It’s easiest if you start with the roller at the top. Standing on the right side of the press (if you’re facing it in the operator’s position), put that top roller in first by sliding the core under the saddle furthest from you (across the ink disk) and use the butt of your hand to push the saddle closest to you up just enough to ease the roller…[Read more]

Illustrator is good for single page illustrations and layouts.InDesign is best for multi page type based documents like brochures and magazines.Both have limitations that you can overcome by creating in the other piece of software (including Photoshop) and importing into each other as they work pretty seamlessly together. (eg if you have all 3…[Read more]

Thanks Kelly! I checked it out and my press doesn’t have that 2” long rod that sticks out. It doesn’t have any sort of tool to help pull the saddles up to place the rollers in.  

Laura, If you’re looking at the press from the front, the right-hand saddle should have a little 2″ long rod that sticks out, and you can use that to wedge the saddle up over one core.  There is a whole lotta tension in those springs, and you’re not really going to be able to pull them very far. Good luck!Kelly

I come from a raster background…Corel Painter kicks bootie hands down!- for painting.  Illustrator’s pen tool rocked, but I had read that InDesign was better with digital font when applied in letterpress…so I was curious. Thanks for sharing your experience Bev.

Illustrator CS5.   I have been a prepress tech and graphic designer for letterpress exclusively for 6 years (the old Quark days through CS5), If I was working in the 4 color process world I would probably be more inclined to use indesign. If you take the time to learn how to use the Pen tool in illustrator, you will learn to love…[Read more]

Glad you found the right fit 🙂 Happy printing!

Well …We have a 10X15 and no drip pan – never been a real problem (we have an epoxy covered cement floor) We have a table that is about 6′ x 3′. small – but it has worked well for us. we can have 2 computer or several clients. we have cabinets for paper, etc about 4 feet wide, quite deep and going up about 7 feet. We need more and we are a v…[Read more]

Soak the metal in vinegar.  It’s smelly but works.  I’d mix 1 part vinegar to 1 part water (more concentrated works faster, but then you have to buy a lot more vinegar!).  The acid (acetic acid) will react with the rust and float to the surface of the liquid.  If you don’t have a container large enough for soaking, vinegar-dipped rags will wor…[Read more]

I had searched briarpress and found a thread. Hopefully someone will reply with dimensions for a drip tray. I hadn’t looked at fiveroses recently. Their site is so overwhelming I get off track every time I visit the site :o) I will search for coaster/wheel use in both places. Thank you.D

Check out this thread about that, http://www.briarpress.org/25804#comment-26567If you search around on Briar you can find a lot of useful information. Here is another very useful site with many links, http://www.fiveroses.org/intro.htm 

The visual definitely helps. Thank you Camille!Is there a disadvantage in having the press on coasters? I was contemplating them secured on the skid? I thought when they’re bringing the presses in, it would be the best, if not only, time to convince the strong backs to help. Opinions, anyone?D

Here is a picture to give you an idea on room for your presses.

Camille, thank you for replying. Leaving room for a pallet jack I would have overlooked.D

Yes, on the drip pans. Sealing the floor is a good idea. You should leave at least two feet behind and between the presses, so you can oil the presses and other maintenance…personally I like enough room to allow for a 40 inch skid. Work surface should be minimum the size of your chase for lock up….bigger is better. Shelving as much as you can…[Read more]

Thank you Lars, that does help. I will get a deep relief base from Boxcar. Not only is there a savings, but for my C & P it seems a better choice. I appreciate your help.Dee

We produce and use all three plate types here (KF95, KF152, and KM152). I prefer the KF95 (standard relief Boxcar-style plate) for the Heidelberg Windmill because it’s easiest to use, and I really like the gridded Boxcar bases. It makes positioning a snap. Plus, I don’t have to worry about plates shifting during a press run or curling when being…[Read more]