Best way to store heavy 48point metal type in limited space?
I’m thinking one letterpress case drawer (vertical orientation) on wheels. Seriously. The type is so heavy and when I had it in a drawer (horizontal), it was so heavy I couldn’t lift it. When I moved, I had to take type out and it’s in three different boxes, including a wheeled suitcase.
I want to sort the type but I need something on one drawer on wheels that I can slide out from beneath a bed or a couch. Advice?
Unless Hanes or Fruit of the Loom has a product in select parts of the country, I think you’re talking about letterpress cases, yes? Printers talking publicly about their drawers feels like information I shouldn’t hear. :>) :>) :>)
It sounds like you are looking for a long-term solution, i.e. one where you won’t be using the type? Is that correct? Use the John Horn method: store your large point size type in galleys.
That way, when you have space for a print shop, your conversion is direct from storage to galley cabinet. No extra sorting needed.
Also, make sure you stick a label opposite the galley open end. I can’t see why that option cannot work for you. I use pen on masking tape for my labels. Others may suggest other options that work for them.
quite a few years ago, I made some heavy type cases out of 1x1” poplar wood, and 3/8 plywood bottoms. I made them 12” x12”, and stack them up.
In my days as ink-stained wretch where even printing on the edge of the paper saved money, I too had need of typecases in which to store seldom used larger fonts. Of course the term ‘seldom used’ becomes moot when, invariably, after fonting to a galley, said face becomes popular once again. Not wanting to tie-up full-size California nor bear the expense of purchasing 3/4-size cases, I custom built a half dozen of the latter using common pine, 1/4” and 1/8” plywood. Following the original design was easy, and once dimensions are arrived, gang-cutting and assembling is easy. I’ve attached a photo of one such which contains 48pt. Oldstyle. These homemade cases have serve well over the years plus have survived a number of long-distance moves. If you can find someone still knowing how to use a table saw, glue and brads, that might be your answer. Other than that, you can peruse Etsy or e-bay and empty your Exchequer. :o)
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Thanks, here”s a pic of one case/drawer. A fellow Makerspace friend was slated to make a cabinet for three of these. But he wants $400. I might look at the Habitat for Humanity to see if there’s a cabinet of some sort that could be repurposed. Any ideas? Needs to have wheels.
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How many of those cases, all the same size, do you have? One solution would be to get two pieces of 1/2 inch plywood about 2 inches higher than the cases stacked and as long as the short sides of the cases, and two pieces of 1/2 inch plywood as long as the long sides of the case and as wide as the side extensions are long, and mount pieces of aluminum or steel angle (L-cross section) the length of the case side including extensions, screw those to the insides of the sides of the cabinet you’re building in pairs just far enough apart so the ends of the cases fit between them plus maybe 1/4 of an inch, then assemble the “cabinet” with glue and thin finishing nails, mount four short wide-wheel casters or fixed wheels on the bottom near the ends, slide your cases into the cabinet, and roll it under your bed (of course you checked to be sure it would fit BEFORE building it! :-). If you live near a “MakerSpace” you could use their tools and the staff expertise to make it if you don’t have the tools or skills.
Finding a ready-made cabinet of the right dimensions might take longer than building one. OR you could just get a low four-caster dolly, stack the cases on it, and roll it under the bed!