User Manual-Web - PrintmakingWorld
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1. Sustainable printmaking experiences 2013 DIY Mini Etching Press Make a personal size etching press User Manual Above The Mini Etching Press is shown is shown after assembly with the quarter inch chase on the press bed The photographs inside and videos online appear varied because they show models in different woods and are finished in different ways Originated by Bill Ritchie Co designer of the Mini Etching Press Step 1 Detailing your press The DIY Kit Mini Etching Press will work without the three wood parts being finished The owner can choose whether to stain oil varnish paint decorate by carving and engraving or combinations of wood finishing Sanding additional decorative routing etc there are many possibilities to customize your press The round space on the passive side is for a badge which you can make in any material or which you can order from the factory as either a blank brass copper or aluminum disc or etched with the standard design or a design you provide For information email info halfwoodpress com Sand before staining or oiling start with Among embellishments are the laser 120 sandpaper then steel wool to polish print transfer with a hot transfer tool Mas A 1 3 4 inch space has been made for a Staining oiling or painting comes after round badge you create or have cus sanding Teak or Tung oils are popular tom made for you Some stains have the oil included Fol low th2. Check the set screws on the driving shaft and the driving wheel hub but not so often as to wear down the corners on your Allen wrenches Don t overdo it The felt blankets need little care unless they get stiff from too much sizing in the sizing catcher in which case wash in cold wa ter Do not to leave the blankets under the roller Damp blankets will rust the steel The polycarbonate press bed is tough and strong but not scratch resistant Long use will dull the polish An adhesive plas tic coating is recommended if you want to save the original finish Print with thin damp newsprint under your printing plate when printing to help prevent plates thicker than 22 gauge from skid ding ahead of the top roller 18 Disassembly of the Mini Etching Press 1 Remove the bed 2 Remove the wheel Loosen the 4 Allen set screw with the 1 8 Allen hex wrench bringing it out far enough so that the wheel slips off the shaft It is not necessary to remove the set screw all the way 3 With the blunt end Phillips screw driver tip remove the two barrel cap nuts on the ends of the passive side which hold the threaded rods The passive side is opposite the side where the wheel and shaft are and the holes for the threaded rod are smooth not threaded so they will slip out later on 4 From the active side remove the two barrel cap nuts off the ends of the threaded steel rods The holes in the wood active side piece are threaded so the
3. Assign moment number and pull the felt blankets and turn the bed through A slow motion turning is recom proof mended without stopping until you feel the roller pass of the end of the plate Video under construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 16 Step 12 Uses of a chase With the chase on the bed you can print a relief block up to 5 X 7 inches for plates 1 4 thick or under Plate glass or Mylar are used in waterless lithography vitreography printing as well as polymer lithograph plates Pochoir stencil methods plus monotypes and monoprints work on this rack driven bed press Thicker blocks up to 918 inch type high require a thicker chase or type high rails place alongside a type high block the same size as the bed is shown below Relief blocks can be printed face up or Vitreography uses either quarter inch face down Thick blocks need spacers ground plate glass or frosted Mylar Pochoir or stencil methods work well For a type high block such as mounted linoleum use a long block or place type alone or with intaglio monoprint and high runners on each side of small monotype The image above is a simula blocks For other sizes build up your tion chase with strips or use the chase as a template to cut new ones of your choice of thickness The block above is simu lated the art is Mary Czerniski Video to come under construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 17 A Note about maintenance
4. fourth set screw on the Two or three drops of light oil on the wheel hub which takes the larger Allen threaded pressure screws will make wrench to tighten them turn more smoothly Video unders construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 12 Step 8 Attach the wheel The wheel is hand crafted steel with a 1 4 set screw in the hub The 1 8 Allen wrench provided is for tightening the set screw When attaching the wheel note that there is a flat spot on the shaft for the set screw is to be seated The flat spot ensures that the hub will not turn on the shaft when you turn the wheel When tightening the set screw never use an Allen wrench that shows wear If it slips then the edges inside the set screw wear and the set screw cannot be loosened to remove it nor can it be tightened to prevent the wheel from slipping The wheel is hand crafted so if it wobbles when spun do not worry because does not affect the press performance i ned Qe jae Use the 1 8 Allen wrench for the driv Loosen set screw to clear the shaft in ing wheel hub set screw order to slip it on the shaft to the flat spot where it is to be set Align the set screw with the flat spot on the When you are certain the screw is on the shaft and slip the hub on to the shaft flat spot tighten the set screw all the way down and then tighten it hard so the set screw bites into the steel of the flat spot on the shaft See the video https
