Packing

Does anyone actually buy packing for their press or just use different scraps laying around? Is it worth buying the red pressboard packing or is their an equivalent substitue? What do you prefer for your soft/hard packing?

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coco bella

It would be useful to know what kind of press you have, but yes, I actually do buy packing for my press, a Vandercook. If you are using a platen, yes, I would say it is worth buying the red pressboard. The better the materials you use, the better you will print. Depending.

Gerald

The red pressboard is best, but I have seen some people use cereal boxes and manila folders for packing on a platen press, with decent results. Too-soft packing can make the type wear out prematurely.

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Halfpenny

This may be true, but it is really bad advice to give to newbies (who are the majority of folks on this list). Folks have taken apart presses and pleaded for help, and completely puzzled those in the know, when all that was the matter was that they needed to change their packing out because it was damaged by previous (over-heavy) impression.

Gerald

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Halfpenny

I suspect it is never useful to another how successful one (personally) is at something unless that can be explained so carefully that anyone reading it can understand it.

Even a hard packing needs a bit of “give.” Or why else even offer the option? Why didn’t press manufacturers just figure the maximum thickness of paper and just undercut to that?

Plastics and polymers (acrylic, polyester, mylar, tape, etc.), are hardly non-traditional letterpress materials, since they have been used for well over half-a-century.

Gerald

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Halfpenny

This is very good detailed information. Thanks.

Gerald