SPOON PRINTING
Limitations: Any movement of paper or plate during the spoon printing will create printing inconsistencies. Quick Tips: Wooden spoon vs metal spoon: Metal will heat up during printing! Wood can wear down quickly and often needs to be sanded and sealed before using. Holding the spoon at different angles will allow you to control the pressure with greater sensitivity. RESOURCES
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BAREN PRINTING
McClains printmaking supplies offers a variety of barens, including: How to use a baren instructions from McClains – PDF MORE BAREN OPTIONS:
Quick Tip: It's important to have slight lubrication so the baren moves freely while printing. Use a barrier sheet, like wax paper or Ategami "Back Paper." CHECK OUT THE DIY OPTIONS BELOW FOR WAYS TO USE FOUND OBJECTS AS A BAREN! |
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PASTA MAKERS
Also called polymer clay rollers, pasta makers are a low cost option for pulling small impressions. They can also be found at second hand or online marketplaces. The cheaper models are poorer quality, while the more expensive options are higher quality construction. Many people have pasta makers sitting unused in their kitchen cupboards, ask around!
Recommended Pasta Maker: Atlas pasta machine
Higher quality construction. The best of both worlds when it comes to balancing cost with durability.
Cheapest option: Amaco craft clay machine
Low quality construction. This is a good option if you think you may not use this long-term.
Conversion for printmaking use:
Also called polymer clay rollers, pasta makers are a low cost option for pulling small impressions. They can also be found at second hand or online marketplaces. The cheaper models are poorer quality, while the more expensive options are higher quality construction. Many people have pasta makers sitting unused in their kitchen cupboards, ask around!
Recommended Pasta Maker: Atlas pasta machine
Higher quality construction. The best of both worlds when it comes to balancing cost with durability.
Cheapest option: Amaco craft clay machine
Low quality construction. This is a good option if you think you may not use this long-term.
Conversion for printmaking use:
- It works best to turn pasta makers sideways, allowing for flat, or horizontal feed, of the material through the rollers. This also allows you to more easily clamp the press down (to keep it from moving while rolling the material through). Time, labor, tools, and moderate skills required to convert pasta maker for use as a horizontal printing device.
- Press Bed: Pasta makers feed material through vertically. To use vertically, flexible matrices must be used to allow the sandwich of matrix, printing paper, and packing to curve through and out from beneath the rollers.
- Pressure: Adjustments are made by spinning the dial. Pasta makers typically have 9 thickness settings. Those with carpentry skills are encouraged to build a frame around the pasta machine to give full support as the bed rolls through the rollers. Some trial and error is required to get quality results. Once initial testing is complete, they are able to produce prints with consistent results.
DIE CUTTING MACHINES
Die cutting machines require the least initial time investment needed for setup, since little conversion is needed. Die cut machines are easier to use than a pasta machine because the rollers are positioned to roll a bed through horizontally. Some die cut machines have an adjustable roller height, but not all, so it may necessary to gather boards of different thicknesses to adjust the height of the roller. On fixed height die cutters pressure must be adjusted by adding or removing material from the bed to change the distance between the roller and bed. Once testing is complete, it is easy to achieve consistent printing results. Recommended Die Cut Machines:
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COLD PRESS LAMINATORS
Often when we think of laminating, we think of teachers who laminate their cards and paper materials so they can withstand daily usage by children without being easily ripped or torn. RELATED RESOURCES: |
DIY PRINTING OPTIONS
3D Printing Options
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HAND MADE PRINT PRESSES
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MORE SMALL PRESSES
There are tons of these things floating around in the print world! Hand Presses Table Top Presses
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LAUNDRY WRANGLE AKA Laundry Wringer
The Laundry wrangle, or wringer, was a common piece of household equipment that was converted into a press. Bertha E. Jaques began her printmaking career on this kind of press. She would go on to help found the Chicago Society of Etchers, an organization that would become internationally significant for promoting etching as a printmaking technique.
RESOURCES
The Laundry wrangle, or wringer, was a common piece of household equipment that was converted into a press. Bertha E. Jaques began her printmaking career on this kind of press. She would go on to help found the Chicago Society of Etchers, an organization that would become internationally significant for promoting etching as a printmaking technique.
RESOURCES
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References (in progress)