Letterpress

Equipment:

• Vandercook No. 4 cylinder proof press – “Vinny”

• Vandercook No. 4 cylinder proof press – “Winnie”

• Vandercook SP-15 cylinder proof press – “Spanky”

• Vandercook No. 219 cylinder  proof press – “Cranky”

• Vandercook SP-20 cylinder proof press – “Spanky II”

• Columbian platen press – “The Eagle”

• Chandler & Price 8x12” platen press – “Clanky”

• Kelsey Exclesior 5x8” tabletop platen press

• furniture cabinets(2)

• assorted spacing material (metal and wood)

• Anderson Vreeland photopolymer platemaker

• drying racks (2)

Materials:

• letterpress ink

• photopolymer plates

• Boxcar polymer bases

• slug cutters

• vegetable oil and Crisco

• Varn A-230 solvent

• shop rags and towels

Letterpress Cleanup Checklist

For your first time printing on the Vandercook, you must print during open lab hours, and have a

staff member approve the quality of your cleanup. After completing the checklist, get a staff

signature at the bottom of the form.

__Clean type or block while locked-up. Use a semi-clean, dry rag to wipe the form thoroughly. Make sure to

get around the edges and corners. You may use California Wash on the rag if needed, this is recommended for linoleum, and sometimes needed for wood type.

__Return type to a galley tray and store on the rack. If time allows, put type away immediately after cleaning the press. Do not leave lino blocks on the trays.

__Return all furniture and leading to the racks. Do not abandon an items, ask for help if needed.

__Apply oil or Crisco to the top roller while it is spinning. Apply slowly in small amounts, until the rollers stop spinning. Lift rollers and do not put them back down.

__With nitrile gloves, find a dirty rag and wipe ink off of the top metal rollers, and the rubber form rollers. This may involve removing the metal rollers from the carriage. Never remove the form rollers from the carriage! Continue wiping until all ink is removed. There should be barely any color remaining. Change rags as needed.

__With a clean (or mostly-clean) rag, dab a small amount of Cali wash. Do not ever pour Cali Wash directly on

the rollers or type! When you are done, there should be no evidence of color or grease. Return top rollers to the carriage, if applicable.

__Make sure the rollers are up, then turn on the machine to rotate the bottom motorize roller. While it is running, wipe to remove all ink. Scrub side-to-side with a closed fist gripping the rag, being mindful of the pinch-points.

__Again, use a clean rag and Cali Wash to remove all remaining ink and grease.

__Use this rag to clean any remaining ink on the edges of the rollers, pressbed, rails, touchpoints, and handles.

__Clean the ink palette and knife, wiping excess ink into a piece of paper and disposing in the red bin. Wipe the palette surface with a rag and cali wash. Wipe all 5 sides of the knife and handle!

__Return all rags to the appropriate bin, and dispose of fully-soiled rags in the red bin. No letterpress ink goes in the regular trash or sink.

__Reset the press—if you made modifications to the roller height or packing, please return to normal, or notify a staff member.

__Do a once-over! Look over the press and your work area, make sure all has been reset and you items & tools have been returned to their home. Make sure rollers are up!