The Smoosher… linocut print press

SWMBO, being the eclectic crafter she is, recently took a couple of classes to learn a process called “linocut printing”. As I understand it, you take a sheet of linoleum, backed with some sort of stiffening substrate, then carve a relieve imagine into it using gouges. You then ink up the block and use a press to transfer the image to print stock, fabric, whatever. Something like this image stolen from the interwebs…

There are a couple different print presses that are commonly in use. The first being a much more professional rolling-drum style press, the next being a much more utilitarian mechanical-lever press. Others include screw presses, and even using a rolling pin…which makes sense to me from a $$ standpoint! Anyway, she was interested in getting a press for her own use, and for the informal monthly crafting get-together she hosts, so she showed me what was available. My God! $200 for a basic mechanical-lever press?!? Now, SWMBO is pretty brilliant, and has me figured out to a ‘T’…I immediately said, why don’t we save that cash and I’ll build you one? This, I assume, was her end goal the entire time as she said ‘Sure!’ and walked away smiling…and it’s not like she’s not going to spend any saved cash on art supplies anyway…

So, I did a bit or perusing to get some baseline dimensions and build specs. Honestly, there isn’t a lot out there, but I found enough to fill in the blanks on my own. I had some 1.25”x1/8” steel strap and some 3/8” threaded rod so I began noodling out an idea. I started cutting and fitting pieces of strap. Sizing them against each other and trying to keep the three dimensional physics straight as I went.

Now, I’m not a good welder, but I do have a couple good grinders, so that’s enough to make it look like I know what I’m doing most of the time. Any of you that do metal fabrication will understand the joke “A grinder and paint makes a welder what he ‘ain’t”…for the rest: it’s a funny truth, trust me.  Essentially, the press uses a frame to hold two platens and a lever arm to apply pressure to, as SWMBO so elegantly put it, ‘Smoosh’ the print…and theres a fair mount of pressure being applied with that lever arm. 

But I digress…I had welded up the frame and then laid out all the hinge points. The idea was that everything hinges off 3/8” thread stock, or 3/8” bolts. My initial concern was the stress on the hinge points, which turned out to be null. I should have focused more on the flex of the frame. 

I drilled everything out using the Vortex metal bits that Ducky did a review on a while back, I believe. They’re awesome! If you drill metal regularly, you need to invest in a set. Basically, they look like normal drill bits, TI coated I believe, but the cutting flutes are stepped like you might find in a step bit. So, the hole is gradually widened with each turn of the bit, stepping out the hole until you reach full width. All the advantages of a stepped bit, but with a fixed diameter so you can’t overshoot. Guys who drill metal will understand the advantage here. Anyway, they worked great! Great find Ducky…

After drilling and cleanup, I finalized mocking up the frame and lever. Clearly there was a bit of a twist somewhere in the frame, as isn’t uncommon with my welding! It’s not bad, but things are slightly out of square somewhere. Not enough to cause a major problem, but it’s there. During final assembly, I placed a single washer underneath one side of the top platen attachment bar and everything came into level…but that proves the twist is real and not just a visual thing. 

Anyway, I used a bunch of steel and nylon washers, coupled with nylox nuts, to make sure the tensions were just right. Certain things need to swing freely so they don’t load one side more than the other during pressing, and some things need to be friction-fit so they stay in place on their own. Each hinge has to align against other hinges and provide enough space for pieces to pass by without locking up against each other. Once that was all worked out (with copious pics and notes so I could reassemble it later), I broke it all down for media blasting and powder coating. 

I finished the parts in a nice Sea Foam Green color that SWMBO likes. The platens are cut from found-on-road-side 3/4” thick pine/fir shelves. Doubled up, glued and trimmed to give a max print area of 12x16.

Reassembled with each bolt being cut down flush, mostly for aesthetic reasons, I then turned a walnut handle for it. Platens are finished with 4 coats of wipe on poly, the handle with a couple coats of Danish oil. A little laser deco work, then all the wood parts got some paste wax. SWMBO dubbed the contraception The Smoosher…and who was I to disagree? 

Most of the presses I saw online looked like they were using thicker stock, but I had the 1/8” strap and figured the platens would add rigidity. Turns out there’s a reason they use 1/4” steel for the frame of these things…but mine works well enough for gov’m’t work. If she ever opens a print shop, I’ll build her another one with a more rigid frame. There’s some flex, but it remains to be seen if it really matters, especially on smaller prints, which she’s more likely to make anyway…at least I hope so. I’m out of wall space for her ‘art’. Maybe I can convince her to make postcards and send them to…anyone. You guys want a custom printed postcard?…anyone…?

Overall it was a good project. Especially with not having anything to really compare the build design to…and never having used or even seen a linocut press. I’ve definitely proven it can “Smoosh” and I’ve once again proven there should be no concern about me running off to become a professional welder. That said, I’ve also reaffirmed my distinct love of having the ability to powder coat ‘in shop’. We’ll see how the small amount of flex in the frame may or may not affect her prints. TBD!