A little over a year ago I started a letterpress business with a C&P 10 x 15 Old Style. Although I don’t have too much experience with other presses to compare, the C&P has been great. Generally, they’re reasonably priced and fairly easy to find.
Mine’s been fitted with a variable speed motor which is nice if you’re actually hoping to do enough printing to make a living.
A C&P is probably a good way to go, for the reasons that Travis mentions. Reasonably easy to find and reasonably affordable (i see them range from $600-$2,000). They are also simple enough to operate.
A Vandercook is great, but will be hard to come by and may be pricey ($2,000-$6,000). Vandercooks are also usually slower to operate since they are hand cranked, but have other advantages like a healthy sheet size capacity, plenty of impression strength and great engineering. I would not turn away a Vandercook if you find a good deal.
The Heidelberg windmill is another commonly found workhorse in alot of letterpress shops, but is more for the intermediate/advanced printer. Fast and very versatile, but a bit more complex to operate. Reasonably easy to find, however, and relatively affordable ($2,000-$5,000) considering its capabilities.
Shoot for the C&P, and keep your eyes out for the next best thing.
I have an opportunity to buy either a Craftsmen Superior or a Golding No.3 both tabletop presses. Does anyone out there have experience on either of these and could you start a small invitation business and get quality work from either or both?
A little over a year ago I started a letterpress business with a C&P 10 x 15 Old Style. Although I don’t have too much experience with other presses to compare, the C&P has been great. Generally, they’re reasonably priced and fairly easy to find.
Mine’s been fitted with a variable speed motor which is nice if you’re actually hoping to do enough printing to make a living.
A C&P is probably a good way to go, for the reasons that Travis mentions. Reasonably easy to find and reasonably affordable (i see them range from $600-$2,000). They are also simple enough to operate.
A Vandercook is great, but will be hard to come by and may be pricey ($2,000-$6,000). Vandercooks are also usually slower to operate since they are hand cranked, but have other advantages like a healthy sheet size capacity, plenty of impression strength and great engineering. I would not turn away a Vandercook if you find a good deal.
The Heidelberg windmill is another commonly found workhorse in alot of letterpress shops, but is more for the intermediate/advanced printer. Fast and very versatile, but a bit more complex to operate. Reasonably easy to find, however, and relatively affordable ($2,000-$5,000) considering its capabilities.
Shoot for the C&P, and keep your eyes out for the next best thing.
I have an opportunity to buy either a Craftsmen Superior or a Golding No.3 both tabletop presses. Does anyone out there have experience on either of these and could you start a small invitation business and get quality work from either or both?