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Underground > Art, Fashion & Design >

Mimeographs, Silkscreen Duplicators, Table Top Printing Presses, etc.

05:43 / 18.05.06

It wasn't long after I had run copies of some zine I had been working on at the office that I began searching for other ways to duplicate without the grainy quality of the copy machine.

I looked on Google for Mimeographs, Silkscreen Duplicators, Table Top Printing Presses, etc. but was a little put off by how complex (crude, maybe) some of these machines and kits look.

I'm not sure if I want to spend hundreds of dollars on something that I would discard after a couple of frustrating weeks trying to figure out how to operate it.

Then there's also the issue of stencils which I only have a vague idea of at least with regards to how they're made, applied, etc.

Suggestions?

00:04 / 20.05.06

First you're going to want to refine your search, so to speak.

Stencils aren't really a printing method. They are templates for use with chalk or spay-paint or other media.

Silkscreen is a printing method, but it's rarely used for print, and certainly not for a zine. Screenprining is most commonly used on shirts, bottles, or other non-paper products.

I don't know much about mimeographs. I haven't seen one since about '79. I remember that the smelled funny, but that's not what you asked.

I'm curious about Table Top Printing Presses. Google returns some really cool looking little presses! If you're seriously DIY you might get a kick out of one of these but I doubt that you'll get any kind of immediate gratification. Or graphics, for that matter.

If you're just looking for something to make a 'zine with, I'd personally suggest the HP 2100 series laser printer. I've been using the same one for almost five years now, and it was used when I got it. Not cheap, not color, but the output is excellent.

I'm pretty familiar with offset, screen and digital printing. Shoot me a PM if you have any (non-mimeograph) questions.

17:16 / 04.06.06

It depends on the size of your zine. Dimensions, # of pages, # of copies, etc..

Here's my suggestion..
Print your zine using a regular laser printer. It's cheap and since it's printing directly from the computer, you won't get the grainy results that you would normally get from photocopy machines.

For the cover, you can use the silkscreening method. You can buy a starter kit at your local art store and do it yourself. But it's probably best to get an experienced silkscreener to do it for you.

04:01 / 05.06.06

Danke! Both of you...

The following question is pretty stupid but, what kind of paper is good enough for printing on both sides?

04:44 / 05.06.06

I wouldn't go anything thinner than a 1 ply mayfair.
I've tried silkscreening on both sides of kraft paper, but it got kinda wrinkley.

Here's a great forum to learn more about silkscreening on paper.
http://www.gigposters.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17

21:07 / 05.06.06

Not a stupid question at all. Most paper manufacturers make paper specifically made tailored for laserprinters. When you're out shopping, check the labels, make sure they specify that the paper is suitable for laserprinting. Looking at my personal stash, I have some Weyerhaeuser and some Domtar, both of which work well.

There are two things you're going to want to watch aout for when paper shopping: The weight of the paper and the type. Paper is measured in pounds, which (i've been told) referrs to the pressure that the paper was milled under. The fibers in an 80 lb. paper is going to be denser and flatter (less tooth) that 20 lb. Paper can also be classified as Cover or Text. Cover is thicker and stiffer, Text is cheap (as in inexpensive) and flimsy. You'll want to do the interior pages of your 'zine on 20 lb. text (to reduce individual cost) and do the cover in an 80 lb. cover stock (for presentation). A good cover stock would likely stand up to sceenprinting as well.

20:55 / 26.06.06

Though if you're in The Uk or Europe, its gsm (grams per square meter).

Standard paper is around the 80-90gms thin card/thick paper is about 125.
(which is about the thickest you'll get through a lazer printer)

Screenprinting is brilliant for covers: it allows you to use special inks like fancy metallics or flourescents. It's also pretty quick.

Best thing to do is to look for a local print-makers workshop: while they can be expensive, you can get your hands on the sort of kit that you can't get at home.

Its almost impossible to get a decent printing press these days

Unless you go on ebay! Look at this beauty! £100 plus metal type!