A Printer’s Checklist
Within every letterpress print shop...
...are a variety of tools, equipment and supplies basic to the letterpress printing operation. Numerous books, sites and resources for information on "how to" are available. Print supply house catalogs of yesteryear have great illustrations and descriptions of the many items used by the letterpress printer. But for the newcomer, learning about all the "things" needed can be as challenging as actually finding them.
The following is a simplified list of the "things" needed to equip a letterpress printing operation. It's set up as a shopping-list beginning with the press on through a natural grouping of items. Where appropriate, a brief description is given.
The Press
A platen press needs the following items to be functional.
Rollers
generally rubber, if in poor condition. New ones are available or the cores can be recovered
Trucks
Metal "wheels" inserted on each end of the roller)
GRIPPERS — TOP
METAL “ FINGERS”” THAT PREVENT THE FORM FROM STICKING TO THE TYPE.
GRIPPER BAR — MIDDLE
ROD TO HOLD THE GRIPPERS, LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLATEN.
Gripper Spring — Bottom
attached to the gripper bar, hold the grippers) in place as the form is printed.
Chase
metal, rectangular frame type, plates and furniture are locked up.
Type Setting
Items used to compose copy, set type.
COmposing stick
hand-held tool for setting type /copy.
Tweezers
for picking up type and little "things"
Quads / Spacers / Thins
various point sizes/widths of lead, copper, brass for word spacing and completing typeset lines.
Lockup Items
Items needed for locking up type/form prior to inserting the chase into the press.
Stone
a smooth level surface to compose and lock up the form in the chase.
Furniture
wood/ or metal blocks of various widths and lengths to fill in the chase for lock up
Leads or Slugs
lead strips of various widths and lengths for setting type. Also to complete a tight chase lockup.
Quoins
ronounced “coins.” Devices for “locking up” or tightening the chase.
Key
T-shaped tool used to tighten quoins.
Planer
small wood block to “plain” or level type for locking up.
Make-Ready Items
Items needed to prepare the press for printing
Line Gauge
Measuring devices generally 6 or 12 inches with picas and inches
Tympan
Smooth, manila colored, oil-impregnated sheet used as a top sheet for setting register gauges.
Pressboard
Firm, thick, red colored sheet. placed beneath the tympan to increse/decrese impression.
Tympan Knife
utility knife to cut slits to set gauges in the tympan.
Gauges
devices attached to the tympan to register and hold the paper in position for printing. There are many variations of gauge pins, unfortunately, some of the best are no longer available.;
Print Supplies
Items needed to print and clean up.
Paper
a wide range of papers for all purposes and tastes
Ink
choice of rubber based or oil based
Wash-up Container
small, airtight container for wash-up fluid.
washup Brush
horse hair or soft bristle brush for cleaning type and plates during printing.
Type & Plates
Check LT-Type for a small selection of the hundreds of type fonts on hand in our inventory.
Come visit Letterpress Things to see our full inventory of type, wood type, icons and plates.
type
wood type
icons
plates
Fixtures and Storage
Various tools, tables, cabinets that round-out the print shop's equipment list. Not all are needed initially, but all will eventually find their way into a shop.
Press Stand (some form of table for the table-top press)
Composing Table (a workbench of sorts where your stone will be placed)
Furniture Cabinet (cabinet for wood/metal furniture)
Lead/Slug Cabinet (cabinet for leads and slugs)
Rule Cutter (tool for cutting leads and slugs)
Type Cabinet