss my art work ......

Still enjoy reading the Digests.

Happy Christmas and New Year to you all,
Jan
Western Australia

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Message 5
From: n9iwf # aol.com
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:50:09 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42482] Re: Your favorite press?
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I believe that the rubber blankets that Maria is talking about are the type
that are used by commercial OFFSET printers. (They serve as the "go-between"
for the inked plate and the paper; that is, they transfer the ink from the plate
to the paper.) They are quite reslilient to pressure and harsh chemicals
- so they would last a long, long time for a printmaker artist. In fact,
OFFSET pressmen often remove them only if an area is crushed or if they
have been used as a "backing" for when the paper is perforated. Most pressmen
have plenty of discarded ones on hand.

Here is my point in sharing all of this: since these rubber blankets have
plenty of life in them EVEN after the commercial offset printer discards
them, I have little doubt that if you approach your local commercial printer
and ask them for a used press blanket, many of them would happily and
freely give you one (maybe two or three :-). They come in sizes that are
even much larger than the 24x30, that you mentioned.

I've worked in commercial printing for over 25 years and have used these
discarded blankets for ideas I've had other than their originally intended purpose.
After they are wiped down and cut to size, they look and perform like brand new.
New ones can be expensive!

I think if you call a commercial printer, they'll have one ready and waiting for you!!

Mark

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Message 6
From: n9iwf # aol.com
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:27:31 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42483] Re: Your favorite press?
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Message deleted as it was a repeat of Message #5.

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Message 7
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:22:52 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42484] What does hp mean?
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Please tell me what hp means on an original print. When I wrote it I knew
and now a piece of my art with "hp" will be hanging in an opening exhibit
on Thursday.
Thank you so much!!
Carol Lyons
Irvington, NY.

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Message 8
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:42:26 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42485] presses
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Hi,

When getting a press it is wise to buy the biggest one you can afford.
Mine is a Prego, they are no longer in business. I love it because it
is large enough to handle a 20x30 inch piece of paper and has a good
sized roller. I also have a samll used portable press, it is not
great but hey when I am in Baja and that is all i can get down here it
works. I would highly recommend getting the best in both size and
brand that you can afford.

Hey guys I am almost home, tomorrow we will be home to our condo in
the southern Baja, yeah it is WARM.

Hope you americans had a great Thanksgiving.

Marilynn

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Message 9
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:18:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42486] Re: Your favorite press?
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the roller wants to jump off the block, even if you print upside down. You can
get around this by building a "chase" a wooden frame the size of the press bed
our of 1x1 or 1x2 pieces of wood. It needs to be slightly higher than the blocks
and you can build it up either on top of on the bottom to make it work well. I
use this on my press with good results
My best
Barbara

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Message 10
From: Jackie Poutasse
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:46:55 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42487] Cleaning press rollers...
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Hi all,

Speaking of presses... I have a small table top etching press made by
Speedball. Similar to this one (http://www.enasco.com/product/9701371)
but an older model that is has a cast iron frame.
It was used for some wet processes and not taken care of so the top
roller has rusted. It's not horribly bad and looks to be salvageable.

Does anyone have any tips for cleaning off the roller? I was thinking
maybe fine steel wool and some WD40?

Thanks,

Jackie
www.tjbookarts.com

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Message 11
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:16:33 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42488] Re: Cleaning press rollers...
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fine steel wool, some kind of oil and lots of elbow grease..maybe get one of
those dremmel things with a pad on it to save your arm
my best
Barbara

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Message 12
From: Phelps Laurence
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:23:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42489] Re: Your favorite press?
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1. I too am a fan of Takach. I have one, 24 x 48 table top model with the 7.5 inch upper drum. I must confess I didn't try out all possible kinds before buying this. They had one in UW-Madison when I took the relief printing course, and I needed to buy something to reward me for retiring. OK, my brother had a big floor model, so I had to keep up as far as the financial difference between a college prof and orthopedic surgeon allowed.
2. One reason I like it is the same sort of reason one likes any fine tool, it has an elegant solid feel to it, and all the machining is beautiful. Of course, just as the beginning violinist wouldn't make much in the way of music with a stradivarius, I don't make all that great prints with my lovely Takach. However, if my skill does improve (as it improves!) I will have the wherewithal to accommodate my greater skills. A disadvantage, probably common to all good presses, is that it is heavy. I had to separate it into three parts to muscle it down the cellar stairs, to my "studio". And that was with the assistance of two strong neighbors. It was also expensive, around $5K five years ago (more like $6K now, perhaps I should look on it as an investment).

Larry Phelps
S6472 Wilson Road
Rock Springs, WI 53961
lphelps@uwc.edu
lmphelps@gmail.com

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Message 13
From: "Terry Peart"
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:05:00 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42490] Re: Your favorite press?
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I've had a Whelan Pro - I loved it for a lot of the reasons Maria
mentioned. It was great, but I too didn't like the wheel. But I found if
I stood at 90 degrees to it and pulled it down hand over hand it was
easier, but it was tedious. I think if has direct drive 1:1?
I now own a 24" Ettan table top. I also love it! It's much easier to
crank, probably because of the gear ratio, 12:1. I can get that wheel
turning and just let it go, it will continue turning for quite a while, even
over an etching. This Ettan is very user friendly and I've never had a
problem with it. The website calls it the MS-3.
http://www.ettanpress.com/page/etching_press.html
I'm very happy I lucked into a used one.

Terry
West Seattle

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Subject: Springfield Library Exhibit
Posted by: Linda Beeman

This item is taken from the blog Linda Beeman - Printmaker.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: 12 Views of the Shiawassee River - Completed!!!
Posted by: Linda Beeman

This item is taken from the blog Linda Beeman - Printmaker.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: History Lesson

This item is taken from the blog Against the grain.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

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