Base size for Adana 8x5

Hi everyone,

I need a base for my Adana 8x5, but not sure what size to get. I’ve been told I should get the 3.5” x 6.5”, but I’m wondering if the 4.5” x 7.5” is an option without causing any issues? I obviously want to print at maximum size, so would prefer the larger base if possible.

What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

Thanks :)

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Just because your press is 5x8 that doesn’t mean you can print that big. Yoru base needs to be a bit smaller than the chase to allow for quoins to lock it up and also for gauge pins to hold the paper in the press, if your gauges hit the base they will either break or do damage to the base. The larger area you try to print the more pressure is required to make a good print, if you’ve been told to get the smaller base then that is what you should do. Good Luck Dick G.

I would stick with boxcar’s recommendation of 3.5 x 6.5. I followed their recommendation on purchasing a 9x12 base for my 12x18 Kluge, and even then I’ll notice that I can have issues trying to print the full size of the base. Large sizes just require for everything to be just so, whereas you can get by with less makeready, and possibly repairs, if you commit to a smaller size. You should probably limit your printing to 3”x5” image area at a time, and tile your printing if completing larger areas.

Good luck.

James Beard
Vrooooom Press
www.vrooooom.org

There are times when one wants to print light copy all the way across a sheet, or at the extreme ends of a sheet. Or a border image around a card or sheet. Of course, you should not plan on printing a full solid image at 4.5”x7.5”, it would tax the strength of the press, but you could well need the width of the larger size at times, and it would be nice to have.

As Dick mentions in his note, you would want to control what type of guides you use so that they do not tangle with the base, but that is true with the smaller base, as well, if you are printing a very small card.