Baren Digest Wednesday, 20 December 2000 Volume 13 : Number 1251 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: kfoley@boo.net Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 14:32:47 GMT Subject: [Baren 12541] Re: Etching Press Hi Dan, I've been shopping for a table-top etching press at the low end of the price scale, looking for something competent. All I've seen so far is catalogs and web pages -- I haven't bought yet so I can't provide a testimonial. Printmaker's Machine Company handles (makes?) the Sturges line of Presses and they have a 12" x 24" with gear reduction for about $1200. They also import Polymetaal presses. They're priced higher than than is indicated on Polymetaal's site but the price includes tariffs and shipping to the U.S.. I inquired about one of the Polymetaal models in the $500 range but they recommended against it for inaglio but said it's good for relief. They seem to be associated with Graphic Chemical and Ink. Address indicates that they're two doors down the street. No web site yet. Free catalog upon request Printmaker's Machine Company 724 N. Yale Villa Park, Il 60181 (800) 992-5970 Rennaisance Graphic Arts carries a 12" x 24" press by Conrad in the $1100 - $1200 range. It looks really similar to the Sturges. Both the Sturges and the Conrad *appear to be of sturdy construction. You could wish for larger rollers but I guess that's where the costs are cut. They also carry a 9" by something in the $800 - $900 range. www.printmaking-materials.com Dick Blick is carrying a 12" x 24" press for about $600. Again, I haven't actually seen one up close. The sides are cast metal and look competent but other parts look a little spindly. I suspect that the same comment applies to this that applies to the small Polymetaal -- okay for relief -- maybe not so good for intaglio. Dick Blick www.db-secure.com Hope this is of some use to you, Kevin ------------------------------ From: Shireen Holman Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 10:03:07 -0500 Subject: [Baren 12542] Re: Etching Press At 10:52 AM 12/18/00 -0500, you wrote: >Anyone have any leads on a used, smallish, table top etching press? >I have been checking E-Bay with no success for months and am getting >frustrated. >dan dew Hi Dan, As editor of the Maryland Printmakers newsletter, I get odds and ends all the time. I'll forward you a notice I got about a used press for sale. If you are interested, you can contact the person directly. Shireen *********************************************** Shireen Holman, Printmaker and Book Artist email: shireenh@earthlink.net http://home.earthlink.net/~shireenh/ *********************************************** ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 07:06:43 -0800 Subject: [Baren 12543] Re: Etching Press > Any recommendations on a table top that would handle up to 16x20" blocks? > Linoleum or wood. Something fairly portable? > > Wanda Wanda, The small press I have is pretty nice, athough old. It came from Printmakers Machine, they are next door to Graphic Chemical in Chicago. I think Conrad actually makes the press. They are about $3000 now for a new one, probably more with shipping and a stand. I will look in my stuff from SGC, I know Conrad presses was there. Anything you can lift probably won't be a very good press, but you can get them on wheels, that makes for ease in moving. I looked at a very small light press from Polymetal, but never got around to ordering it. I just spent all my money on a vacuum table and halide light source from Takach Press in Albuquerque so I won't be getting anything new for awhile. They are starting to carry paper and the prices are good, no paper from the far east yet, just BFK and stuff like that, but about 20% cheaper than anything else I have found. Barbara ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 07:35:16 -0800 Subject: [Baren 12544] presses I have the combination press from printmakers machine and really love it. Mine is motorized and about 20 years old. I paid $1500 for it used about 10 years ago. The bed drops and lifts like a litho press and that makes it very good for relief work. the only problem is a small top roller, this has caused me some trouble with relief work, seems that as it comes off the block it moves the paper. I did build a chase for it like Ruth Leaf recommended and it worked better. I think it is a matter of getting used to it. If I go from one block to another, say put an extra block in front and back of the one I am printing I had no trouble. Of course you couldn't do this if printing multiple blocks as it would not be a good way to register your work, but for one color it works well. I would be interested to hear of any comments on the polymetal presses. they probably won't sell direct to the US if Graphic Chemical is carriny them now. I have a friend that has an Etan press and has had a lot of trouble with it. So I don't think I could recommend them. I think the press I have is now called the Sturgess and is made by Conrad and sold by Graphic. Barbara ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 11:14:48 EST Subject: [Baren 12545] After the Snakes? Season's Greetings, According to the Chinese Zodiac , next year is the Year of the Horse. After that , Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger, and Rabbit. And I was hoping for a Lion or a Cow. Carol Lyons ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 11:47:06 EST Subject: [Baren 12546] Re: Etching Press hi everyone i had to reply to this the little dick blick press is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its great for intaglio!!!!!!!!!! if youre looking for something small and inexpensive this is the way to go i have had mine for about 10 years now and i wouldnt part with it i got the #906 12"x36" with bed blankets acid and tray for about $600 the only draw back to this press is size i cant do larger prints but i have done relief intaglio monoprints etc etc etc on it and all have been great im no expert on printing and many of you have a lot more experience and expertise than i do but i can tell you that at Self Help Graphics no one could tell the difference between the prints i ran on their Brand press and the ones i ran on my dick blick press anyway i my very humble opinion i think you all should save the big bucks for bigger presses if all you want is a small one try dick blick (and no i dont get a commission for sales) merry christmas happy hannuka and a wonderful kwanzaa to you all georga ------------------------------ From: kfoley@boo.net Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:17:37 GMT Subject: [Baren 12547] Re: Etching Press Thanks Georga, That's real handy information. I don't have much time to devote to printmaking so it wouldn't get very heavy use. I was afraid of going the extreme low