Last Saturday was my final letterpress class. I really enjoyed it! If you’ve missed my previous letterpress articles, you can visit week 1 and week 2. I’m a little sad it’s over, but that’ll give me more time to get the Vandercook SP15 press up and running!
This week was just printing and wrapping up the class. I still have a lot of newbie questions, but I am keeping track of them. When I gain some more experience and learn the answers to these questions, I’ll write up some beginner letterpress articles and share them here, or I’ve also considered starting a new letterpress blog. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough to write about, so we’ll see on that one. Meanwhile, here I am printing!
Anyway! So I printed my second set of cards on the Vandercook again (never got a chance to use the C&P). Even though this was only my second time on a press, it was definitely easier than the first time. I found I wasn’t as nervous, I moved a little faster and I didn’t lose any cards like last time!
This is a multi-purpose card; for my British friends, it can be a Thank You card and for my American friends, it’s a celebration card (birthday, graduation, New Years even!).
SP15 Restoration Continued
The real exciting part for me this week was more cleanup on the SP15! If you’ll remember last time, I shared that I’m restoring a Vandercook printing press so that I can use it. It doesn’t belong to me, but it’s not being used by anyone right now and it needs some love and attention and a gallon or two of Evapo-Rust! Click any of the pictures below to see a larger version on Flickr.
I can’t say enough good things about this product; not only does it work wonders, but best of all it is environmentally friendly and not an eye, nose or throat irritant because it doesn’t contain any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like so many industrial cleaning solutions and it’s biodegradable. Now you can really start to see the headway I’m making. Compare these before and after pictures (after picture doesn’t have the cylinder because that’s soaking!).
I have to say that a lot of this cleanup is due to the Evapo-Rust. Just take a look at what the poor cylinder looked like before I started cleaning it.
Isn’t that amazing?? You can even see the line where it was sitting in the Evapo-Rust solution. This is quite an amazing product and if you have anything around your home that needs the rust removed, this is definitely the way to go. It’s completely safe and it works miracles!
The picture above is about 10 hours worth of work. Next week I’m hoping to finish cleaning everything up and do some test printing! I decided not to get it as clean as I had originally hoped because the more parts I disassemble, the more I realize I really could take the whole thing apart to clean and that would take a looong time. These machines are made for industrial type work (haha) and a little dust and grease never bothered them. As long as the paper stays clean and the ink doesn’t get grit in it, that’s as clean as it needs to be.
Keep up with my restoration project via the Vandercook SP15 Restoration set I have going! I upload photos there before I write about them here (usually on Saturday or Sunday).
If you’re interested in learning more about letterpress and possibly getting into it yourself, there are a growing number of resources available online. I’ve recently started a Squidoo lens on the subject, if you want to check it out!
The Birthday Giveaway!
Oh yes! And before I forget, many of you expressed interest in winning some of the cards I’ve printed, so in celebration of Creative Curio’s one year birthday, I’ll be giving away six sets of my cards, three sets of five cards for each design (“Happy Day!” and “Cheers”). Matching envelopes (no printing) included. Estimated value $15 USD each set.
All you have to do is leave a comment in this post and I’ll randomly select the winners next week. Comments must be left by Sunday August 10 at 6 PM PDT (compare times for Los Angeles, California to figure out what time that means for you).
So come on out of your feed reader or email client and say hello for a chance to win a pack of letterpressed cards printed by me! If you’d like to add what kinds of posts you want to see more of on Creative Curio, that would be a great help!
Happy birthday, Creative Curio!
I’ve been enjoying the posts on letterpress printing…I just recently took a workshop myself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cheers!
I have to say I envy you.
Well ok, I don’t envy the 10 hours of cleaning, but letterpress printing looks mighty fun.
Have you seen Stephen Fry’s documentary on the Gutenberg Press? If not I highly recommend it.
I’ve enjoyed this series of posts on letterprinting. The cards turned out beautifully, too – they’ve got a really classic look to them. I was thinking they’d work great as wedding invites/thank yous, actually. I’m doing the invites for a couple I know and this gives me some inspiration for it.
I look forward to these posts. Definitely my favourites on CC.
Love the “cheers” concept. You’ve also done a wonderful job of restoration.
A letterpress blog would be great! In the meantime, please keep these letterpress posts coming. Can’t wait for the next.
Happy Birthday and thanks for the chance
I actually do envy you your ten hours of cleaning — it’s not easy, but it’s simple, and the reward is so amazing!
