The Printing Press

[Connolly]

Hi comrades,

Im just asking for some information about the printing presses used for local papers and party papers such as the "Socialist Worker" and "The Plough".

I would like to set up a radical paper sometime in the future when I have enough cash. - quite a distance away.

Iv looked up ebay for various printing presses but the terminology and price ranges are significant. I wouldnt know the difference between a printing press used by major papers and small scale ones :(

If you have seen the sort of ones im talking about in real life, or just know one on ebay - please let me know about them.

What size are they, would they take up a whole room?

Is the ink? expensive, and how many copies would they print?

What are the costs involved? I know such papers usually cost 1 Euro here in Ireland, and about 1.50 sterling in Britain, is that how much it costs to print a single copy?

Would it be advisable to purchase a second hand one?


Id especially like to hear from someone who's worked around them, maybe for a party etc..

If possible, post a picture of one.

Thanks TRB

[The Feral Underclass]

You could contact Footprint Workers Co-op and talk to them. They're based in Leeds.

http://footprinters.co.uk/

[Connolly]

Thanks for that TAT. :D

[farleft]

Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn.

[farleft]

Originally posted by The Anarchist Tension+Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM--> (The Anarchist Tension @ Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM)
[email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn. [/b]
Yeah, might be worth my while contacting them about that.

[farleft]

Originally posted by The Anarchist Tension+Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM--> (The Anarchist Tension @ Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM)
[email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn. [/b]
Yeah, might be worth my while contacting them about that.

[farleft]

Originally posted by The Anarchist Tension+Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM--> (The Anarchist Tension @ Jun 22 2006, 11:16 AM)
[email protected] 21 2006, 08:29 PM
Thanks for the link, I checked out their prices, I know they say its only roughly that amount and that they do discounts for things with the same train of thought.

I feel that they are too expensive because I have looked into doing it myself by buying my own printers etc etc and I think that way would be cheaper, especially in the long run.
If you can afford and know how to operate a printing press then absolutely go for it. In fact, I'm sure one of these co-ops would give workshops to people who want to learn. [/b]
Yeah, might be worth my while contacting them about that.

[Guest1]

When your organization gets off the ground and big enough, you will need your own printing press. A small one is about a computer desk in size, and weighs about half a ton (sp?). The press itself is expensive to buy, prohibitively so if you're buying a new one (half to a million dollars), but it can be done if you're buying a used one (up to 100 000 dollars, which an organization can pull off).

After that, the real costs are not the ink or the paper, but the plates, which are basically pure aluminum, hard negatives, that you place on the drum (big roller thing) and picks up ink and puts it on your paper. Press print is cheap because of this, once you make a plate (one for each colour you use, made with a special camera machine which you probably don't have to buy), you can run up a shitload of copies and the more you print the cheaper each copy gets.

Printing press is essential, but until your organization has a hundred paying members in your city at least, buying one would be suicide. Just find a radical printshop in your area for now, make close friends with them and even work for them if you can. Use that to learn all you can about how to operate one, and when you're ready, you can make the jump easily.

[Guest1]

When your organization gets off the ground and big enough, you will need your own printing press. A small one is about a computer desk in size, and weighs about half a ton (sp?). The press itself is expensive to buy, prohibitively so if you're buying a new one (half to a million dollars), but it can be done if you're buying a used one (up to 100 000 dollars, which an organization can pull off).

After that, the real costs are not the ink or the paper, but the plates, which are basically pure aluminum, hard negatives, that you place on the drum (big roller thing) and picks up ink and puts it on your paper. Press print is cheap because of this, once you make a plate (one for each colour you use, made with a special camera machine which you probably don't have to buy), you can run up a shitload of copies and the more you print the cheaper each copy gets.

Printing press is essential, but until your organization has a hundred paying members in your city at least, buying one would be suicide. Just find a radical printshop in your area for now, make close friends with them and even work for them if you can. Use that to learn all you can about how to operate one, and when you're ready, you can make the jump easily.

[Guest1]

When your organization gets off the ground and big enough, you will need your own printing press. A small one is about a computer desk in size, and weighs about half a ton (sp?). The press itself is expensive to buy, prohibitively so if you're buying a new one (half to a million dollars), but it can be done if you're buying a used one (up to 100 000 dollars, which an organization can pull off).

After that, the real costs are not the ink or the paper, but the plates, which are basically pure aluminum, hard negatives, that you place on the drum (big roller thing) and picks up ink and puts it on your paper. Press print is cheap because of this, once you make a plate (one for each colour you use, made with a special camera machine which you probably don't have to buy), you can run up a shitload of copies and the more you print the cheaper each copy gets.

Printing press is essential, but until your organization has a hundred paying members in your city at least, buying one would be suicide. Just find a radical printshop in your area for now, make close friends with them and even work for them if you can. Use that to learn all you can about how to operate one, and when you're ready, you can make the jump easily.

[farleft]

Yeah that's right but until we get to that stage it will be a case of just buying an A3 colour printer and a colour laserjet so we can just do it from home, doesn't take up too much room and costs are fairly low, once people can input more money we will do that.

Start up costs will be £1200.00 then after that its just a case of how much the ink will be each week.

