User's instructions, Polymetaal etching presses JM-15 and JM-25

Assembly
In the card board container you find the following items:

  • etching press
  • bed plate
  • three spokes, packed in paper.
  • four "hooks" to attach the press to a table.

The spokes have ends with screwthread. This allows you to screw the spokes into the hub. Fix them well by turning them firmly with the help of a srew driver. It is possible that both rollers are protected with paper and a brown plastic film. Please remove this carefully and take the grease of with cloth and solvent. The rollers must be clean and dry before usage.
Use of the press
This press is very well suitable for printing intaglio (copper and zinc plates) as well as woodcuts and linocuts.
The following drawing shows the situation while printing from an etched or engraved metal plate (intaglio)

The purpose of the felt is to press the paper into the small engraved lines of the plate, in order to accept ink.
Some people use cardboard shims under the pressure spindle (between the small moveable part and the bearing block of the top roller) to generate more "flexibility" in the press. For etching is has not much effect, but for printing woodcuts or linocuts it can be of help. It helps to compensate the irregularities of the wood's surface.
Printing woodcuts and linocuts with this press

The drawing shows a layer of felt. This felt has also the feature to compensate for irregularities of the woodcut or linocut (differences in thickness). If the woud or lino should be perfectly plane, no felt was needed. Underneath the felt is a plastic layer (PVC) of appr. 5mm thick. This is only functional in combination with the felt. If the PVC layer should not be used, the felt would press the paper into the hollows of the woodcut or linocut. If you want embossing, very well. If not, prevent this from happening by using the plastic layer.

Maintenance

  • The bearings of this do not need lubrication.
  • All clean steel surfaces have been threated with a protective spray (Tectyl) to prevent rusting, with the exception of the rollers (felt would attract dust if in contact with this spray)
  • It is recommanded to use and store this press in a dry room, to prevent rusting (for example, etching with aggressive agents should be done in a different room, for the same reason)

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