Heat Press

[asegreti]

I was wondering if anyone knew of anywhere to get an inexpensive heat press for dry mounting???

 

[John Koehrer]

Hi:
You might try putting an ad in the paper under "wanted to buy darkroom equipment" some people are just looking to empty a basement or garage.

 

[asegreti]

Good idea...I did't think of that....I have been looking on Ebay though...which was some pretty inexpensive ones...bidding is a pain though.

 

[rogueish]

Check out the bulletin boards at supermarkets as well. Mostly places to rent and puppies looking for homes, but sometimes you find surprising things.

 

[Claire Senft]

Make your own

I do not know how large a press you need. I have a press so I have not tried the following suggestion. Buy 2 pieces of 1/8th inch aluminum that will fit into your oven...replace the oven rack with the aluminum that is cut to size to fit. Attach a wooden handle to the upper piece. Use 2 pieces of mount board that are preheated with the alumninum. Pull the sandwich of mount board/ aluminum pieces out using gloves such as a cook would wear. Set it on the counter top, insert your print. I would hazard a guess that you will be able to mount your print without even returning it to the oven. My own experience has indicated that most tissue will melt much quicker than most directions indicate. Remove your print and return the sandwich to the oven to reheat for the next print. You might even consider buying 3 pieces of aluminum and use the 3rd piece as a press to cool your print under.

 

[Joe Symchyshyn]

Make friends with your local frame shop.

As frame shops go in and out of business, machines hit the market... I picked up a mat cutter because of a chain reaction of people selling mat cutters, buying others etc... I've heard within the year of 2 shops closing down. All the tools were for sale, heat presses included.

You'll likely want to find something local because of shipping weight. Always best to inspect and pick it up yourself.

Good luck,

joe

 

[jovo]

I bought one a few years ago on ebay from a guy in California. It was going to cost a fortune to ship until he realized he could put it in the cargo hold of a bus which was waaaaay less expensive. The thing was incredibly heavy and he had to adapt a refrigerator box to send it in....that plus a foam coating that was a bear to dislodge when it arrived pretty well unscathed. But...it was a difficult thing to ship and others may be less amenable to do what he did.

So....as suggested above....see what you can do with local framers selling their cast-offs or going out of business wares and pick it up yourself.

 

[asegreti]

Cool...thanks for your help. I didn't think about the framers...