[Baren] Daily Digest

Today's postings

[Baren 34756] Re: Wouter's Print ("Wouter and Pamela ten Broek")
[Baren 34757] A Show of Hanshita (Annie Bissett)
[Baren 34758] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4179 (Jan 7, 2008) (Lynn Starun)
[Baren 34759] Re: Happy New Year (Charles Morgan)
[Baren 34760] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4179 (Jan 7, 2008) (Charles Morgan)
[Baren 34761] Re: Some very minor questions ("Barbara Carr")
[Baren 34762] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)

Message 1
From: "Wouter and Pamela ten Broek"
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 14:23:55 +1300
Subject: [Baren 34756] Re: Wouter's Print
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Annie
that mask around the block is made of 3 mm MDF. As a spin off; it is easy to keep clean so guaranteed spotless margins on the print. I guess you could use a very heavy millboard or laminate a few layers of a dense type of card board.
All the best
Wouter

www.acwwoodcuts.com

[Back to message index]

Message 2
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 21:00:32 -0500
Subject: [Baren 34757] A Show of Hanshita
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Woodcutters,

I got a Google notice this morning that led me to an interesting
article about an exhibit of hanshita (carving sketches) by some well-
known Japanese moku hanga artists being shown at the Honolulu Academy
of arts. Not too many Bareners in Hawaii that I know of, but I think
just the notion of showing hanshita as art is pretty cool. Here's a
link to an article about the exhibit:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/01/06/features/story01.html

And a link to the Honolulu Academy of Arts:
http://www.honoluluacademy.org/cmshaa/academy/index.aspx

best,
Annie

[Back to message index]

Message 3
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 18:33:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34758] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4179 (Jan 7, 2008)
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Group,
I was fascinated by Wouter's press and am following
the discussion of other presses. So I feel emboldened
to show my new Precious Monster. I longed for a
larger press than my little school castoff !2" x 24"
Craftool press. Mind you I'm not complaining--It's
glorious to have a press and I found ways to work
around it's little handicaps. But then one day I
spied what looked like a partial etching press on ebay
but it was described as a proof press which attracted
me initially. It's Japanese (!) so that was
interesting Shin Nihon Zokei press it says on the
side. It was missing all but one of the turning arms
and missing the handles to adjust top roller height
and there was no press bed. Still it looked
salvageable and I won the auction! You can see before
and after at my blog

http://lynnallisonstarun.blogspot.com/

Lynn Allison Starun

[Back to message index]

Message 4
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 18:37:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34759] Re: Happy New Year
Send Message: To this poster

Hello Terry,

First, let me comment on the "pressure" thing. I have never seen a press with a true pressure guage. All the ones I have seen actually just have height guages. I made a simple "modification" on my presses to allow you to very accurately adjust the height across the roller, and repeat the setting later if you move the roller. I have sent you a photo by private email. But here is how I did it:

I just used double backed tape to attach a 6 inch steel rule to the upright on each end of the roller; such rulers are available in most hardware or automotive supply stores, and you will need two exactly alike. I then used epoxy to attach a straight pin to the bearing housing on each end of the roller. After the epoxy cured, I lowered the roller to the bed without blankets, being sure the top roller was pressing on the bed at each end. That aligned the roller with the bed. Then I used needle nosed pliers to bend the epoxied pins so that they were both pointing to exactly the same gradation on their respective rulers.

In use, I raise the roller, put the plate on the bed under the roller, with blankets in place. Then I adjust the tension, checking the two side guages to be sure they read the same. If you need to repeat this pressure later, just record the needle setting.

Simple, cheap, very effective ......... This technique ensures that the roller height is the same at both ends.

Now, let me comment on the direct drive. The Thomas presses come with a very large hand wheel, which is much superior to having radial arms (so-called star wheel) sticking out. The mecanical advantage of the wheel is very great. Personally, I have not had any problem using my press with just a hand wheel. BUT, if you feel the need, it would be child's play to fit a drive mechanism. A local artist I know, who has some physical impairment, has such an arrangement. Basically, you just use bicycle parts. You replace the hand wheel with a large bicycle chain ring. Then use use a bicycle bottom bracket from an old frame, fitted with a small chain ring to suit. You attach a bicycle crank only on one side. The bottom bracket can then be either welded or bolted to the frame of the press. Then a bicycle chain is just cut to length and placed on the sprockets. If I wanted one, I would just make it myself. If you do not want to do it yourself, and you do not have
someone close to you who is confident, I am sure you can find a machine shop in the Seattle area who will do it very cheaply. Or, just send this description to Thomas, and ask him how much he would charge to do it. You can buy junk bicycles for almost nothing, or even get them for free, so the materials cost is very small.

I really like my Thomas presses. You just cannot beat them for the money. If you decide to drive up, give me a shout and we can get together.

Cheers ....... Charles

[Back to message index]

Message 5
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 19:32:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34760] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4179 (Jan 7, 2008)
Send Message: To this poster

What a very nice little etching press!!! You should be pleased.

Cheers ...... Charles

[Back to message index]

Message 6
From: "Barbara Carr"
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 20:16:38 -0800
Subject: [Baren 34761] Re: Some very minor questions
Send Message: To this poster

Harry, I use mineral oil on shina blocks before cutting. It makes the
cutting easier, plus there's less splitting, cracking and general messiness.
I use the mineral oil for cleanup, also. It's just baby oil without the
(awful!) smell. Barbara C

[Back to message index]

Message 7
From: Blog Manager
Date: 8 Jan 2008 04:55:31 -0000
Subject: [Baren 34762] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
Send Message: To this poster

[Back to message index]

End of [Baren] Digest

Subscribe/Unsubscribe to [Baren] here
Switch your Digest subscription between 'Plain Text' and HTML here
Upload your image to be used in these Digests here
Most recent statistics on our website are here
Contact the group managers here

--- Go to the Opening Page of the [Baren] web site ---

Baren Archives

[Baren] - the International Forum for Woodblock Printmaking

Volume: 42 / Number: 4180

Monday, 7th of January, 2008

Today's postings

End of [Baren] Digest