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The 'Handbag Press'

1/15/2017

27 Comments

 
Picture

After some years operating my website I have finally decided to have a go at writing this blog. I often wonder whether the effort of putting a blog together is worth it….well we’ll see!
 
I begin with a record of some experiments I’ve been doing with a little press – the XCut Xpress; made by a company called Docrafts as a die cutting and embossing press for card making etc. They seem to be available all around the world; although they also appear to be getting in short supply in some places as more and more printmakers realise the potential use as a small, relatively cheap printing press.
I got mine here https://goo.gl/AtYh6z

I have two beautiful old presses in my studio which print linocuts perfectly. But I can never resist a little technical development and experimentation with a new idea. There are a few of these little roller presses around; all designed for embossing and cutting shapes for craft card making etc. This one seemed very sturdy and also has an all-important pressure adjustment knob. Although I have to say that on the first XCut I brought home, this knob was seized tight, so I had to drive 30 miles to return it for exchange. What also appealed to me about this particular little machine was that it folds up to handily transport it. My idea was therefore to use it as a little demo machine at shows and talks etc.
The Xcut comes with three base boards; one 1.5mm metal, a 3mm plastic and a 12mm plastic. The thicker plastic looked like it would work well as a printmaking bed, so I popped an old small lino block on to it (I pre-mount my lino on to 6mm MDF board before carving) and rigged up ‘forme’ to lock it in place and support the paper from strips of the same MDF’ just as I do on the big presses. I a cut a piece of ordinary felt to use as a packing/driving blanket, found some off cuts of my usual 300 gsm Somerset paper and guessed the pressure setting; which turned out to be almost at the maximum gap on the Up/Down dial adjustment.
I was really surprised and pleased with the initial results. Really no problem at all with the evenness of pressure and the ease of gearing of the little handle. The only limitation was the lack of press height i.e. the gap between the rollers, which is only about 21 mm (type height is 23.4 mm) and therefore ease of pressure adjustment if I used 6mm MDF. Bearing in mind too, that my lino is Marmoleum commercial flooring lino, which when sanded flat is quite a bit thinner than the usual (and I think expensive) grey art lino. I also disliked the cramped space to work on the 300 x 200mm base boards provided.
​See a video of this first attempt here
So the next experiment was to make a longer bed and use a thinner mount and forme for the lino.
I could have made a bed from 10 mm MDF but I thought this might bend and would quickly get dirty and tatty. I liked the 12 mm polyethylene board supplied and realised that a large commercial food cutting board I found on Amazon https://goo.gl/b7NdGI would make me two 600 x 220 mm beds. OK another 28 quid, but if a job’s worth doing….
This time too I decided to test the press’s ability to print in register using the ‘Ternes Burton’ Pin system (more on these later). So I took an old used linocut plate off its 6mm block and remounted it on 4mm hardboard (Masonite). Again I made a forme support of the same hardboard and attached TB register pins. This enabled me to print with the dial set at about number 9 (offering some leeway) on the same 300 gsm paper.
I duly ran off half a dozen perfect prints in the first colour with no problems; removed the block from the forme, cut some more; replaced the block and printed the second colour. Spot on register and even printing - even slightly wet on wet using Caligo Safewash inks. (See pictures below or a video here)

So… conclusions?
I believe this little press will revolutionise small scale home and hobby printmaking. It is very limited in the size of image and paper it can accommodate of course, but I know others are already using it to successfully print etchings, drypoints, collagraphs etc. As I write, I hear suppliers are running out of them as word has spread on social media. I hope the manufacturer/distributer Docrafts have the sense to develop and encourage this market and at least make a longer bed available.
Personally I will certainly be using mine to demonstrate at shows and galleries as often as I can. I have a ‘residency’ planned at one of my galleries at Easter this year (more on this later too) and I will be producing something for that to show its potential. Indeed, if I had the enthusiasm for it, there would no doubt be a big demand for short courses/workshops on how to use it. 

Picture
Two longer beds from the chopping board.
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The 'forme' and registration pins
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Block in the forme.
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Some leeway now on pressure adjustment.
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Very consistent results!
27 Comments
julie murphy
1/15/2017 01:13:48 pm

Hi Colin-I've just bought one of these on your and others recommendations!. I'm an experienced screen printer and some monotype-but wanting to experiment with collagraph and monotype on the xcut but don't have the technical knowledge you have re pressures, appropriate thicknesses of platesetc. Would you consider doing an online training workshop-obviously paid for? I'm in Ireland so not so likely to be able to attend a hands on one! actually just taking it out of it's box would be a good start!

