Aluminum or steel for building a tabletop printing press
I am on a mission in my lifetime to build a functional tabletop printing press, around 5x8 chase size. I have restored several Kelsey presses and will likely base my design on that.
Would aluminum be sufficient as a material for construction, or should I stick to something like steel? I would like to use something that does not rust easily, so I am looking to aluminum or stainless steel. I am also hoping to build it from mostly flat materials and would like it not to weigh so much that I can’t move or ship it easily. Those are my main concerns.
Any mechanical engineers out there with some ideas? Thanks!
I would take a look at the inexpensive clamshell foil-blocking presses that are coming out of China to inspire the construction. You’ll find them on eBay or simply by searching Google for “foil blocking press”. They are made from primarily 3/8” ish steel sheets, and some of them just use posts between two sides for the body-frame, which would cut down on weight. It would however reduce rigidity.
I’d start off by copying the proportions and geometry of the Kelsey. Plywood should work well for testing the action if the end result is sheetmetal.
Does seem like a lot of effort to reproduce a press that goes for $500 these days, but hey, we’re doing this stuff mostly for fun, right?
You could consider copying the Adana Hand Quarto design, simpler than a Kelsey-style press and equally effective when equipped with self-inking and grippers as was the HQ. It’s also, in cast aluminum, lighter than a Kelsey 5x8, and has the advantage that the bed is horizontal and wide open so makeup in the bed is easy, and the chase allows use of quoins. It uses two ink rollers and a rotating ink disc.
Just a thought.
I’ve built a number of presses….. and unless you are less intelligent than I am (which is doubtful! ) building a Kelsey style press is certainly do-able. The thing you’ll have to do figure out how best to fabricate / weld / bolt the cast metal parts. None of it is terribly complicated but it does take some time.
Personally, I prefer cylinder style presses…. but that’s just me.
Now, about materials: I’d use aluminum. It is easily strong enough, and cuts far easier than steel. AND remember, the US OSS made aluminum Kelsey’s during WWII for distribution to French Resistance printers. It was plenty strong, and about 1/2 the weight. Their design used steel rods for the pivots, which anybody can get at the local hardwares store…. and Online Metals has a good selection of plate Aluminum. (check out their 3/8 plate! They often have it for sale at reduced price )
Ad-Lib: The Adana Hand Quarto is a GREAT little machine. Another good machine is the little 7x11 Showcard Press…. both would be good choices for build-your-own.
Thank you for the suggestions, I have a lot of ideas and now some motivation. I will definitely be prototyping in plywood and then move on from there.
I have not worked a lot with metal and I have been concerned about galvanic corrosion between metals such as aluminum and steel. I would like to make the large pieces from aluminum for the weight, but I do believe steel rod may be necessary for strength. Is corrosion something I really need to worry about? I don’t plan on painting the parts if I dont have to.
if you store your press indoors, galvanic corrosion is not a problem. My aluminum presses all have steel rods, and none show any sort of corosion.
hmmm duplicate