Manufactured to be relatively portable, simple to operate and even easier to maintain, the lever-operated table top platen press is an excellent entry point for the aspiring printer without the resources or space for a traditional freestanding letterpress.

Definition of Table Top

“Table top press” is a broad term generally used for small lever-operated platen presses designed for mounting on a worktable or portable surface. The weights and capabilities vary from less than 20 pounds and only capable of printing single lines of type to over 300 pounds and capable of printing postcard sized forms with reasonable results in the hands of a skilled printer.

Adana, Challenge, Chandler & Price, Sigwalt and Kelsey are but a few of the recognized brands with table top platen press models in their product lines.

Table Top Model Comparison

The table top platen uses the force from a hand operated lever to rotate the ink recharging disk, traverse the ink rollers across the form, bring the platen and press sheet into contact with the form, close the impression mechanism, return ink rollers the rest position, again traversing the form, and reopen the platen to receive another press sheet.

The platen generally remains open and in a stable position until force is again applied to the lever to repeat the cycle.

Once the lever stroke is completed, no inertia from a flywheel or reciprocating motion takes place; if force is removed at any point during the printing stroke the press will generally either fall open again or simply stop in the current position. This makes them particularly suited to teaching environments where safety is a concern.

The mechanism for generating impression depends on the brand, but most models use a bottom hinged or ‘clamshell’ platen and knuckle design which is not capable of high impression pressures but allows for compact, relatively simple and lightweight printing forms.

Table top platens very seldom have a ‘trip’ mechanism to allow for inking the form without form-to-platen contact. Therefore, if the lever is engaged with a form in place, it will print on the platen regardless of whether a press sheet is in place or not.

The inking roller and disk mechanisms also vary between brands, from very lightweight simple iron rod hooks to ink roller mechanisms very similar to larger floor model platen presses. Often, the weakest link in most table top press inking mechanisms is poor or inconsistent rotation of the ink disk to allow for even/proper recharging of the rollers; this should be checked for free and consistent motion.

The much heavier and more robustly constructed presses such as the Sigwalt, Golding, C & P Pilot and Challenge models are capable of consistent impressions & inking. They produce excellent results.

The more lightly constructed or smaller models are also capable of good results, but, difficulty in maintaining careful adjustment and consistency of impression & inking due to light construction can make achieving finer results with any consistency very difficult. What is traded in quality of resulting work is generally made up for in cost and portability.

General Safety

Few table top presses are stable enough to print with when free standing; they were almost all designed to be bolted to a work surface. Ensure that the press is firmly secured to either a suitably wide base to provide stability, or a workbench with enough support to prevent any side to side motion or tipping. The table or workbench used to support the press should be absolutely solid, level, and capable of fully supporting the press’ weight without wobble or twist when the press is being operated.

Keep the work area around the press clear and provide enough room to move the lever and press mechanisms completely through the impression cycle without striking anything such as the wall behind the press or nearby furniture.

The table top platen press requires oil and attention to maintenance as much as its larger floor standing cousin if expected to provide good service. Always ensure the press is clean, oiled and working properly prior to beginning any printing work. A few drops of oil where needed, a wipe with a clean rag, a few ‘dry pulls’ and careful inspection to spot loose parts before inking the press should be the rule.

While the lever-operated press has the unique safety features of ensuring at least one of the operators hands is occupied and therefore unlikely to be caught in the closing platen, it is still capable of causing significant injury if used without due diligence to safety.

Care should be given to ensuring long hair is tied back, jewelry such as bracelets, hanging necklaces, and rings are removed, sleeves are rolled up, and apron ties are secured.

The lever should never be released until returned completely to the starting or rest position. Letting go of the lever early can easily result in damage to the mechanism on some models.

Do not allow children to operate a table top press without close supervision.

Do not print if you are tired, anxious or intoxicated.

Chase and Form Sizes

Table top platens are not well suited for yielding dense ink coverage and the amount of impression necessary for printing large solids or forms.

A general rule of thumb for a table top platen press (and all letterpresses) is expect to print a form approximately half the overall chase dimensions with maximum press sheet size equal to the chase size with allowances for guide and gripper clearance.

The chase size of a press does not indicate the actual form size the press is capable of printing with reasonable results. It’s just the maximum size of form that will fit into the chase.

Don’t try to print a 3 x 5” form with lots of solid coverage on a 3 x 5 table top press and expect great results (if any). However, you could print a simple 2.25 x 3 calling card with a few lines of 12pt type or ornaments very easily and acceptably. If you make reasonable demands on your small press and you’ll receive more than reasonable results.

This is not to say larger sized forms can’t be printed on outsized press sheets, or solids can’t be achieved with effort and experience. People have, and always will, test the limits of equipment. It is not advisable to expect success in such endeavors without a high degree of frustration and the good possibility of failure.

