Printing Press Accessories: Felt Wool Etching Blankets for Relief and Intaglio Printmaking

Printmaking Felts

Printmaking Blankets are Used in Sets

Printing intaglio on an etching press requires a set of wool blankets. The typical set consists of a sizing catcher, a pusher, and a cushion. However, it is advisable to have an extra sizing catcher since this blanket does become soiled and must be occasionally washed in Woolite^® detergent.

Sizing Catcher

The sizing catcher (sometimes called a Swan Skin or Fronting Balnket) is placed closest to the work on the press bed. This blanket may be cleaned if it becomes soiled with ink. It is the least expensive blanket of the set to replace if it becomes overly soiled or damaged. The sizing catcher is 100% wool felt and .062" thick.

Cushion

The cushion blanket helps to transfer printing pressure form the press to the paper-to-plate contact area. The cushion allow the paper to contact the uneven surfaces of the plate. This contact allows ink to transfer from plate to paper. The cushion blanket is 100% wool felt and is a full .25" thick. It is placed over the sizing catcher.

Pusher

This pusher blanket is placed over the cushion blanket aiding in cushioning. It is made of a highly durable woven felt. Being woven the pusher is resists wear due to abrasion from the upper drum of the etching press. The pusher blanket is .125" thick, and is made of 100% finely woven wool felt .

Pricing for Individual 100% Wool Felt Etching Blanket
	Sizing Catcher .062"		Pusher .125"		Cushion .25"
Size	Item #	Price	Item #	Price	Item #	Price
18"x36"	1601836	$35.64	1611836	$42.12	1621836	$48.60
24"x36"	1602436	$47.52	1612436	$56.16	1622436	$64.80
24"x48"	1602448	$63.36	1612448	$74.88	1622448	$86.40
25"x48"	1602648	$66.00	1612648	$78.00	1622648	$90.00
30"x48"	1603048	$79.20	1613048	$93.60	1623048	$108.00
30"x60"	1603060	$99.00	1613060	$117.00	1623060	$135.00
33"x60"	1603460	$108.90	1613460	$128.70	1623460	$148.50
39"x72"	1604072	$154.44	1614072	$182.52	1624072	$210.60
43"x84"	1604484	$198.66	1614484	$234.78	1624484	$270.90
48"x96"	1604896	$248.16	1614896	$293.28	1624896	$338.40

Pricing for Sets of 100% Wool Felt Etching Blankets
	Set of 3 Includes: 1 sizing catcher, 1 cushion and 1pusher		Set of 4 Includes: 2 sizing catchers, 1 cushion and 1 pusher
Size	Item #	Price	Item #	Price
18"x36"	1631836	$126.00	1641836	$161.00
24"x36"	1632436	$168.00	1642436	$215.00
24"x48"	1632448	$224.00	1642448	$287.00
25"x48"	1632648	$234.00	1642648	$299.00
30"x48"	1633048	$280.00	1643048	$359.00
30"x60"	1633060	$351.00	1643060	$450.00
33"x60"	1633460	$386.00	1643460	$494.00
39"x72"	1634072	$547.00	1644072	$699.00
43"x84"	1634484	$704.00	1644484	$902.00
48"x96"	1634896	$879.00	1644896	$1,127.00

Custom Etching Blankets

Takach Press Will Cut to Size Custom Blankets to Fit Your Press Bed

We will cut blankets to your special sizes as a complimentary service.
If you need a size not listed above, pick the closest size and we will cut it to your specifications.
Custom sized blankets will be made of the same 100% Wool Felt materials as our standard size blankets.

Pieces of Felt Scrap

Discounted prices are given on various sized pieces of felt material. These pieces are the byproduct of cutting standard sized felt blankets. The sizes and availability of these scraps vary.

How to Arrange Printmaking Blankets on the Etching Press

Etching Felts are used in sets of three on the etching press, and provide the cushion that creates embossment by pressing the paper into the recesses of the plate. Each blanket serves a different purpose and is therefore a different thickness. The three etching blanket types are described in more detail above.

Blanket Order

From the press bed to the upper drum etching blankets should be layered in the following order: first is the sizing catcher, next is the cushion, and finally is the pusher.

Washing Felt Etching Blankets

It is necessary to wash sizing catchers regurarly to maintain their soft supple nature. When printing with dampened paper the the glue that holds paper together called sizing is absorbed by the sizing catcher. As the sizing hardens into the sizing catcher the ability to obtain a perfect impression is diminished. Washing etching felts removes sizing form the sizing catchers, pusher and cushion blankets may need to be washed from time to time when dirty, stiff or ink stained.

Washing Procedure

It is advised to wash felt etching blankets by hand with Woolite® Detergent. To dry the blankets run them through the printing press to expel the majority of the water. Do not wring the felts as the are less durable when wet and may become damaged. Lay the felts on a flat surface between layers of blotter paper to finish drying. When drying felt etching blankets do not hang the felts on a clothes line or over an edge as this may damage the felts.