Principles Of The Stone Printing
The accidents just mentioned arise at the extreme points of the scale at which the printing inks can be used, for it is evident that the only inks that can be used are those which are between these points: that is, thicker than that which soils the stone, and, at the same time, thinner than that which takes up the drawing. Lithographers are sometimes unable to print in very hot weather, the reason of which may be deduced from the foregoing. Any increase of temperature will diminish the consistency of the printing ink; the stone will therefore soil with an ink which could be safely used at a lower temperature; hence a stiffer ink must be used. Now, if the temperature should increase so much that the stone will soil with any ink at all less thick than that which will take up the drawing, it is evident that the printing must cease till a cooler temperature can be obtained; for as the drawing chalk is effected equally with the printing ink, the same ink will tear up the drawing at the different degrees of temperature.
This, though it sometimes occurs, is a rare case; but it shows thatit is desirable to draw with a chalk or ink of less fatness in summer than in winter; and also, that if the printing room is in winter artificially heated, pains should be taken to regulate the heat as equally as possible.
Other Difficulties In Printing, Not Referable To The Foregoing General Principle
If the pressure of the scraper be too weak, the ink will not be given off to the paper in the impression, although the drawing has been properly charged with it. Defects will also appear from the scraper being notched, or not correctly adjusted, or from any unevenness in the leather or paper. After printing a considerable number of impressions, it sometimes happens that the drawing takes the ink in dark spots in different parts. This arises from the printing ink becoming too strongly united with the chalk or ink of the drawing, and if the printing be continued, the drawing will be spoiled. The reason of this is easily ascertained. The printing ink readily unites with the drawing, and being of a thinner consistency, it will, by repeated applications, accumulate on the lines of the drawing, soften them, and make them spread. In this case, it is necessary te stop the printing, and let the stone rest for a day or two, for the drawing to recover its proper degree of hardness.
If the drawing should run smutty from any of the causes before enumerated, the following -
Mixture For Cleaning The Drawing While Printing Must Be Used
Take equal parts of water, spirits of turpentine, and oil of olives, and shake them well together in a glass phial, until the mixture froths; wet the stone, and throw this froth upon it, and rub it gently with a soft sponge. The printing ink will be dissolved, and the whole drawing will also disappear, though, on a close examination, it can be distinguished in faint white lines. On rolling it again with printing ink, the drawing will gradually re-appear, as clear as at first.
Bleached Paper Unfit For Lithographic Printing
Accidents sometimes occur in the printing from the qualities of the paper. If the paper have been made from rags which have been bleached with oxy-muriatic acid, the drawing will be incurably spoiled after thirty impressions. Chinese paper has sometimes a strong taste of alum; this is so fatal, as sometimes to spoil the drawing after the first impression. When the stone is to be laid by after printing, in order that it may be used again at a future period, the drawing should be rolled in with a -
Preserving Ink; as the printing inks would, when dry, become so hard, that the drawings would not take fresh printing ink freely. The following is the composition of the printing ink: - Two parts of thick varnish of linseed oil, four parts of tallow, one part of Venetian turpentine, and one part of wax. These must be melted together, then four parts of lamp black, very carefully and gradually mixed with it, and it must be preserved for use in a close tin box.
Autographic Ink, or that which is suitable for transferring on to the stone the writings or drawings which have been executed on paper prepared for that purpose, should possess the following properties. The ink ought to be mellow, and somewhat thicker than that used immediately on stone; so that when it is dry on the paper, it may still be sufficiently viscous to cause adherence to the stone by simple pressure. The following is the composition. Dry soap, and white wax free from tallow, each 100 drachms, mutton suet, 30 drachms, shellac and mastic, each 50 drachms, lamp black, 30 to 35 drachms; these materials are to be melted in the way described for lithographic ink.
This section is from the book "The Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia", by Luke Hebert. Also available from Amazon: Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia.
Principles Of The Stone Printing
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harshad
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