end fearing that the press wouldn't produce be able to produce a decent print. If you're happy after 10 years it'll be more than adequate for my needs. Thanks again, Kevin ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 10:43:55 -0700 Subject: [Baren 12548] The grinch? Well, well, well, I got up this morning to several copies of Eli's wonderful post about honing your tools. I do want to thank you for that post Eli! And I think we all have a copy of it now. :-) Carolyn's button seemed to have gotten stuck on "send". It's O.K. Carolyn, we all understand. Mistakes do happen, and anyone who tells you they've never made a mistake - may also lie to you about other things! Things have been going along pretty smoothly, so I turned off the moderated mode so you could get your messages "hot off the press". Lots of good messages coming in. The kind of interesting discussions that Baren is famous for. Just remember, we have upwards of 225 people subscribed to Baren right now - so whatever mistakes you make will go out to every single one of those mail boxes! I don't want to intimidate you or make you think twice about posting some interesting stuff to the rest of us - but do be aware of those 225 other people out there! Welcome to all of the new subscribers and the new posters! I truly do believe that Baren is the best mailing-list on the 'net! Wanda Baren forum moderator ------------------------------ From: Daniel Dew Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 15:07:41 -0500 Subject: [Baren 12549] Probably a dumb question Is most copier paper safe or archival? I want to print out the comments page on the Exchanges and include them with the prints in my folio. I'm slightly worried though that they may in some way damage the prints in the long run. Any comments, hints or ideas? dan dew ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 12:18:31 -0800 Subject: [Baren 12550] Re: Probably a dumb question No, it is not, unless it is 100% cotton. This paper is out there, but probably a lot more expenxive. Why don't you use a sheet of glassine between the print and the info or put the info in an archival plastic bag? Barbara ------------------------------ From: Legreenart@cs.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:47:27 EST Subject: [Baren 12551] Re: Baren Digest V13 #1248 I had a question from a printmaker named Christopher Morris, and lost it, so I can't reply. Anyone here know him & have an email for him? Yours, Le Green Stonemetal Press Email: legreenart@cs.com Website: www.stonemetalpress.homepage.com ------------------------------ From: Daniel Dew Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:12:20 -0500 Subject: [Baren 12552] Just an idea I have an idea I'd like to toss out to the general Baren public. What if we could co-ordinate an exchange with PrintAustralia along the same theme line? I.E.... I proposed the idea to PrintAustralia for a themed exchange of "Endangered Animals Where I Live" which is getting a good response. It is a very "showable" (galleries, libraries, etc...) theme. Then I thought, wouldn't it be really cool if both Baren and Printaustralia ran with the same idea on different timetables. Baren Exchange due in May, PrintAustralia due in August. There could then be a show of over 60 prints on the same theme. What do ya'll think????? dan dew ------------------------------ From: GraphChem@aol.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:35:23 EST Subject: [Baren 12553] Re: Etching Press Dear Wanda, If you supply an address to Printmakers Machine Co. (1-800-992-5970) they will send you a brochure on the different presses they carry. Susan ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:47:00 EST Subject: [Baren 12554] Re: Just an idea dan and all i kind of like this idea of joint exchanges between baren and print australia georga ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:48:43 -0600 Subject: [Baren 12555] Re: Just an idea 12/19/2000 04:48:30 PM Dan writes: "...I proposed the idea to PrintAustralia for a themed exchange of "Endangered Animals Where I Live" which is........" A very nice idea Dan, very marketable. I think signup for exchange #9 is in early January..which by the way is a theme exchange. Someone from the council will be posting announcements soon.....theme and paper size is still very open. I guess the topic is open for general discussion....any other ideas on the table ? I would like to dedicate my print to one of my favorite endangered species here in the midwest...the rare "Americanus Infigo-sapiens barenis"...most commonly known as the "woodblock-printmaker". Julio ------------------------------ From: "Daniel L. Dew" Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 18:51:21 -0500 Subject: [Baren 12556] Hanga Question My research says that at times printers would print the same color a multiple of times. Is that used to darken and enrich the color or to ensure complete coverage? I want to print a thin layer of a color in the first pass, remove some block and print the same color again. Any ideas? dan dew ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 20:02:37 -0800 Subject: [Baren 12557] Re: Hanga Question "Daniel L. Dew" wrote: > My research says that at times printers would print the same color a > multiple of times. Is that used to darken and enrich the color or to ensure > complete coverage? I want to print a thin layer of a color in the first > pass, remove some block and print the same color again. > Any ideas? Dan, This is done all the time in hanga, the same color is printed several times to darken it, not all at once, go through all the prints and then start over with the second application of color. Your idea of removing some of the block and printing again is probably done also. Barbara ------------------------------ From: Garth Hammond Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 21:40:49 -0700 Subject: [Baren 12558] Re: Baren Digest V13 #1249 Anyone have any leads on a used, smallish, table top etching press? I have been checking E-Bay with no success for months and am getting frustrated. A good new press, the best I could find for value is available from "Dick Blick Arts" they are on the web. They problem you may run into with a used one is that most people don't take good care of stuff. so you can get a serious warped plate or other catawampus happenings and think you are getting a deal. New from Blick is around $600 small plate but adequate for most. good luck, think about a composite plate, they are more forgiving and lighter than metal. also the material has a "memory". On another question??? what are people talking about when they reference "cobalt" medium is that the same as Cobal stand oil? It works great with oil for underpainting. Thanks, Garth End of Baren Digest V13 #1251 *****************************