Cleaning Old Newspaper Print Blocks
I recently obtained a couple of large boxes of old newspaper print blocks. I’ve attached a picture of one of them for reference. I’m new to letterpress printing. Can someone tell me exactly what these blocks are (I thought they were going to be carved wooden blocks, but they’re not) and how to clean them. And the best way to use them.
Thanks!
Old Newspaper Printing Block
that is a photograph, they were pictures shot thru a screen to break them into dots, if you look thru a strong magnifier you will see dots, i’m not sure how to clean them, i would use press wash and a soft brush, maybe a tooth brush, a engravers rubbing stone might work, but don’t know where to get them anymore. the ink used for printing these was thinner than regular ink. hope this helps. Good Luck Dick G.
That cut is a halftone photoengraving, which are usually zinc or magnesium; the white areas suggest magnesium, which corrodes more quickly than zinc. The brushes used for cleaning photengravings have fine brass rather than fiber bristles. They will remove a lot of crud (especially when used with type wash). When there is corrosion, the finishing rubber comes in handy, to smooth the surface; the rubber is like an abrasive eraser block, probably not made anymore. You don’t want to take the corroded parts lower than the good areas, so be careful. You might try rubbing on a very fine grit abrasive paper.
Thanks for the info!
Like I said I’m very new to this, what’s a good source for the type wash (and brush, if possible)? Is the finishing rubber a tool also?
I just cleaned out the boxes I received from a local newspaper. There are about 200 of these photoengravings and I’d like to try to preserve as many as possible. Thanks again.
NA Graphics might have the brass plate brushes, or you could look for a fine brass suede brush; the finishing rubber is a block of abrasive rubber a litle bigger and thinner than a Zippo lighter; NA might have some old stock, but I think they aren’t made now. Getting the rubbers off eBay is problematic since old hard rubbers are of little use.
With out the real finishing rubbers you might try the most abrasive grade of eraser, like the hard gray strips used in a drafting electric eraser. There were also similar abrasive rubber plate hones made for aluminum offset plate, not sure where you’ll find one now.
Type wash, you could just get mineral spirits at the hardware store, or white gas/stove fuel for more agressive action on dried ink. Use with caution, away from any pilot lights or other sources of ignition.