Hi – I had one of these before I got my tabletop press.  It really spurred my interest in a ‘real’ letterpress.  I think the idea of using this for ink testing is a fantastic idea!

I have used a ?Sonic Wave Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Cleaning Machine CD-2800? to clean type.  I was hoping it would just wash the type but it took too many runs through the machine to clean and most of my type really needed a degreaser to remove all the grime.  So I added the follow steps and had fabulous success. 

1. Soak the type in Simple green or…

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I just posted some photos on my blog, with you and also some of the gals from Letpress in mind. I’ve been around the block a few times with Letterpress, and something that I try to do is get folks to explore the other virtues of Letterpress, so it will not be totally defined by deep deboss.  That’s only one dynamic.  I find that the detail c…[Read more]

Thanks Gary!This is great advice! Its amazing (and frustrating) the difference stock makes. I agree, the finish the plain non-cotton stock makes is awesome. It seems to make the ink so much brighter! I even prefer the way metallic inks look on plain old kraft (they look like nothing on lettra) its always a surprise seeing how everything interacts…[Read more]

Davina, at this point it’s been really hard for me to beat good ol’ 110 and 220 Lettra.  But don’t limit yourself just to the soft, open sized papers.  During my last workshop, I had my student run a copper add cut of an 1890 Old Series C&P ATF catalog cut as part of her prop card design.  We used the usual 110lb Lettra, which was. . . ni…[Read more]

Hi I make my own paper and do letterpress also in Toronto. Hi Akemi *waves*I am starting a papermaking studio here due to open in the fall. http://www.paperhousestudio.caWe will just be making paper but I do my letterpressing through the OCAD University. 

I also make paper as well as print and bind. The main floor of my studio is where I do book binding and printing. I have my paper making equipment and silkscreen equipment in the basement where there is a floor drain. I mainly make cotton rag papers from recycling fabric but I also do tamezuki and nagashizuki paper making with asian bark fibres. I…[Read more]

Ooh thanks so much Chris, this is perfect!

Well, if you’re cycling the press the correct way the teeth should be moving toward you and then down, so there’s not really an issue of anything getting grabbed and sucked in by the teeth.That said, my new style came with a guard built into the support for the feed table that covers the top of the gear and then a piece of metal was just screwed…[Read more]

I referred to the book Creative, Inc. for figuring out my wholesale & retail pricing, preparing a line sheet, coming up with terms & conditions, etc.  Also try to grab other studio’s wholesale catalog so you can compare yourself against others in the industry so you know your info won’t seem out of place.  Several studios have their PDF a…[Read more]

I occasionally make my own paper, depending on what I need for a particular project. I usually use my handmade papers for artist books,  fine press books or broadsides, but have made some papers on commission as well. I don’t have my own papermaking studio – I rent time at Asheville BookWorks.

I don’t know if they are on this site as a member, but I know Oblation in Portland makes their own papers and letterpresses as well. http://www.oblationpapers.com/

The Boxcar website should get you started! Enjoy + happy printing.

When I first started trying to sell my items wholesale, I put together a catalog and saved it as a PDF and uploaded it to my ipad so that I had the entire collection there. Since I don’t just sell cards, but coasters, notebooks, bookmarks and such.  Then I went to the container store and found a nice box that was about 9x6x2 and I would bring…[Read more]

Thanks Jessica I will!

Try Owosso – http://www.owossographic.com/ or AA Dies – http://aadieinc.com/. I haven’t had plates made from  either company yet, but I’ve spoken with both and they’re very helpful.

Have you done any double sided work on the Muscletone? I’m prepping to print a run of double sided BCs for someone and I’m curious if this paper could handle a decent impression on both sides. 

Thanks so much, that site is great!