Reply
Colin
1/15/2017 02:49:47 pm

Sorry to disappoint Julie. After over 30 years in professional education and training, my own time to do my own thing is now my priority I'm afraid. Anyway, the best way to learn is to dive in and try it! But do let me know if I can help with any specific thing. Go for it!

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Cheryl Bell link
1/16/2017 12:48:41 am

Hi Julie, this is a very new product so I think we all have to experiment to find how it works best. Take a look at Annie Day's or Edith May's Facebook page as Edith has written a blog about using the machine with some very helpful hints re settings, paper, etc. Mine is arriving today and I can't thank Colin enough for this introduction and his very helpful videos. I am a wildlife artist too and I love working with lino but rarely use it due to the hand printing limitations. Good luck! Cheryl

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Wendy McHugh
1/15/2017 01:46:31 pm

Many thanks for your blog entry on this little press. I have been following for the last few weeks. Much appreciated

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Karen McLain link
1/15/2017 02:24:46 pm

This is an excellent post. Thank you for the review and summary of your test of the Xcut. I agree with you, it is going to open the possibilities of printmaking to more people.

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Mara
1/15/2017 02:41:50 pm

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Aine Scannell link
1/15/2017 05:08:50 pm

Colin - great post about this gadget. I have a friend who may well be interested in this. I wonder if your video is viewable on You Tube.? I shall have a look. My browser(and O.S) is out of date / cant afford new computer............but I can view you tube videos.
One thing about writing a blog and I am experienced in this respect - is please add some kind of ' follow by email' form to your website/ blog. myself and others will appreciate that!!!
I LOVED your leaping frog xx

best wishes Aine

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Colin
1/16/2017 06:59:55 am

Hi Aine
Thanks for your kind words. I am just uploading them to YT now. Takes ages with our crappy Scottish broadband! Yes I have to look at some kind of 'follow' tab. Blogging is new to me and I dont know if I can be bothered really. Also very time consuming!

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Carmen Wing link
7/31/2017 03:50:47 pm

I don't know if you'll see this Aine but for blogs like Colins (who I have just discovered and am loving reading) I find Bloglovin' helpful. Just create an account (free) and then add the address of the blogs you want to follow - they then email you when those blogs have updated.

Carmen x

Brenda Kelliher link
1/21/2017 11:25:52 am

Thank you so much for your posts on Facebook and this incredibly helpful blog post.I am near Annapolis Maryland. I got an XCut on sale for $89 on Home Shopping Network, it arrived in 2 days ...found a grand big chopping board in Walmart .... Ternes-burton register pins and strips on Blick.com ...but I may have ordered too high? the .120" ones seem high, although for collograph which I do more than lino, if I build up the base board I might get away with them - or should I send them back and get the .055" pins? With deep appreciation for your generous sharing of your expertise - and LOVE your work.

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Colin
1/21/2017 02:03:31 pm

Thank you so much for your very kind words Brenda. As I say, the TB pins are new to me too. The height of my pins is 0.085in (2.159mm) - slightly lower than the depth of my thinner lino plus 3mm mount board and are fine through a press, whilst still gripping the tabs perfectly. Film animators, for whom this system was developed might need the higher ones, but I don't think you will. Why not go mad and have two sets - one for possible collagrah us? I would!

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Colin
1/21/2017 02:06:35 pm

Failed my spelling test at the end there!

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Brenda Kelliher
1/21/2017 02:10:57 pm

Thank you for responding so quickly on a Saturday night! You just clarified for me about the pins origin ... the multiple drawings for animation ... I will pay careful attention to clearance and boards etc...and might indeed send for the lower pins! Wishing you a very special Burns Night on Wednesday for all your generous help!

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Theresa Bond link
1/22/2017 08:37:08 pm

I'm in Austin, Texas and received my XCut today in the mail. I am looking forward to using it. We used the registration pins for silk screen at the university, thank you for all the photos and tips.

