Peter and Donna Thomas in Santa Cruz also make their own paper for letterpress printing. They sometimes host papermaking classes too!Peter ends his classes with a cute ukelele concert, well worth the price of admission alone to hear him strum and sing about tiny type.

You can also double-ink the press if the quantity you’re printing isn’t too high.Good to note the addition of silver; I’ve letterpress printed PMS 877 Silver by first printing in opaque white, then doing a second pass with the silver ink. The opaque white seals the sheet and acts as a good primer for the silver to really stand out. Note that this…[Read more]

Good eye Kelly, on the gripper catch. Springs should only be a couple of dollars. You might have to try a couple different ones until you find the right tension. I use 30W non detergent motor oil on my presses. Any gas station will have it. A quart would last you a very long time. You will need an oil can to put it in. The hardware store will also…[Read more]

Kseniya, I know you had mentioned earlier this year or perhaps last that if we were interested attending the show we could let you know, is that still a possibility?

Thank you!I’ve been having trouble with the grippers…the gripper bar spring was stuck, but I finally got it loose and was able to fix it. I’ve been trying to loosen the screws that hold the grippers to the bar so I can , but they’re quite stuck as well. I just took the rollers & springs off so I can head to the hardware store. I know I need to…[Read more]

Maggie,In your second pic, it looks like your right side gripper is in front of your base–make sure that it’s totally out of the way, or your press won’t close properly (and it would look like improper inking, even though it’s an impression issue).And I wholeheartedly second Camille–go down and get friendly with your local mom-and-pop hardware…[Read more]

Thank you for the advice! I’d thought about going to the hardware store, but wasn’t sure if there was a very specific type of spring I needed or if something from there would work. I’ll definitely try that tomorrow.

     Your local hardware store should have springs, you may need to cut them to the proper length. Buy some washers to put on the ends of your rollers so they don’t shift. Bring a spring, shaft and roller with you to the store.      You will have a hard time getting a good solid impression unless you put something in your CD cases. Cut some chipbo…[Read more]

Thanks Nancy. I’m going to start going through the ink this weekend!

When we bought our C&P it came with about 50 cans of ink – some rubber based, some oil. We are still using some of it today… when you open the can – you can tell if it’s usable…just get under the hardened top (if possible) and if the ink there is still soft – you can use it.

Where do you buy stamp pads like this?

Thanks Camille!

You should be able to use the ink you have. If it is oil based there will be a crisp, hard top on the ink. Just remove it with your ink knife and the ink under it will be fine. If it is rubber based there might be a some skin on the top if it is as old as you say. Same thing just remove the top skin and you are good to go. Good luck and happy printing!

I’m a total newbie but I use butcher paper. At the grocery store I just ask for a couple meters and they are happy to give it to me… for free. And it’s the perfect width!

I appreciate the offer, it’s a wonderful idea.  I’ve requested information for an intensive week-long workshop a little closer to home, in Pennsylvania.  I’m checking on the other type-setting and letterpress classes I could take over the summer.  I have to work around the kids summer camps…I’m reading, researching and learning what I can, bu…[Read more]

Hi Danielle, One thing I forgot to mention is the terms. Generally, you would want to set a minimum amount ($150.00 is pretty standard) for the first order and take the payment via credit card right away. As you establish a relationship with the store you can let them start doing a Net 30. It’s important to keep track and send reminders if they…[Read more]

Carrie,Do you have a community print shop nearby, or do you have the funds to travel to one? I recommend that you take a class where you can try out these presses before you buy one. I teach workshops at Asheville BookWorks where you can print on all of these types of presses, and some flatbed cylinder presses as well. You can get started working…[Read more]

Thanks Christen! Very helpful.

If you leave the rollers on the press up on the inking plate when you’re not using it, it may have created a flat spot, which would explain why it only prints sometimes. I leave my rollers on the press, but I make sure I take out the chase and make sure the rollers aren’t sitting on the plate. We were having some problems when we first got our…[Read more]

Basically what you will need is: 1. A Deck – a ‘shoebox’ (you can use a plastic shoebox-size box for your cards–Container Store is a good source). Generally reps want to see the cards grouped in categories (ie: birthday, anniversary, congratulations, etc…).  Each card should be packaged in a clear protective sleeve and you should have the i…[Read more]