Letterpress Inks

And you would be using this for????

Rick

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In a feeble attempt to answer the query follows:- . . Primarily trawled from the Web??? BUT based also on recollections from a long time ago, apprentices normally were on the relevant pay scale, most all of us had the obligatory table Table Top at home and sourced our supplies where when and how etc.?. . Being attached to a Newsprint (Rotary) outfit, did have odd benefits, i.e. minute offerings from the Ducts of the Rotaries after wash up, (frequently colour even back then) but being Rotary was always thin, hence *retardants* came into play, (>acquired< of course and unspecified).
Suspiciously like that trawled from the Web, I.E. under,

Elements of Ink,

Modern Printing Inks come in 2 basic types, Liquid Inks Fluid & watery and Paste Inks which are THICK & TACKY etc etc.
***looks interesting possibly, D.I.Y. for the above,***
Apologies for rubbish but may prompt constructive response(s)
Good Luck. Mick

If you are printing on paper, you can obtain good ink from one of the letterpress suppliers (in the US boxcar press, NA Graphics, Letterpress Things) you can also obtain ink from Dave Robson at Ink In Tubes in California.

The standard inks they carry will be of the proper consistency for traditional letterpress printing. Stay away from craft store “letterpress inks” as they are a bit too soupy (read that low viscosity).

As Mick suggests, you could ask a commercial offset litho shop if they could save a bit of ink from cleanup of their ink fountain, but you would not have repeatable results as if you purchase inks from s supplier.

John Henry

Having learnt from my father - an artist-printmaker he - back in the 1949-50 era, I’ve always used T.N. Lawrences’ ”original Linseed Oil range” for all that I have done as a hobby on a long series of presses. All essentially hand worked, Adanas to Albions, and a few treadle platens too. Many with only two forme rollers. And due to this relatively poor rolling power You need a ‘fully finished’ ink, which commercial printers ink commonly isn’t quite, relying on a commercial press multi roller stack to finish the job. The ink makers dont say this out loud!. Lawrences is fully finished.and washed clean with turps sub. Beware some commercial trade inks are very wierd.
Qualifying experience: 5 years as artists dogsbody, then 40 years in the trade, and since 2000 a private press.

Dan, Post on the way, via B.P. lines of communication, Hope I (author) is NOT Helping 4th. 5th. generation Bushranger, as in Ned Kelly,s Brother *DAN*??

Dont want to think of 4th 5th, generation (alleged) Authors relatives being involved with anything untoward. As in Van Diemen`s Land first occupants.?

Joke of course, 95% BUT mid 50,s Oz. was crying out for many trades, (including and especially Printers) Assisted Passage, around £10.

Kin folk, inToowoomba, Brisbane, and Albany… Mick

Dantheprinterman - I have had some really good luck with GANS ink. The Rubber Base “Mixing” series ink in the high tack is very good for letterpress; if you should find it to be too high of a tack, they make a rubber base specific reducer which works very well.

You’ll have to call them. FYI, they sell 1 lb cans as well as 5 lb cans; it’s harder and harder to get 1 lb cans of Vanson, for example.

http://www.gansink.com

http://www.gansink.com/contact-us/ - find your region if you’re in the US.

Best of luck.