5. www youtube com watch v RziR W Zh1zkO 2013 Bill Ritchie 13 Step 9 Finishing the press bed The bed is 1 4 thick polycarbonate sometimes called Lexan after its original industry name This sheet cut to size milled and drilled for fitting with a steel rack As it comes from the supplier it is covered with protective paper or plastic and the corners are sharp For appearance you may want to round the corners and sof ten the edges and then remove the protective coverings Re covering with clear smooth adhesive Contact paper is recom mended Tools for this step are files knife squeegee ruler cut ting surface and a bench stop Attach covering by one end to the table A window washer style squeegee is top with the other end of the bed ideal to helping avoid bubbles If bub stopped Put the Contact paper reading bles form make a tiny hole and press side down Turn it over and start to peel out the trapped air Trim the excess the backing away about two inches then drag the squeegee and peel at the same time all the way to the end See the video https www youtube com watch v N_NSOdXRfwM 2013 Bill Ritchie 14 Step 10 Tuning and adjusting a Mini Press Thinking of a press as being an instrument is like thinking of a musical instrument to the visual artist who makes prints the printing press is what a guitar is to a musician Fine tuning factors include the feel of the pressure screws and the mov
6. be offerings On YouTube search terms OMEMERALDA HALFWOODPRESS AND PRINTMAKINGVIDEOS For books by Bill Ritchie including Kindle eBooks go to ama zon com and use the author s name to search Titles include Halfwood Press The Story Memoir The Art of Selling Art Swipe A screen play Travel Tapes A professor s Big Gamble Non fiction Rembrandt s Ghost in the New Machine Novel Cascades Ten years of Great Notions Non fiction and others See the video https www youtube com watch v ulZNPqKfJsE 2013 Bill Ritchie 20 The Ritchie Family Art Gallery in Seattle USA The illustrations and videos were made in the Ritchie Family Mini Art Gallery in the Residence on 5th Avenue 812 5th Avenue North C 2 Seattle WA 98109 open by appointment The gallery is also where Bill does most of his computer graphics work and Skype voice and video sessions The QR code will link your device to the Website or enter www ritchie art com in your browser Concept by Bill Ritchie Bill Ritchie 2004 Bill Ritchie s goal is an online teaching company for 21 Century printmakers blending printmak ing and digital arts that combine smart mini etching presses with stories games and movies He Co designed the Mini Etching Press He started Emeralda Works in 1992 for teaching research production and services in fine arts Mailing address 500 Aloha 105 Seattle WA 98109 www printmakingworld com Email Ritchie
7. e core It attaches rect for proper tension of the chain with four threaded screws and cap nuts Threaded screws are turned into the Barrel cap nuts fit the threaded screws threaded holes of the hood leaving and are tightened with the customized about 1 8 for cap nuts Philips hex screw bit Do not use great force on cap nuts as they are aluminum and therefore liable to strip See the video input https www youtube com watch v 16xLKvyLEqI 2013 Bill Ritchie Step 3 Start two connecting tie rods in the passive side piece ends holes The passive hardwood side piece marked P has unthreaded holes drilled in the ends to accept the two connecting tie rods and four holes in the middle to attach the press core The connecting tie rods also have an active end and a passive end distinguished by a 5 16 jamb nut which will secure the rod in the final steps of the assembly The passive end slips through the unthreaded hole at the end of the passive side piece Cap nuts will fit the end pro truding 1 8 inside the hole On the passive side which is marked with a P insert the end of the threaded cross tie rod through each hole in the end These holes are not threaded so the rod slips in Be sure it is the end with the jamb nut small net on this end of the rod run the nut all the way to the bear ing for best results With both threaded rod cross tie rods in set the passive side piece aside for now as it wi
8. e instructions by the maker Test the finishing product on your embellish ments before proceeding Video under construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 3 Make a badge for your Mini Etching Press The Halfwood Press Line had various decorative touches and there is a cut out on the passive side of the Mini Etching Press to continue this tradition but with a twist you can also make your own Using wood leather plastic metal or cast resin found ob jects or recycled printing plates almost anything you can find or create will be your press badge The badges at Halfwood Press Workshops are often made of 22 gauge brass The design is made on a computer printed by laser on silicon transfer paper and then ironed on to the brass The fused laser toner acts as a resist so when the brass badge is im mersed in Edinburgh Etch only the exposed parts are eaten away The badge is cut out and filed until it fits in the cutaway then it is glued in with epoxy glue Before you get started know this The press you receive was assembled at the factory then it was taken apart to ship This manual was written and videos made while disassembly and reassembly so everything was included On the next page is the list of parts and the tools needed Some features about the press e ach press is hand tooled so the parts are not inter changeable with ALL other of the same model e Some parts are marked A and P for Active and Passive and if the ins
