Rental pricing
Workspace Rental
Renting our workspace costs $10 an hour and is available by reservation. Group rates are available on request after an explanation of project scope, expectations and expected number of participants. This could include clubs, scout troops, classes, etc.
We are willing to allow studio rental users to work with our metal and wood type for personal projects. It is critical for the user to realize that this material is old, valuable and often irreplaceable. This is most often true with wood type and many ornate metal / initials metal types. Mainly this means that you need to take extra care in handsetting / redistributing type and avoiding an overly deep impression which wears down the type surface and rounds the edges of type. Some papers and chipboard, such as those with seeds and other materials imbedded in the paper, may not be used with our type. In such a case the user is encouraged to use either photopolymer plates or your own copperplates which can be created utilizing .pdf files from a computer. Feel free to contact us about places from which to purchase these materials.
We have two paper cutters, a hand-operated one for cutting larger paper down to a more manageable size and a computer-controlled cutter for more accurate and smaller cuts. Most of the time we'd rather cut the paper for you at no charge if it only takes a few minutes, otherwise we will charge $25 an hour for our time. Use of our computer-controlled paper cutter is a separate rental charge of $15 per hour, charged in 15 minute increments.
Press Rental
Our press rental is becoming more popular. Press rental requires your completion of the appropriate technical workshop on the press or our prior approval.
Tabletop press - included free with workspace rental (we have three large tabletop presses)
Vandercook SP-15 - $25 per hour
Vandercook Universal III - $35 per hour
Chandler & Price 10 x 15 or Golding 8 x 12 - $25 per hour
Hoe or Albion iron handpress - $20.00 per hour (not yet operational)
Except for paper, we will typically supply you with everything necessary to walk in and print. For letterpress you can use our wood and metal type collection including dingbats, borders and copperplates; chases, metal / wood furniture, quoins for locking up your form; various sizes of bases for photopolymer plates; ink in moderation; scales, ink knives, ink mixing stands, and brayers; paper / cloth clean up rags, mineral spirits and Putz Pomade for roller / press cleanup / conditioning; and galley trays to store type without quoins for ongoing projects.
We do not supply paper which is an item you need to think about ahead of time. See the bottom of this page for suggested paper sources.
We will typically clean and oil a reserved press before each rental and expect it left in the same condition. All solvents, rags, rubber gloves, etc. required for press cleaning are supplied. Cleaning the press typically takes about 20 minutes of solid work, especially when cleaning up after a dark or metallic ink.
Sample projects and costs without paper or plates
Example #1: Tabletop press using our type to print 50 one color party invitations: 3 hours of handsetting type, 2 hours setting up and printing on a tabletop press, 30 minutes redistributing type, and 30 minutes clean up
6 studio hours x $10 per hour with no press charge for the tabletop press = $60 total
Example #2: Vandercook SP-15 with your photopolymer plates to print 120 greeting cards in two colors: 2 hours of preparation time off press (cutting paper, ink mixing, etc.); 1 hour of set up and registration of color #1; 1 hour of printing color #1; 30 minutes of press cleanup; 1 hour of set up for color #2; 1 hour of printing color #2; and 30 minutes clean up
(2 off-press studio hours x $10 per hour) + (5 on-press hours x $25 per hour) = $145 total
A few suggested supply sources
Photopolymer plates
Copperplates
Paper / envelopes
French Paper / good colored papers and envelopes
Legion Paper / printmaking papers
Utrecht / printmaking papers and art supplies
Dick Blick / printmaking papers
Talas/ bookbinding supplies
Katz Americas/ coasters
Other supplies
Clearbags / packaging products and clear sleeves