Printing Instruction

Specific operating instructions should be sought for your particular model, but the printing process on a tabletop platen press can be summarized this way: the ink disk and rollers are charged evenly with ink, the chase with firmly locked up form is inserted in the press bed, a fresh press sheet is fed into guides mounted to a tympan on the platen, the lever is pulled closed, the form rollers move up, inking the form and recharging the rollers on the disk, an impression is made, the lever returns smoothly to the start position allowing the freshly charged rollers to ink the form again and the platen to open, the printed press sheet is removed, a new press sheet is inserted, and the process is repeated.

Before you can begin to print, you will have already set and proofed a form (or prepared a plate and base), mixed the required ink colors, and cut paper into appropriately-sized press sheets.

• Begin by performing an inspection of the press to ensure it is properly oiled, clean, and all parts and mechanisms are working and properly secure.  Ensure the press is resting level both front to back and side to side.
• Clear and wipe down the feed tables (if so equipped) or clear an area for printed sheets and your stack of press sheets to be printed.
• Install rollers and trucks.
• Plane & lock up your form in the chase with furniture and quoins as required.
• Lift tympan bails, remove any remaining previous makeready and install a fresh sheet of oiled tympan paper.
• Charge the ink disk with a loaded brayer. The ink disk and rollers only rotate and distribute ink a small amount with each lever pull. Time and arm fatigue is saved by simply spreading an even coating of ink across the ink disk face with a brayer rather than the press rollers, much more than the additional clean up of a brayer.
• Operate the lever through four or five impression cycles without the form installed to ensure rollers have seated and are traversing the rails smoothly. This will also distribute ink evenly on the roller surfaces.
• Install the chase and insure it is properly clipped or locked in place.

Positioning the Form on the Platen

There are several methods of finding the correct position of your form on the platen.

Method 1

(good if you are using oil-based inks or printing larger areas as it keeps the tympan perfectly clean and ready to print)

• Obtain a piece of clear Mylar (such as overhead transparency film) which has been trimmed to cover your platen from top to bottom and side to side with clearance for rails and gripper.
• Firmly attach mylar by making a hinge with tape in two positions at the top of the platen so that the mylar may be lifted and returned to position, sort of like a book page.
• Engage the lever and perform one impression cycle, printing onto the transparent sheet. If there is insufficient packing to produce an image, add only enough to create a legible impression of the inked form.
• Slide a clean press sheet under the mylar and, using the printed image on the transparency as a guide, position the press sheet as needed. Lift the transparency out of the way and make light pencil marks along the left and bottom sides of the press sheet.
• Remove the press sheet and transparent sheet, and install guides.
• Feed the press sheet into the newly installed guides.
• Slowly partially close the press, without allowing the form to touch the tympan, and look between the platen and bed to ensure all guides will clear the form and grippers (if installed). This is especially important if you are using a polymer plate base.
• If the guides clear the form, perform a test impression. Measure the position of the image on the press sheet with a line gauge with point increments. If the print is crooked, adjust the guides. If the print is out of position, remove the chase and adjust the form’s position in the chase side to side and up and down as needed.
• Always double-check that the chase has been replaced in the same orientation and ensure that any adjustments will not cause the form to collide with the guides.

Method 2

(good if you are using rubber based ink or small amount of type, may prove somewhat messy if you are using oil based ink)

• Install chase.
• Engage lever and allow form to print on the bare tympan. Add packing as needed to achieve a legible image.
• Lightly wipe away most of the ink leaving a ghost of the form.
• Use the image on the tympan and as a guide for the initial placement of the press sheet.
• Mark positions for guides and install them.
• Wipe any remaining ink from the tympan, dust with talc.
• Feed the press sheet into the newly installed guides.
• Slowly partially close the press, without allowing the form to touch the tympan, and look between the platen and bed to ensure all guides will clear the form and grippers (if installed). This is especially important if you are using a polymer plate base.
• If the guides clear the form, perform a test impression. Measure the position of the image on the press sheet with a line gauge with point increments. If the print is crooked, adjust the guides. If the print is out of position, remove the chase and adjust the form’s position in the chase side to side and up and down as needed.
• Always double-check that the chase has been replaced in the same orientation and ensure that any adjustments will not cause the form to collide with the guides.

Once guides are in place, perform any additional make ready as needed to adjust impression across the form.

Do not over pack the press. You can damage your press. The lever should close (finish the stroke) smoothly with little only a small amount of effort. The design of most table top presses does not allow for significant impression. If you are having consistent difficulty achieving an even impression across your form, such as a corner that always proves too low or high, your platen may need adjustment. See Tabletop Platen Press Troubleshooting.

Once satisfactory proofs have been made, begin printing the edition.

If additional ink is required, remove the chase, add additional ink with a brayer, engage the lever to distribute ink across the roller faces four or five times, replace the chase, and continue. Alternately, you may add ink with a brayer and print sufficient proof sheets as needed until additional ink is distributed properly.

Once the edition has been printed, remove the chase with the form, remove the guides from the tympan, remove any makeready or packing, and clean the press of ink.

Remove the clean ink rollers and store them away from daylight on roller stands or boxes. It’s very important to avoid prolonged contact with the roller face while rollers are in storage; any pressure may deform the roller permanently.

Clean the feed tables (if so equipped) and the press body of any stray ink, solvent or debris.

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