Good printing comes by knowing what a press can do. In this workshop you will examine every aspect of the press with an eye toward maintaining all of its parts as well as adjusting those parts for optimal printing. Not only will you learn how to maintain the press and trouble shoot problems, you will also learn how to fix the press. Knowledge of press maintenance will not only keep the press in good working order, it will make you a better printer.
Students will learn how to evaluate the condition of any hand-fed cylinder proof press quickly and concisely; they will learn how to adjust rollers and impression, control inking and fix simple problems. They will learn how to maintain the press through lubrication and adjustment.
This is a perfect companion course for students enrolled in SFCB's Cylinder Core Certificate program; appropriate for students who have completed any of the Cylinder Core workshops.
Materials to Bring
None.
About the Instructor
Alan Hillesheim (he/him) has been wrenching around printing presses for 35 years. Printing presses need to be moved, oiled, inked, cleaned, and maintained, in short they need attention like a six year old. Maintenance is a dirty business, but a necessary one for beautifully printed anything. Alan has a passion for the mechanics of the print studio and enjoys encouraging others to roll up their sleeves and grab a wrench. His 35 years in the letterpress business and “all-ten-fingers” count speak for themselves. Join him and wear old clothes.
Oh, and once the press is in fine order, Alan has a few secrets to divulge about perfect inking and stellar printing.
Past Student Reviews
“Lots of practical and useful information, great instructor.”
“Loved how open ended it is. Alan is a great wealth of knowledge and tries to make the class applicable to the issues we might be having with our presses or if we’re renting studio time.”
“Great class. I appreciated that we didn't have a strictly timed agenda and had some time to just tour the press(es) while learning quite a lot about their operation by way of their maintenance.”
Location
San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Registration Policies
Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class. Registration will close approximately three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. We recommend you not wait to register, as workshops that don't meet our minimum enrollment will be canceled, sometimes as much as a week in advance.
Workshop fee:
$85
Prerequisite(s):
None.
Class session:
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
6:30-9:30pm
If this workshop is full, please click this link to add your name to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available, we will contact you.