Elizabeth,
Awesome! What kind of press did you print on?
David,
It’s actually pretty fun to clean the press and I’m continually amazed at how it is put together; no part fits where it’s not supposed to. It’s pretty incredible! I haven’t seen that documentary. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks!
Gio,
Oh there are tons of examples out there of letterpress printed wedding stationary (thank you’s, reply cards, invites, placecards, etc). Just search something like theknot.com and you’ll find loads of inspiration!
John,
I’m enjoying writing these posts and I’m glad you like reading them, too. I have to actually do stuff with the press in order to have stuff to share and it does take quite a bit of time and gas, but I do want to continue every weekend!
Michelle,
Thanks and good luck!
Alec,
Rewarding is definitely what describes this work! I am enjoying taking everything a part and seeing it get so shiny from my efforts.
I am enjoying these blogs on letterpress printing. I love doing things digitally but there is just something about the feel of really lovely paper in your fingers…
Oh and your new site looks great. Charming.
Thanks!
Ressa,
I’m of the same mind, exactly! I like the tactile nature of printing things myself, too. Have you ever done letterpress printing before?
Lauren,
In that case you really must check out Mr Fry’s documentary
There is a clip on the BBC Four website that might whet your appetite
i took a print making class and loved it! i thought it would be a cinch, but i was soo wrong. i spent alot of time in the work shop!
Mary Jenkinss last blog post..Time to Vote For Best Blog! (Giveaway announcement at bottom of page)
Wow, you’ve done a great job cleaning, it looks great! i’m really impressed about the amount of rust you were able to get rid of so easily
I’m sure you’ve been careful and are aware, but make sure not to remove any oil on the rollers/ballbearings as it can cause some scary problems! I’m finding it hard to know what oil and grease I can clean on my press and what i have to leave alone
What are you doing in relation to sourcing stock and ink?
Alex Charchars last blog post..The Garden of the Mind ~ Part Two
David,
Hehe, cool! I’ll check it out! Thanks for finding me a link!
Mary,
Getting into such handcrafted arts like these really makes you appreciate the time and care put into the projects when you see them out and about, doesn’t it?
Alex,
Thanks for the reminder. I did ponder a bit about what grease I should actually leave on there, so I’m not getting into the gears and wheels inside. These are industrial machines after all; they’re meant to keep working and working! Well, there’s ink in the shop already and although there is an inch of dried crust on top, the owner assures me that there is good ink underneath. You need so little anyway that a can of ink will last forever. At my class, a majority of the inks were Van Son. Boxcar Press has a good breakdown of which types of inks are best to use for which purposes. For paper, I’ve used Fabriano Medioevalis and I like that. It’s relatively inexpensive when compared to most handmade letterpress paper (you’ll spend about $50 USD for 100 cards and envelopes) and the folded cards are already creased so you don’t have to bother with that part.
Boxcar Press is a great site – i was able to find the manual for my press on there, very handy! Makes it easier to figure out what level does what and what I probably shouldn’t touch
I’m not too great with my ink knowledge yet. I’ve been told it’s a lot better to use rubber ink for letterpress wok because it gives a good vibrancy in colour, so i need to find some of that. But it is amazing how long it can last!
I’m not sure what I’m going to do about paper. The print house we use at work are friendly and approachable so i might see if i can get some nice off-cuts from them. The stock in your shots are stunnigly beautiful, would love something like it
Hi Lauren,
Happy Birthday to Creative Curio! I’m so impressed with your knowledge of design principles and especially have appreciated the InDesign tutorials. Thank you. I’d love your thoughts on fonts, spacing and ways to spice up blocks of text for newsletters, brochures and short communication pieces (the less glamorous projects that have to get across a message). Maybe you’ve already addressed this in the past…I’ve only been subscribing to your feed since May.
P.S. I’m a fellow OC resident!
Would lve to win!! Priceless giveaway!
Very cute Ode to Evapo-Rust
I was actually quite fascinated with it too, when my dad was trying to clean up an old bike. It’s really cool how it eats up the rust (I hear Coke can do the same thing 
)
Not as exciting, I’ve seen some seriously cool stuff people do with regular Bleach and dark paper… Mmmm, if I only wasn’t allergic to chlorine…
p.s. this is my entry, btw.
RaShells last blog post..Not So Ordinary
Alex,
I found a manual for the SP15 there, too, though it isn’t the greatest reproduction; the details are quite blurry. The paper I used was the Fabriano brand. It’s from Italy.
