Category: Letterpress for beginners
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Registration on Kelsey 5x8 with Box Car Base - Business Cards

Hi,

So I am still a newbee, and have printing a few, one color jobs on my Kelsey 5x8 with both photo corners, and gauge pins, and using a box car base.

So I am now attempting to do a business card, and I am thinking that printing a few up at a time is better than printing one? I got the gauge pins in at the edge of the base (one ripped out after getting jammed in the chase), but just wondering if this is at all correct method? Or should I be printing up a few at a time for more surface area?

As soon as I thought I had it dialed, my next print would come out crooked. I had first tried to print with it centered on the base with photo corners as you can see in the picture.

Any advice would be helpful. I have read all the tips and tricks on registration on other posts and thought I was following them, but I know I am doing something wrong.

thanks.

image: Picture 18.png

Picture 18.png

Log in to reply   4 replies so far

  • dickg
  • on 14 Apr 11 (13:32)

You can make gauge pins out of an index card, like a file folder stock. Cut a strip about 1/2” wide, i make them about 1” long then fold up both ends then tape in place the center so the folded up ends can open and they will hold your paper. make sure the tape to hold these doesn’t cover and type or it will print harder, this way your base won’t be damaged and these pins won’t break. Good Luck Dick G.

It almost looks like you are trying to stand the business card on end when printed. This doesn’t give you much control over the position. The further apart the guides can be, the better you will be able to control the position. I have had good success using a strip of chipboard pasted to the tympan to support the piece being printed. That way you can center the image on the platen and make the best of the impression capabilities of your small press.

Paste a piece of cardstock on top of the strip to make an edge which keeps the tock from falling off the ledge of the chipboard.

You can use PVC Pipe Wrapping Tape to make your guides. It’ll give you a straight edge guide for your stock and it won’t damage your base. I buy it at Home Depot.

image: PVC-RegisterGuide.jpg

PVC-RegisterGuide.jpg

image: PVCregister.jpg

PVCregister.jpg

image: PVCtape.jpg

PVCtape.jpg

Thank you all for you feedback. Seems pretty clear. I will Try this, this weekend.

best.