Resolved Can I use an Etching press as a Cold Press?

[Jleschak]

For reasons I wont go into on this thread (reasons other than framing), I pulled the trigger on an Etching press…a bonus would be if i could use it as a cold press…I haven’t seen it yet and get it Sunday, but think it is reasonably large and if it could offer other value, even better. I see lots of other notes on using a Cold press for Etching, but nothing stands out for the reverse.

Any thoughts appreciated. John

 

[JFeig]

Etching presses generally do not have a very smooth surface. This is intentional to grab the pressing blankets. Is your upper roller smooth or does it have very tiny grooves? You need smooth rollers for mounting.

 

[wpfay]

What Jerry said, and additionally, it would be dependent on the solidity of the substrate.
The thickness of the blankets aren't of the exactness needed to mount to foam centered board.
Cold mounting to aluminum or possibly ACM might work, or possibly using an additional plate between the blankets and the mount.

Roller presses use rollers both above and below the item being mounted, and the distance between is critical to a uniform mount.
I have a smallish (40") heated roller press and the upper roller is slightly tapered from the center outward which is supposed to keep the item being mounted from bunching up under the rollers. I don't know if this is a feature in all roller presses.

 

[Jleschak]

Thanks. I will see it Sunday. Might be able to try something for some lower risk projects (i.e. ones for the wife :0).

 

[Ylva]

Ha, I would call that a high risk project!

 

[Larry Peterson]

Thanks. I will see it Sunday. Might be able to try something for some lower risk projects (i.e. ones for the wife :0).

In what universe do you live in that projects for the wife are low risk??

 

[Jleschak]

Fair point, probably why I’m divorced.

 

[Jleschak]

This what I got. A Conrad e-15, the cylinder looks pretty smooth.

 

[wpfay]

Nice press.
With a bit more thought (delving into sophomore year art school memory), I've done laminating on an intaglio press when experimenting with the effects of applying layers of tissue over etchings (Chine' Colle'?).
You might want to look into some kind of dense rubber pad other than the felt printing blankets (they are pretty expensive to replace if my memory serves.