Category: Letterpress for beginners
Later topic: First project
Earlier topic: Deep relief and standard base height

Van Son Rubber Based Ink in Canada

Hi there,

I am a super new owner of a C&P Pilot Press in Toronto Canada and I was directed to NA Graphics to purchase the inks. I was told to buy Van Son Ink but they don’t carry that brand.

I am looking for Van Son rubber based inks. Does anyone knows where can I find this brand or if you can recommend a good brand to use that I can purchase in Canada? Or close.

Thanks so much!

Log in to reply   7 replies so far

  • dickg
  • on 4 Nov 11 (16:29)

Try Don Black. if he don’t sell it they probably don’t make it. Shipping from the US to Canada will be more expensive than buying in Canada.

Also, keep in mind that despite what may have been recommended, most any offset printing ink should work well for you. While Van Son certainly makes quality inks, so do many other manufacturers. And although rubber based ink has some advantages (as well as some disadvantages) and some folks prefer it, oil based ink will do the job equally well (in some cases better), is more widely available, and comes in a wider variety of formulas and colors. In other words, don’t limit yourself. Find out what ink local (offset) printers are using and where to get it locally, and try some.

Ernest Green and Son distributes Van Son. I’m in Winnipeg and whenever I order rubber base from them they say it comes from Toronto, so you should be able to get it in short order.

  • Geoffrey
  • on 4 Nov 11 (18:56)
  • Updated 4 Nov 11 (19:10)

I have gotten Van Son inks at XPEDX in Brampton, and what they don’t have in stock, they can order. They also have a store in Markham. They also have paper, and I have spent quite a bit of time strolling around and looking at all of it, which is interesting.

http://xpedx.ca/Locations/paper_and_graphics.aspx

As mentioned above, you should be able to get it from Ernest Green & Son as well. They are in Mississauga.

http://www.ernestgreen.com/English/contact.php

We recently purchased some Van Son inks - we went directly to Van Son’s web site to find out what was available. You can order on-line or call their customer service department. We received the ink in 3 - 4 days and it included a special order by PMS color.

Dave is certainly correct regarding the advantages and disadvantages of rubber based and oil based inks. I believe I am remembering correctly that rubber base ink dries by absorption and oil based ink dries by oxidation (evaporation?). So if the paper you are using is coated stock, rubber based ink probably won’t absorb (dry) like you want it to dry. Same situation if you are printing a second color ink on top of an area already covered (sealed) by an initial color.

Hi Deborah,

I purchased my inks from Ernest Green and Son in Mississauga. I compared prices against XPEDX and EG&S were cheaper in most cases (e.g. ink A might have been slightly higher at XPEDX while ink B was higher at EG&S…but for the Pantone base colours I was ordering, EG&S was cheaper overall).

Shipping cost was low enough that I didn’t even consider driving from Kitchener to Mississauga to pick up my order of 16 ink cans. The catch is (if I recall correctly) a minimum order size.

Good luck,
Matthew

Great!!! Thanks so much to everyone!!! I will look into these places for sure!!

I will probably use uncoated paper most of the time so I think rubber base will work well for me.

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!