Polymetaal, printmaking equipment, etching presses lithography presses, Beguin's technical directory of printmaking

A technical dictionary of printmaking, André Béguin.

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shellac

I saw shellac at Wal-Mart not long ago. But a number of other coatings should work as well. The thing about shellac is that if you choose to use an oil base ink and clean up with mineral spirits or turpentine, it won't dissolve the shellac because shellac is dissolved in alcohol. If you used something besides shellac to coat the wood, you'd want something that wouldn't be affected by the solvents you may be using. I suggest a spar varnish. But myself, I print with oil base inks and when I make my first proofs, I just lightly wipe the excess ink from the block and let it dry. This seals the poplar wood I use well enough for me.

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