Re: [BKARTS] Speedball press

[Kathleen Garness <kmgfinearts@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have one of those too and gave up on it a year ago. : ( Did you try  
spraying it with WD-40, letting it sit  for a while and then seeing  
whether it will move more freely?  I'm not sure they're designed that  
well.

What my beginning printmaking teacher showed me how to do was make an  
inexpensive two-piece plywood jig (like two L's), clamped to a wood  
or masonite board, that holds the block face up and another, separate  
cardboard jig/template you tape on top of that for the paper  
registration. One L is permanently fixed near the corner of the  
board, the other you attached to the board with screws or something.  
(you might have to shim the blocks a bit to hold them in there  
squarely - I found some of the blocks I was using weren't perfectly  
square : [ ) Then I just use the back of a large metal spoon or my  
baren to rub the paper down on the block. Someone told me the paper  
takes the ink better if you gently moisten it a bit with a fine spray  
mist first but I haven't tried that because I'm concerned about it  
drying unevenly or buckling... When I was doing the Friends of the   
Forest Preserve calendar project earlier this year I tried a lot of  
different things and the jig and baren approached worked the best.   
But I was working with thin mulberry paper. Don't know how it would  
work with thicker handmade ones...

Kathy G


On Dec 28, 2007, at 10:47 AM, Tom Bennick wrote:

> This question is probably more of a printmaking question than a  
> book one.  I have done some searching in the Blair and other press  
> sites but couldn't find anything.  I recently acquired a Speedball  
> press that doesn't work very well.  It is cast iron, about 10  
> inches long and 6 1/2 inches wide.  It has a lever device to raise  
> the top plate with a duel spring return.  It weighs about 10  
> pounds.  I tried to get into Speedball's site but was unable to do  
> so.  The problem is that the top plate doesn't  move freely in a  
> level manner.  It is tilted about 15 - 20 degrees.  Nothing I have  
> tried will get the top plate to become level.  It is in good  
> condition with very little rust.  I tried some silicone spray but  
> did nothing  to loosen the action.  I would like to know more about  
> this press and more importantly  how to get the top plate to  
> retract and press down in a level manner.  I would like to use the  
> press for small runs using my hand made paper.
>
> Thanks
>
> Tom
>
>             ***********************************************
>          The Bonefolder, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007 is Now Online at
>             <http://http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder>
>                                               For all your  
> subscription questions, go to the
>                      Book_Arts-L FAQ and Archive.
>          See <http://www.philobiblon.com> for full information
>             ***********************************************

Every Day Is a New Beginning

  "The friendships we develop determine the quality of our own  
souls"  Joan Chittister, OSB

            ***********************************************
         The Bonefolder, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007 is Now Online at
            <http://http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder>
                                   
            For all your subscription questions, go to the
                     Book_Arts-L FAQ and Archive.
         See <http://www.philobiblon.com> for full information
            ***********************************************