more letterpress - steps back

Saturday, I spent a good amount of time working with my letterpress.  I did pull some nice prints but there was a lot that I was not happy with.  It felt like a day that I went backwards.  The heat did not help either.  The ink was getting tacky.  It was really hard to clean up it was so tacky.

At the end of the month, I am taking my press and working with a gentleman in New Jersey.  I am excited by both the time to learn but also getting out of the town.  It has not been the hottest summer in Houston but I could do with a change of scenery.  We drove a bit out of town for dinner the other night mostly to see hills.  A change of scenery.  

getting there

I worked with my letterpress on Sunday.  Since the last time I did, I read the manual.  I found it online and I learned good things.  I also got more tools.  Some I ordered.  Some I had in the house.  The new paper holders that are soft work really well with the Boxcar base I am using.  I got about 30 business cards printed that I am happy with.  I need to cut more paper to print more and I will need to trim these.  Every time I work with the press, I am getting a little better

This is the tool I am using most often for adjustments, a screwdriver.  I have lived in this world where a 32nd of an inch or a 16th of an inch makes a huge difference before.  But that is usually having to do with the placement of blades on boots.  This will require patience but I will get there.  I possibly may take a class too.  But that would require a road trip.  With where my head is, that may be a good thing!

paper cutter

With all this paper I am dealing with, I need a paper cutter or a good knife.  I mentioned this to my Beloved and he started researching paper cutting knives.  He found a Japanese design that he modified with me.  He also played with scraps and made these for me.  Actually, the small one is his.  It has his initials on it.  It is also the one that works best.  I really like them.

I have been doing a lot of research today.  I have also decided that I am going to take point of few I read when researching Navajo spinning.  Do not say you cannot spin (or whine or complain) until you have spun 10 skeins of yarn.  That is actually a lot of yarn.  I am going to take that attitude.  I also found someone who sets up mentoring sessions.  He is an expert on my press.  It would mean a road trip but I am a bit antsy.  I have to realize we have done a lot of road trips for bladesmithing.  It is okay to do one for me.  It would be in a town in New Jersey that I like too.  I have more ideas and this weekend I will get to try.

frustration in learning

I have spent a good majority of today with this beast.  I really could not start learning its idiosyncrasies until I had all the bits.  Well, I have learned that I need a few more bits.  I also could not figure out how to get it setup to print consistently.

This is my pile of trying.  And you should have seen my hands.  It was a good thing I was wearing an apron too.  I need to find a mentor.

I do have to admit that I am tempted to build myself a press from instructables.com.  Just so I have something to work with.  

More phone calls to make tomorrow.  A few more tools to order.  And we have Small Mister for the majority of my off time for the next few days.  It will all happen.

But I am tired and want to sigh.  It will be better tomorrow.

the printing plates are here!

I was walking out the door to skating and realized there was a package on my work bench.  My Beloved had put it there when he brought in his steel.  It was from my plate makers for the letterpress.

I have most of what I need to print now!  I am going to find some time this weekend and start.  I have to admit that I am very excited even though that was not the plans for the weekend.  But I thought my plates were not going to be here!