9. eaded rod cross ties were left waiting Screw the jamb nuts all the way back next to the bearings then press the wood side piece onto the core where the threaded rods 1 4 ex tends When the passive wood side is on about 1 8 of the rod can be seen in the hole Use barrel cap nuts to secure the side Turn each of the cross ties active ends into the threaded holes of the active side piece until the ends extend from the recessed hole about 1 8 Secure with the barrel cap nuts Screw the jamb nut out to the wood measure for the 6 bed clearance then bring the cap and jamb nuts together With the jamb nuts moved back fit the Turn the threaded cross tie rod into the side on the four threaded cross tie rods threaded hole in the active side piece Turn the threaded cross tie rod until Bring the jamb nuts to the wood and about 1 8 can be seen coming through secure the cap nut and jamb nut to out the recessed holes Start a barrel cap gether Measure to check for 6 bed nut on this end gripping the threaded space rod so it doesn t turn with the nut See the videohttps www youtube com watch v ptv Odipolc 2013 Bill Ritchie 10 Step 6 Tighten all the barrel cap nuts and the jamb nuts in the steel core together The barrel cap nuts are aluminum which is a comparatively soft metal so do not use excessive force when tightening them and use only the blunt ended Philips hex driver bit for the barrel cap n
10. ement of the bed Again using the wrenches are essential to this and if anything has changed while you put your press together now is the time to go over the assembled press to see that it works as well as it was designed to work The space between the bed and the side The chain should not be taught but piece needs to be only enough to allow slightly loose or else the pressure screws free movement will be hard to turn or jerky feeling Barrel cap nuts fit the threaded screws Jamb nuts secure the position of the and are tightened with the customized parts and a 5 16 open end wrench fits Philips hex screw bit Do not use great these force on cap nuts They are aluminum and the threads will be damaged if you use to much force Video under construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 15 Step 11 Testing your press Printing intaglio The Mini Etching Press is capable of printing all four printing processes alone or in combination plus monoprints and mono types too These presses were designed to serve mainly as an etching press for intaglio printmaking and the designer made many YouTube videos to demonstrate intaglio printing online The pictures give a brief overview of the steps for printing inta glio The space in this manual does not allow for other printing methods stencil relief planographic monotypes and mono prints referred to in the comments on uses of the chase a I Place damp paper on the plate settle
11. emeralda com Skype bill h ritchie 2013 Bill Ritchie
12. ll be attached after the active side piece is secured to the core with its four barrel cap nuts See the video https www youtube com watch v ptv 1 Odipolc 2013 Bill Ritchie Step 4 Attach the active side piece The active side piece of the Mini Press core has the shaft for the driving wheel and four threaded cross tie rods which may have temporary nuts on them to be removed They extend from side of the core about 1 4 inch Align the core with the wood ac tive side piece with the five holes and slip the parts together Use barrel cap nuts to hold the piece in place Grip threaded rods to keep them from turning while you turn the barrel nut caps Check the passive side to see that 1 4 inch of threaded rod shows Check that the distance between the steel sides is slightly over 6 inches held by the jamb nuts inside The core has four threaded cross tie When the side piece is on about 1 8 rods ends extending about 1 4 can be seen inside the recessed holes The barrel cap nuts are aluminum a soft metal so do not use too much force because the threads may be stripped or the slots damaged Use only the custom Philips driver bit other drivers do damage Start the barrel cap nuts being sure they are started straight to avoid stripping the threads and then tighten them See the video https www youtube com watch v ptv 1 Odipolc 2013 Bill Ritchie Step 5 Align the passive side with the core In Step 3 the thr
13. nate 6 X 14 1 2 12 Wheel with 1 4 set screw accepts the 1 8 Allen wrench 13 PVC Chase cut for 5 X 7 format for 1 4 thick printing block 14 New sizing catcher and roller felt blankets 6 X 12 15 Manual this manual not shown in the photos The 5 16 open end box end combination wrench is provided as is the driver kit which has five parts fitted inside the hollow handle The driver shaft inserts into the handle and it is magnetic so that the driver tips do not fall out Note that only the blunt end Philips driver is to be used on the barrel cap nuts 2013 Bill Ritchie 2013 Bill Ritchie Step 2 Attach the hood to the press core The hood is custom fit to each core The active and passive sides are indicated by the letter A and P on each end assuring the best alignment of the holes and the barrel cap nuts The active end matches the side where the driving shaft extends With the hood in place the threaded black 1 hex socket screws are inserted Using the 5 64 Allen wrench turn the black screws in until about 1 8 inch remains visible in the recessed holes allowing for the barrel cap nuts to be fitted on and turned in OS A Active Side tiBickris in o sid Hood has Active A and Passive P ends made of hardwood The core of the press needs a hood and the hood is custom fitted to the core The length of the core is precisely cor and milled to fit th
