DIY Letterpress Proofing Press/Etching Press

[@julieduncan1996]

Easy to make? Not for most of us. But, pretty cool press!

[@TheMarkEH]

An excellent very well executed project. Well done and thanks for posting this informative video.

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Glad you liked it!

[@mbrombert]

Fantastic video. I have been thinking of making one myself and even though I do not have anything to cut into steel or a 3D printer, it has given me a few ideas and pointed me in the right direction. I am looking forward to making a 'crude version' of this. Thanks for sharing!

[@thein4mant]

Great video and press design. Are you willing to provide or sell your build plans for this press? The link for your drum fabricator is not working. Do you have specs for the drum as well?

[@SykesFW]

Would you be up for sharing a pdf file for the material specs for your press, roller size, hole diameters, plate thickness ect. Thank you

[@thequixotryworkshop2424]

If you are interested, I am also building an etching press from scratch. You can check it out on my channel The Quixotry workshop 😊 I will be sharing full plans, dxf files and specs at the end of my build. ( although not for free it will be cheap)

[@jules3768]

Thank you for this! I do have access to machining/CNC/3D printers - I see others have asked; would you consider sharing your files? My first thought was how I’d use this for woodblock as well as letterpress, so when you spoke later about making the pressure adjustable, that’s exactly what I’d been envisioning 👍🏼 Ideally I’d want to be able to print up to A1 so I’d just need to adjust the measurements for the platen. Thanks!!

[@wilhelmhagberg4897]

Super cool! But it’s some sophisticated machinery you’re using, wouldn’t really label this ”DIY” in the traditional sense.

[@ThisDesignedThat]

I mean its just a desktop CNC router that is aimed at the hobby market and a basic drill press. This is definitely aimed at a hobby maker imo. Thanks for watching!

[@skylarb.3363]

Amazing build! I recently created an all wood version with a strange wood/pvc pipe roller. Would you consider sharing your drawings/plans for this? I'd like to see if I could get the stainless steel and aluminum components machined here in Boston.

[@archadeinteriors]

i couldn't resist, genius video, the only one i could find,. . and i had to state the obvious . . ie: etc. etc. ( . . printing press. 2000 $, make at home 200 $, ( plus 2000 $ @home machines : ) . . ) . . .great video . .

[@ThisDesignedThat]

You could order the parts from somewhere like pcbway would be quite reasonable

[@archadeinteriors]

oh my goodness you had time in your busy world to respond! . .Thank you so much, and for what on my part, nothing but that i couldn't resist to state the obvious, your video is genius, the only one i could find, never mind my big mouth then, . .& happy printing sir! . .: 0 . .

[@LastV8Interceptors]

This is really great. Thanks for sharing your awesome projects!

[@sevulan]

i want to build one! it would allow me to take letterpress on the road!. ...would you share the CAD drawings? thank you!

[@JoshEvans0]

Hey, do you happen to have the CNC cutting files? Really interested in the build.

[@maximf.5537]

brilliant, thank you. You saved a lot…

[@AlMartinsvidplace]

That's a great use of your home CNC setup to produce the next thing that "makes"

[@BillRitchie]

Pretty good! Thank you for the video, well done.

[@nikolar91]

Thanks for really good video and all the details! Can you please post links to Facebook printing groups you mentioned at the end?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

ohh thanks for reminding me, i'll add the most popular printmaking facebook groups into the description, i'll have it updated tomorrow for you

[@cw4608]

Do you think this design could double as a die cutting platform for cutting papers?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Yes possibly, though a bottle jack style press would probably be easier to build for die-cutting. Main issue is how to make the dies :D

[@lucienelacerda2014]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@adamhuffman3354]

Great video!

[@eveekiviblog7361]

why you cant use wood rolling pin? or it will crack?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

over time the wooden pin would likely warp due to the pressure

[@AdanZepeda]

Do you have any recommendations for dealing with cleaning solvents, and how to dispose of them?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

I use cranfield safe wash inks and they clean up with water and soap. If i use oil based ink then i use normal vegetable oil to clean up. I never use any solvents.

[@AdanZepeda]

@@ThisDesignedThat that's great, never heard of Cranfield, thanks for your input.

[@michaelkelly3158]

Could you even motorize this with a ballscrew? Nice work!

[@ThisDesignedThat]

You couldddd but you ideally want a tactile approach so you can feel the pressure needed to pull across the plate. I guess if you could disengage the ballscrew, pull a few test prints manually to get the pressure right. Then engage the ballscrew to print the edition automatically that might work. Other proofing press designs used a rack and pinion design with a crank handle which would help to give more leverage and you'd still have the tactility to be able to feel whether the pressure was right or not.

[@michaelkelly3158]

@@ThisDesignedThat I see! I've not used one before, but that makes total sense! Great job on this :)

[@noverdeamarillo]

Hi, did you try this with intaglio?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Yes, mixed results. I dont have a proper intaglio press to compare plates so its hard to tell if the results are good or not

[@pashaveres4629]

Brilliant work! Thank you! Aloha

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@zacknowlandbarker]

nice one! would you be open for commissions building something similar?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Due to the time involved its really not feasible and i'd be working at a loss when you consider the hourly wage I need to make to pay the bills.

[@zacknowlandbarker]

@@ThisDesignedThat ah makes sense, worth a shot! cheers

[@ThisDesignedThat]

@@zacknowlandbarker you could try to find a local machinist to make for you. You need to find someone local because the shipping costs for this would be very expensive.

[@zacknowlandbarker]

@@ThisDesignedThat sweet, I'll have a look around - can imagine the cost. cheers

[@peterhoulihan9766]

Looks great, any plans to sell a parts kit?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

too heavy to send via post, even in the UK im afraid

[@peterhoulihan9766]

@@ThisDesignedThat That's a shame, nice project all the same.