Kristen,
Ah yes, love those newsletters. I haven’t addressed ways to spice them up in the past, but that’s a great idea! In the meantime, I would suggest checking out Communication Arts magazine (got a link in the sidebar there). Both the design of the magazine itself and all the designs they feature should be a great inspiration to you! Yay OC! hehe
Carla,
Good luck to you!
RaShell,
While Coke may do the same thing, it also has sugar in it so you’d have to wash everything afterwards. I much prefer rinsing quickly with water! I haven’t heard about that trick with bleach and dark paper.
Working with that letter press sounds like so much fun! I guess by cleaning it and everything you are really learning the ins and outs of the whole operation.
Oh, and giving away some one-of-a-kind handmade cards? Genius!
Jacob,
It is so much fun! If you ever get the chance to print on a letterpress, I highly recommend it! Good luck in the draw!
Re: bleach. Well, it’s not exactly related to the cleaning, but I thought of it “by association”. Check this out:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=81773
I even tried doing it myself, in a painter’s mask, but it kinda takes away from the fun…
RaShell,
OOoo, cool! I’ve never seen that before. doodlage worthy?
Pretty neat, LaurenMarie. Looks a lot like the set-up I only vaguely remember from that 10-week printing course in high school.
Steve,
I wish they still had at least a print elective like this in school. But noooo… we had to learn typing with Mavis Beacon and Mario!
Hi, Lauren!
You just made me finally comment after months of subscribing. Giveaways really motivate people. ^.^ I would like to thank you so much for such wonderful articles, specially thoe basic design topics and those helpful InDesign tutorials–they saved my life while I was setting up a book for my design course.
Thanks again and keep the letterpress stuff coming!
Felipe,
I’d love to help!
Well welcome to the comments! I’m so happy to be meeting many new readers because of the giveaway. Maybe I should do them more often, eh? If you ever have any questions on design or InDesign, please feel free to ask in the comments
Working with heavy machinery can be scary. The first time I used a French Press (something that puts the contents under about 1000 psi) was kind of nerve wracking, but the first time I used it unsupervised was worse! The second time unsupervised was much easier.
I love the “cheers” cards. I use that phrase all the time (when writing). The purple colour is gorgeous too.
Lucky you had that mirror next to the press. It makes the photos really interesting!
kristarellas last blog post..WordPress using Coda and MAMP
Kris,
That’s not the same thing as the coffee machine by the same name, right? Fortunately with a Vandercook, it’s not as dangerous as other presses because it’s mostly hand-operated, or in some cases (like with my SP15) fully manual. That mirror definitely makes for great photos! It also makes the room seem so much bigger because that whole side of it is mirrors. Cheers!
Nope, not the coffee maker
I break open bacteria to extract the protein with this press.
kristarellas last blog post..WordPress using Coda and MAMP
Kris,
Wow, that sounds so impressive (er, no pun intended), but I bet it’s pretty basic in biology.
I’m not sure it’s that basic… in the sense that I hadn’t heard of it until I started honours. It’s very easy to use when you put the bits together properly though. Essentially one big hydraulic pump and a canister with a valve. I wonder what I’ll do with all this acquired knowledge and skill. Biology and I aren’t getting on very well right now, I don’t know if we’ll make amends or not.
kristarellas last blog post..WordPress using Coda and MAMP
Psst, there’s a mistake in the Comment Luv plugin where the names aren’t followed by an apostrophe. It’s up to you whether you want to fix it with every upgrade or not. I know David Airey has chosen to and Jacob Cass has chosen not to. I’m going to mention it to the author of the plugin.
Edit: don’t see why you’d need to change it with every upgrade actually, if you’re adding it in on the settings page it should stay in your database with the settings.
Kris,
Sorry to hear that you’re struggling with your career path right now. I know it’s been something you’re wondering about for a while now.
Ah, I didn’t realize the apostrophe issue was in the admin panel options. I thought I would have to go in and change it in the PHP file, which is why I hadn’t done it yet! Thanks and fixed!
Two things:
First, happy belated birthday!
Second, cracking good little miniseries on letterpress. Having never been exposed, I’ve created a post on my own blog linking back to here to share with the world (not that you necessarily need any help … but this is what public notebooks are for!)
Beautiful job. Well done.
Samuel John Klein’s last blog post..[design, printing] Lauren’s Adventures In Letterpress
Samuel,
You’re so kind! Thank you! Just left a comment on that post. Good luck in the draw!
happy birthday! thanks for sharing.
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