Resingrave block on a tabletop platen

Been trying to print a carved resingrave (an epoxy alternative to hard end-grain wood) block on my little 5x8 and ran into some inking issues. The surface seemed to resist ink, and got rather sporadic covering. It took something upwards of 8 inkings between impressions and even then there wasn’t much consistency. The rollers are set and level as I print from both photopolimer and metal type. The block is about an inch and a quarter by two inches, just 1/16th of the chase size (though rather solid).

Has anyone had experience with printing from Resingrave on a platen before?

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Have you tried a little more roller pressure?

Dan

Hmm..good idea!
I’ll try that.

I haven’t tried printing my resingrave blocks on my platen press (a kelsey excelsior) but I have printed resingrave using my etching press. I have found that it does require a couple of inking passes with my brayer to get a consistent layer of ink. You might want to try hand inking and then pressing it to the paper. Also, I have a tendency to use a pretty high pressure for resingrave. So I agree with Dan about trying more pressure.
I’d love to hear about the solutions that work for you!
Good luck,
Alexia

I have had good results with handinking and a wooden spoon in place of a press. It is proving quite a challenge for my humble Kelsey though.

I wonder if there is some solvent from the manufacturing process on the surface, causing it to repel ink. Often when printing linocuts I have to take a finger and rub the printing surface with ink to get it ready to receive ink from a roller.

Paul

oprion, When I print from resigrave I add a small
amount of varnish to the ink. The old timers used
to call that doping your ink. Also a cylinder press
will print with more fidelity than than the table top.
best james

Some very good advice. I’ll try them all and see what works.
Thanks.

not used resingrave, but relief printed lino in Columbian etc-BUT-tried degreasing the plate with meths? using oil based ink or acrylic/resin type inks?With lino I often advised students to slightly sand it to remove the grain first, but also this would slightly and very very finely roughen the surface texture so the ink “adheres” and builds up a little-maybe worth using a kitchen cream cleaner now but may affect very fine lines- what about trying different surface effects/treatments on the underside if it is still not used yet ………………

Finally figured it out. The tape on my trucks became uneven and bumpy inhibiting the roller action. Taped the rails instead (7 layers) and everything went back to normal.