Shop ventilation

Hi Ladies of Letterpress peeps! 

I’m currently exploring an opportunity to move my print shop to a commercial space with storefront visibility. The space is in a building currently being renovated, so I may have a chance to get the HVAC company currently working on the building to put in some kind of ventilation fan or hood for me. Ideally I’d be able to save on costs by connecting in to a neighboring tenant’s system. 

My shop is currently in a garage, which has barely enough ventilation with windows and the garage door. I use natural solvents mostly, but the fumes can still get pretty heavy if I don’t get a through-draft by opening windows. 

I’d love to hear what other printers do. Do any of you have an active ventilation system? Are any of you in enclosed spaces without the ability to open windows? How do you manage the fumes? I’m particularly interested in studios that have a retail component, since this part will be really new to me. Thanks in advance for your input and advice!

– Marit

(My apologies if this thread should’ve been posted in another section of the forum – I couldn’t find a great place for it, and there didn’t seem to be any other discussions about this yet. Thanks!) 

Hi Marit,

I have a retail storefront and small letterpress studio that share the same space (letterpresses are behind the counter). It is situated in a century-old building with stone and brick walls. I do not have a ventilation system, but I use odorless mineral spirits and rubber based ink.

Most customers that come in when printing is taking place comment that they like the smell!

There have been some instances where I wish I could have ventilation (usually just when I daydream about adding a polymer platemaker, rubber stamp making machine or laser cutting to my offerings). 😉

I’d say there’s no harm in getting a quote to see if it makes sense budget wise, but you probably don’t require it.

Andrea

P.S. If paying for an improved ventilation system would give you control over humidity, that would definitely be a perk. In our experience, there’s a real fluctuation with results being near the ocean.

Thanks Andrea! I appreciate the input. Great advice. 🙂 

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