[farleft]

Yeah that's right but until we get to that stage it will be a case of just buying an A3 colour printer and a colour laserjet so we can just do it from home, doesn't take up too much room and costs are fairly low, once people can input more money we will do that.

Start up costs will be £1200.00 then after that its just a case of how much the ink will be each week.

[farleft]

Yeah that's right but until we get to that stage it will be a case of just buying an A3 colour printer and a colour laserjet so we can just do it from home, doesn't take up too much room and costs are fairly low, once people can input more money we will do that.

Start up costs will be £1200.00 then after that its just a case of how much the ink will be each week.

[Guest1]

I print in hundreds and thousands, laserjets and photocopiers are not an option for me.

I don't suggest ever buying a laserjet printer or photocopier as an organization, there's nothing you can do with it that you can't do with a printing press for less, except print less. In which case, you should just pay for photocopies or laserjet copies at a printshop until you find a good shop with a printing press to use.

For 30 dollars, I can plaster an entire campus when I use the radical printing press. For the same colours and price, I could print out maybe 30 posters on a photocopier or a laserjet printer. We're talking a ten-fold difference at least.

If you own the laserjet printer, it may save you some compared to laserjet printing you pay for, but you're still talking about 50 dollar ink-cartridges. Not worth the expense, especially since it's only useful when you want really fancy shit (which can still be made on a printing press), and a laserjet printer that can do that would be very expensive indeed.

[Guest1]

I print in hundreds and thousands, laserjets and photocopiers are not an option for me.

I don't suggest ever buying a laserjet printer or photocopier as an organization, there's nothing you can do with it that you can't do with a printing press for less, except print less. In which case, you should just pay for photocopies or laserjet copies at a printshop until you find a good shop with a printing press to use.

For 30 dollars, I can plaster an entire campus when I use the radical printing press. For the same colours and price, I could print out maybe 30 posters on a photocopier or a laserjet printer. We're talking a ten-fold difference at least.

If you own the laserjet printer, it may save you some compared to laserjet printing you pay for, but you're still talking about 50 dollar ink-cartridges. Not worth the expense, especially since it's only useful when you want really fancy shit (which can still be made on a printing press), and a laserjet printer that can do that would be very expensive indeed.

[Guest1]

I print in hundreds and thousands, laserjets and photocopiers are not an option for me.

I don't suggest ever buying a laserjet printer or photocopier as an organization, there's nothing you can do with it that you can't do with a printing press for less, except print less. In which case, you should just pay for photocopies or laserjet copies at a printshop until you find a good shop with a printing press to use.

For 30 dollars, I can plaster an entire campus when I use the radical printing press. For the same colours and price, I could print out maybe 30 posters on a photocopier or a laserjet printer. We're talking a ten-fold difference at least.

If you own the laserjet printer, it may save you some compared to laserjet printing you pay for, but you're still talking about 50 dollar ink-cartridges. Not worth the expense, especially since it's only useful when you want really fancy shit (which can still be made on a printing press), and a laserjet printer that can do that would be very expensive indeed.

[farleft]

How?

I mean if you take foot printers as an example, do the figures, how is it more viable?

If I was to buy a printing press, I would assume that I would need a devoted premesis for it and couldnt just have in in a spare room or lounge, so there are those costs as well, rent, electricity etc etc

I will look into it though.

[farleft]

How?

I mean if you take foot printers as an example, do the figures, how is it more viable?

If I was to buy a printing press, I would assume that I would need a devoted premesis for it and couldnt just have in in a spare room or lounge, so there are those costs as well, rent, electricity etc etc

I will look into it though.

[farleft]

How?

I mean if you take foot printers as an example, do the figures, how is it more viable?

If I was to buy a printing press, I would assume that I would need a devoted premesis for it and couldnt just have in in a spare room or lounge, so there are those costs as well, rent, electricity etc etc

I will look into it though.

[Connolly]

The press itself is expensive to buy, prohibitively so if you're buying a new one (half to a million dollars), but it can be done if you're buying a used one (up to 100 000 dollars, which an organization can pull off).

:o , what sort of machine are you talking about here?..............that sounds really expensive.


What about these

Ebay: Printing Press (http://search.ebay.com/printing-press_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQftr tZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsbrsrtZd)

1981: 16000 dollars etc...

^ thats affordable over time

Are these not suitable or what.?

[farleft]

E-bay might be a good idea.

Just the thing that concearns me is the amount of space that it will take up. I still think i'd rather go down thr route of buying a colour laser jet printer and an A3 colour printer, will only set me back about £500.00 and wont take up much space, untill I can get larger and cheap place to put the proper printing press.

[Guest1]

Originally posted by The [email protected] 27 2006, 04:28 PM

The press itself is expensive to buy, prohibitively so if you're buying a new one (half to a million dollars), but it can be done if you're buying a used one (up to 100 000 dollars, which an organization can pull off).

:o , what sort of machine are you talking about here?..............that sounds really expensive.


What about these

Ebay: Printing Press (http://search.ebay.com/printing-press_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQftr tZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsbrsrtZd)

1981: 16000 dollars etc...

^ thats affordable over time

Are these not suitable or what.?
I said up to :P As in, there's less expensive. The printshop I work at got one for 15,000 I think.