14. rod is firmly attached and will be turned out later on 5 On the passive side where the threaded rod enters the wood draw screw the jamb nut until it is all the way to the bear ing retainer nut Do this ONLY on the passive side not on the active side 6 With a gripper or wearing rubber Nitrile latex etc gloves to assist your work use your fingers to turn the threaded rod so it unscrews from the threaded hole in the wood active side You must turn it counter clockwise to unscrew it 7 Turn the press upside down and balance it either on its T shaped pressure screw handles or for a more stable balance a thick book or a block of wood Stand it with the passive side fac ing you and remove the four barrel cap nuts holding the passive wood side piece to the steel core 8 With the barrel cap nuts removed the wood side piece will come off although you may find the threaded rods will hang by a thread and if so turn them out gently and then remove the rods from the wood side piece 9 Turn the steel core around and remove the four remaining barrel cap nuts in the active wood side piece This frees the side piece and it can be lifted off and the steel core set upright for sta bility 10 To remove the wood hood piece first take off the four barrel cap nuts Note that these are smaller than the other twelve barrel cap nuts used on the side pieces and threaded rods 11 Exposed are the four one inch long hex socket screws which mus
15. t be taken out if the wood hood piece is to be removed 2013 Bill Ritchie 19 The 5 64 Allen wrench is for this purpose as well as other set screws on the press The wood piece can now be lifted out Note that the wood hood piece is marked with a P and A for passive and active as these pieces are machined to fit and may not fit if they are switched end for end Background of the Mini Etching Press Congratulations in beginning your experience in printmaking from the press up Few people have had the opportunity to take up or continue printmaking from this point and build up their per sonal etching press from its parts Some of the parts included in the collection are already assembled because they require special ized tools and know how but most if the assembly is provided for you Background of the DIY Kit The DIY Mini Etching press kit was designed in 2013 in re sponse to several requests for plans or kits to make a Mini Half wood Press This is a cost effective alternative to other hand printmaking presses The Mini Etching press is small affordable and esthetically appealing Bill Ritchie has been designing and making Halfwood Presses since 2004 and the experiences he gained made it possible to direct his co worker Tom to an ideal size and design for delivery as a kit More learning resources Bill s personal website is www ritchie art com and on the homepage trace around the frame to find TEACHING for You Tu
16. tructions call for these to match you must e The tuning of the press is important for the smoothest functioning balancing the tightness of screws and nuts 1s explained in the instructions e You can always email for support info halfwoodpress com and use Skype by appoint ment 2013 Bill Ritchie Tools included Allen wrench size 5 64 2 each Allen wrench size 1 8 1 each Philips screw bit for barrel nuts in handle combo Open box end combination 5 16 wrench Materials supplies you need Printmaking paper for testing the finished press Light machine oil 3 in 1 Test plate 1 3 4 diameter badge blank Parts and accessories in the kit Hood piece drilled and tapped Open end wrench 5 16 open box end combination Hood hex socket screws 5 32 4 require the 5 64 Allen wrench Mini Press core pre assembled 1 1 2 solid rollers with precision bearings pressure screws and synchronizing chain drive shaft fitted with spur gear for driving the bed rack and four cross ties two with 4 bearings 5 Customized Philips screw driver bit 1 4 6 Hood barrel nuts 5 32 4 each 7 Allen wrenches 1 1 8 and 2 5 64 8 9 WN Custom 3 16 barrel nuts for core and cross ties 12 each Cross ties 2 3 16 threaded rod fitted with bearings and jamb nuts 10 Two hardwood side pieces 1 active 1 passive 11 Mini Press bed fitted with steel rack 1 4 polycarbo
17. uts They need only be snug The jamb nuts on the ends of the wood side pieces located inside the passive side should be snug against the wood The purpose of the jamb nuts is to keep the outer cap nut tight against the wood Use a 5 16 combination wrench for tightening jamb nuts There are jamb nuts inside the steel core too which should be checked again Use only the blunt ended Philips driver The jamb nuts in the passive side are to bit provided for the barrel cap nuts be snug against the wood Use a 5 16 open end box end combina tion wrench on the jamb nuts Jamb nuts inside the steel core are im portant to determine the 6 space where the bed travels and so too the cap nut and jamb nuts on the ends of the side pieces Video under construction 2013 Bill Ritchie 11 Step 7 Check the three driving shaft set screws on the spur gear collar and hub There are two set screws on the spur gear and one on the re tainer collar a total of three set screws on the drive shaft tight ened at the manufacturer s Be familiar with these to ensure that they are always tight in keeping your Mini Press in good working order If the spur gear set screws loosen it will slip on the shaft Use the 5 64 Allen wrench to tighten these remembering never to use worn Allen wrenches The wheel hub set screw likewise must be tightened with the 1 8 Allen wrench The collar has one set screw There is a
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