A technical dictionary of printmaking, André
Béguin.
Back to Main Page of the
"Printmaking dictionary"

hammer
- Knocking up hammer. Hammer used for knocking up plates are
relatively light with a narrow flattened tip on one side and on the other side a
widened out bludgeon. The hammering (knocking up) is done with the pointed side
while the bludgeon provides the necessary weight. Knocking up is done in order to
correct (efface) engraved plates from the back of the plate by raising lines that
are too deep or removing lines that are no longer needed.
[line engraving].
- Another type of hammer is used with a matting-punch or a dotting-punch. This
kind of hammer is much like the preceeding one but its bludgeon end is larger and
flatter while the pointed end is rounded. This kind of hammer is used to pound the
dotting-punches and matting-punches used in punch work (also called
gravure au maillet, or "dotted manner").
[punch].
- In typographical work an iron hammer is used to lock-up provisionally the
quoins and to sink the raised characters into
the forme by hitting the planer (a piece of wood with a blancket below it).
[typography].
Back
to Main Page of the "Printmaking dictionary"