Make The Switch…? Adhesive to Metal Back
I have been using a Boxcar Base with adhesive backed plates and I am finding the adhesive will slowly separate from the polimer. Know matter how careful I am when pealing.
Also I have a difficult time making minor adjustments.
If you have made this switch or if you use metal backs please let me know your thoughts. Other than the cost of a magnetic base $$$…
Thanks for you comments!
-sb
We use a Bunting base and metal backed plates and are very happy with the results. It is amazing how powerful the magnets are. Once the plate is mounted it isn’t going anywhere unless you deliberately move it.
Gerald Lange in his book Printing Digital Type, suggests using a sheet of plexiglas to assist in positioning the plate due to the pull of the magnet. I highly recommend this tactic as the “snap” of the plate being pulled to the base by the magnets could actually be quite dangerous. I can envision a cut that could easily require stitches.
It sounds like you might need to clean your plate base. Giving the base a good wipe down with alcohol will remove any oil or residue that is keeping the plate from sticking well.
If you are reusing plates it is handy to have some extra sheets of the adhesive backing that Boxcar puts on the back of the plates. That way if it gets worn out or the plate is dropped on the floor you can re-back it.
For me the advantages of being able to easily cut my plates (often to do color separations) outweigh any benefits of the magnetic system.
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
They magnetic bases lack the shear force that the adhesive has. Under heavy impression on a cylinder press the plate will slowly slide across the base. On a platen press there is not this issue.