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Belinda Del Pesco link
2/13/2017 06:15:27 pm

Colin, I've just discovered your blog today from a referral (please keep writing & posting), and I'll link back to this post to share your excellent commentary and demonstration videos. The cutting board idea is brilliant, and the frog and rabbit prints are amazing. I second the request for an email subscription option. :) I can hardly wait to see what else you'll be working on next in that beautiful studio.
All the best - Belinda

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Susie Q Cortello
3/7/2017 07:57:37 am

My Xcut XPRESS arrived from U.K. last week, haven't used it yet as I am still trying to set up my printmaking studio. Having been a lettering artist for 25+ years, making the shift and trying to set up my tables so the "chi" will flow has been time consuming. Your blog has been incredibly helpful, many thanks for your time, which I know is valuable. Thanks to Brenda K for the info on chopping board--- will be headed today to Walmart and to Blick for Ternes-Burton paraphernalia. Many thanks, Colin, for you most informative blog. You have quite an awesome studio and your work is outstanding.
I also thank Belinda Del Pesco for the lead to your blog. All the best to you. SusieQ

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Belinda Del Pesco link
3/7/2017 09:04:40 am

Hi Susie, Congrats on your purchase of the Xcut, and bravo on your dive into printmaking. Like you, I labored over the arrangement in my studio after buying an etching press, but ultimately, I found that it's best to simply START. The sequence & flow will reveal itself based on your intuitive movements from carving, to inking, to printing, to drying prints, etc. I hope you're sharing your results! We'd love to see.
All the best -
Belinda

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Reanna Keer-Keer link
12/22/2017 01:24:25 pm

Thanks Colin for this informative post! On the back of this, I just bought an Xcut - I've been ill of late and printing my christmas cards on my screw press has been a little more than my back could handle, this looks perfect for the task. A couple of silly little questions - what thickness of felt are you using? Need to buy some more, I'm wondering if 3mm will be enough. How did you cut the chopping board at home? (This last one shows up my utter lack of diy skills... beyond a stanley knife and I'm lost!)

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Brenda Kelliher
12/22/2017 01:36:57 pm

Hi Reanna ... Colin will likely respond with more detail - but to reassure you ....I just used a basic saw that I use for all sorts of oddjobs ...I ruled the line with a marker first .. I had a clamp to clamp the board to the table so it did not shift, made sure there was no wood underneath - and just sawed away gently ..shifted the board and clamp as I progressed. Then used some coarse sandpaper to smooth off the rough edges ...good luck!

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Colin
12/26/2017 05:39:56 am

Hi Reanna
Just got round to catching up with emails and comments etc after Christmas stuff! Thickness of blanket depends a lot on what you want to print. There is another blog entry on here all about the subject. Belinda's reply is correct; a sharp handsaw and clamps will be fine. I used my woodwork shop table saw. However, if you are in the UK, or are prepared for the delivery cost overseas and you want a good long bed and all round felt blanket I recommend this https://www.handprinted.co.uk/printmaking/drypoint/xcut-xpress-printmakers-accessory-pack

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Reanna
12/26/2017 05:44:38 am

Thank you, really helpful 😊

Brett
11/4/2018 09:53:52 am

Hi Colin,

Do you have any thoughts about dampening paper when printing with the Xcut?

Many thanks,
Brett

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Colin
11/4/2018 01:58:30 pm

Hi Brett
Well that's a huge question! And I'll be honest, damp paper is irrelevant to whatever press you are using. Any press is just squeezing a given 'sandwich' in a gap between two bits of metal! Some ink, matrix and paper combinations give a preferred result when using softened paper. Personally for linoprinting I never print on damp paper. But of course for intaglio methods or collagraph it is almost always necessary. Why do you ask?

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Brett
11/4/2018 02:48:26 pm

Hi Colin,

I'm still experimenting with different inks and papers, and was curious to hear your thoughts. I've taken to recreating sixteenth- and seventeenth-century woodcuts in lino, so I'm working exclusively with micro gouges under a magnifying lamp. The blocks themselves look great when I ink them up, but the prints I've pulled have been disappointing. Haven't yet tried the Xcut (which just arrived), but am hopeful!

Cheers,
Brett

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Isobel Urquhart
12/16/2019 12:25:18 am

Dear Colin
There's a lot of talk about availability of the Xcut Xpress recently - people talking about it being withdrawn by the manufacturers. Is that Docrafts? Is there any purpose in trying to contact them about the market out there for their little wonder?

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Alan Scott link
1/7/2020 02:32:01 pm

They are available again. Just bought the Xcut Xpress from the Range in the UK (Jan 2020). Bit more expensive than previously (£79.95) but like Colin I'm retired now and follow my own interests as I like - so it's cartooning and printmaking for fun for me. There were three in the Perth store I was in. Plus loads of Xcut accessories if you fancy craft die-cutting and embossing.

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Addie French link
12/5/2020 09:08:47 pm

Very nice blog you have hhere

Reply



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