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Message 1
From: Bette Norcross Wappner
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:08:38 -0500
Subject: [Baren 26884] Re: Ball-bearing Baren Problem
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>Please HELP!
>
> I have a problem with my ball-bearing baren.  Although I have kept it
> on a pad with camomile oil the bearings no longer turn. I marked some
> with a Sharpie and can tell that I can just about budge them with the
> pressure of a thumb.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Carol Lyons
> Irvington, NY

Oh my, Carol. Which brand of ball-bearing baren is it?
I know Mike Lyon said once that he uses a bit of WD-40 - but don't take
that as a solution to your problem here. I'll be anxious to hear what
the experts have to say.

Good luck with it,
Bette Wappner
northern Kentucky

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Message 2
From: "marilynn smih"
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 07:55:38 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26885] RE: Baren Digest (old) V30 #2931
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Carol, I have never used oil on my ball bearing baren. Is it clogged up
from sitting in oil? But then I have not had mine long and have used it now
for only a few series. Let me know if you find a way to clear up this
problem. Perhaps you need to clean it with something that unclogs oil? Or
has it flattened and you need to find out how to get its curve back? I
would like to know the answer to this one for future reference??????
Oh, and this Japanese paper is fabulous. I have not tried western watercolor
papers for hanga, only print papers. But my proofs were not nearly as clear
as this wonderful paper makes my image. I am working small. my paper is cut
5x91/4 inches, I got 15 pieces per sheet and have a piece left over. I
figure I can get 30 prints out of 2 sheets, if I lose a few i still have
not used a lot of paper. So maybe when you consider expense you should
consider working smaller, then the cost is not so high per image.
I like to pass on my experiences as I learn this process because so many
have had such a high frustration level. I think for beginners the work
should be on the smaller side. also when i started with linoblock I did a
one color print first and then a multi-colored print. What is wrong with an
all sumi image? Or as I have done some times an all burnt sienna image?
One color can be striking and you have only one plate to carve, one set of
everything and not nearly the chanch that kento marks are off. Also I
recommend good products, they simply make the end result more satisfying.
I have done a lot of watercolors over the years and used just about every
paper out there and none are like this beautiful Japanese paper. But I
have not done hanga on them, so I am not speaking with knowledge.
Marilynn where it rained in Baja yesterday

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Message 3
From: Mike Lyon
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:25:53 -0600
Subject: [Baren 26886] Re: Ball-bearing Baren Problem
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Carol Lyons wrote:
>I have a problem with my ball-bearing baren. Although I have kept it on a
>pad with camomile oil the bearings no longer turn. I marked some with a
>Sharpie and can tell that I can just about budge them with the pressure of
>a thumb.

Camomile oil is the wrong stuff for ball-bearing barens, Carol! Also,
ball-bearing barens really aren't indicated for 'wet' work, as the water
can corrode the balls and housing, depending...

Manufacturers generally recommend a 'volatile' oil for the barens -- I've
been using WD-40 with good results AND using the WD-40 lubricated
ball-bearing barens on hanga (definitely wet work)! The WD-40 keeps the
balls rotating very freely and seems to prevent corrosion -- also 'seems'
to evaporate from the paper (if I use to excess). NO guarantee that there
isn't SOMEthing in WD-40 which might eventually degrade the paper, but as
it's petroleum-based and not animal or vegetable oil, I imagine that
whatever residue may be left behind in the paper _probably_ won't change
the paper over time...

Suggest you liberally spray the ball-side of the baren with WD-40 and then
work it hard over a durable smooth paper until the balls run freely again
(if it's not corrosion, then the problem may be paper fibers breaking free
and 'gumming' up the space in which each ball rides... You may be able to
'wash' the gunk out with repeated applications of WD-40...

Maybe our resident conservator can add some reasonable
cautions... Jack? You there?

-- Mike


Mike Lyon
Kansas City, Missouri
http://mlyon.com

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Message 4
From: Mike Lyon
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:30:29 -0600
Subject: [Baren 26887] Re: Ball-bearing Baren Problem
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Oh -- maybe you meant "Camelia" oil? Same thing: wrong stuff for
ball-bearing barens! Try WD-40?

-- Mike


Mike Lyon
Kansas City, Missouri
http://mlyon.com

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Message 5
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:50:06 EST
Subject: [Baren 26888] Re: Ball-bearing Baren Problem
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Yes Yes Camomile is the tea!. I meant Camelia oil. I believe that is
the oil that came with the Baren.
I think it is clogged up with the oil ( but I am a heavy breather when I
carve).
Seriously, right on the husband's shelf there's WD 40 and I' ll try that.
Thank you for the suggestions, Mike, Marilynn and Bette.
I'll let you know...

Drinking camomile tea to calm down-
Carol

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Message 6
From: "Robert Canaga"
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:10:04 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26889] Fw: Re: Ball-bearing Baren Problem
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Oh my, indeed!
I take a chamois and put a light oil. WD, 3 in One, any of the very light ones, and set my barren on it when not in use. Before I use it I run it over a blotter a few times and because I always use a barrier paper to print, I never worry about any transfer. I have done this for two years now and both my BBBs run very smoothly.
If they are locked up, try a little WD on it and knock it gently on your palm till it rattles.
The other problem I have had to deal with is the tiny screws.... I had one tear my paper. I went down to the car parts place and go Lock-Tight Red. A drop or less on the screw before you put it in will keep it locked FOREVER or until you REALLY need to remove it.
Did this last year and have had no problems and I use the tool everyday for some type of printing.
Good luck!
Robert
PS I have a show opening the 4th of Feb. here in Eugene at a nice little cafe called Perugino. 25 solarplates.
Take a look at http://robertcanagagallery.com-----

>Oh my, Carol. Which brand of ball-bearing baren is it?
>I know Mike Lyon said once that he uses a bit of WD-40 - but don't take that as a solution to your problem here.
>I'll be anxious to hear what the experts have to say.

>Good luck with it,
>Bette Wappner
>northern Kentucky

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Message 7
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:49:55 -0600
Subject: [Baren 26890] Re:a million/zillion print images....almost.!
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Thanks, glad you enjoyed the search......of course if you want to refine
your search a bit and look up your favorite(s) Baren printmaker.....just go
ahead and add a name to find all the images available for that particular
artist....

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=barenforum+dew

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=barenforum+mason

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=barenforum+LaPierre

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=barenforum+Clutter

etc...

thanks....enjoy....Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)

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Message 8
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:24:38 EST
Subject: [Baren 26891] Re:a million/zillion print images....almost.!
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OR

Try just typing your name and woodblock prints click GO and you will be able
to get right into the sites.

I tried it and found anything I ever did or said on the WEB.

Robert Canaga, thank you for the suggestions for the anti-clogging and Good
Luck! on your exhibit.


Carol
Lyons

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Message 9
From: "Eva Pietzcker"
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 14:00:33 +0100
Subject: [Baren 26892] Re: Ball-bearing Baren and Western paper
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Dear Carol,

I just had that problem with my korokoro-baren. I soaked it for a while in hot water and a drop of dishwashing, and afterwards the balls could roll again. The korokoro-baren is made only from plastic and the metal balls, so that was no problem - but I don't know if this works with every ball-bearing-baren...

Greetings!

Eva

P.S.: And thanks to everyone who answered my question regarding the Western paper!!!

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End of [Baren] Digest