Flattening FB Paper with smaller press.

[fiddle]

I have question to see if this is feasible before I go ruin some prints.
I have a seal press, slightly bigger than 11x14, is something around 13x17. Was bought for pennys so I could not pass it up.
I use it to flatted fb prints, works like a charm.
I was wanting to print some bigger 16x20 prints, is there a way to use this press making 2 passes maybe, without creating a kink in the paper?
I place the print in between matte board when heating.

Thank you.

 

[MattKing]

People definitely do that by pressing all four quarters, sequentially, with overlap.
There is a very good chance you will have at least one 16x20 work print to practice on.

 

[fiddle]

One dozen you mean.
Thanks Matt Ill give it a try.

 

[MattKing]

Make sure you use oversize mat board - I'd suggest at least 18 x 22.

 

[fiddle]

Makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Hilo]

It is possible to press in parts. I have the Seal 210 M with a platten for 40x50cm (16x20in.) and I can press 50x60cm (20x24in.) with that, in 3 pressings. I press between acid free smooth matting carton of which I made a sandwich that hinges. The temperature is about 90 degrees celsius (almost 200 fahrenheit).

1. I place the print, face down - short side (50cm) first, into the press and close tight for a couple of seconds, no more than 3 seconds. Then I open the press.

2. I turn the print around, opposite short side goes in first and I close the press for about 2 minutes. Then I open the press again

3. Once again, I turn the print around and place it like in 1. Then I close the press for another 2 minutes.

After that I place the print between acid free cartons and leave it there at least one night.

When you press much longer the first time, the print will show a line from the first pressing.

You will have to experiment using some test prints, because we don't know how tight your press is set up, compared to mine. The set up of mine is quite tight and makes for a general pressing time of 2 to 3 minutes.

Finally, I always trim the pressed print by half a centimetre after it has come to rest during the night. This removes the tension of the paper and gives a very flat print in the end.

I normally use a Büscher 50x60cm press (NOT the glazing machine) for 50x60 prints, but sometimes I use the Seal 210 when it's already hot and I have a couple of 50x60cm prints only.