Q. How are the sizes of the presses worked out?

A. Sizing of Enjay etching presses is rational. Our approach is to proportion the press to suit the paper sizes most commonly used, rather than follow the traditional press sizing based on obsolete paper sizes. As the most commonly used papers are 80 x 120cm and 56 x 86cm, enjay presses are sized to comfortably accommodate those papers. The model E34 has a bedplate width 86.5cm for 80cm paper, allowing 30mm clear each side and the model E26 has a bedplate width 66cm wide for 56cm paper, allowing 40mm clear each side. Both bedplates are long enough to allow the blanket to be permanently trapped beneath the upper roller whilst still allowing the paper to be removed at either end.

Q. Do they look good?

A. It’s in the eye of the beholder, of course, but etching presses have tended to be heavy looking, painted black, with chrome pressure screws and polished steel bedplate. Our early presses were just like that!

By contrast, our modern presses have a distinctive appearance:

        • clean uncluttered lines, contributed to by the use of compact gearing
        • the standard colour scheme is gunmetal grey, highlighted by stainless steel and black pressure setting handles, and brass pressure setting gauges, but you can choose any colour from the Galmet brand of Hammertone paints, current at time of ordering
        • the bedplate is matt black, natural to the Bakelite material, and
        • the overall appearance suggests the actual robustness and lightness of these presses.

Q. Are the presses reliable?

A. Etching presses are simple mechanical devices, and few printmakers would be constantly printing at the strength limit of the press. Nevertheless, presses are expected to have a long life span, certainly more than 25 years, so endurance of the press is important.

Among the problems common to etching presses are bedplates and transmission. Steel bedplates never actually fail, but it is well known that print performance often drops away over time due to dishing of the bedplate; chain drives are notorious for requiring adjustment, and sometimes fail prematurely due to undersizing for reasons of space and production cost.

We avoid these problems by use of Bakelite bedplates and fully enclosed gear boxes.

Q. Are they strong?

A. Our design puts metal in the places where it is needed for strength, the rollers and frame. We provide large capacity bearings, and use industrial gearboxes instead of bulky chains or open gears. Gear boxes are strong, smooth in operation, require no adjustment and need near zero maintenance.

Alternative materials are used where advantageous, notably for the bedplate, where performance is extended by the use of Bakelite rather than steel.

Q. What maintenance is required?

A. Maintenance of both presses is limited to occasional oiling of minor parts. Replacement of parts is simplified by the overall design.

Q. What is the printing performance?

A. Rigid rollers of generous diameter and effective diameter to length ratio ensure that enjay presses are able to print the finest work over the entire area of the nominal paper size of the press.

Q. Are they easy to use?

A. A carefully selected gear ratio and large hand wheel provides for low operator effort when propelling the print through the press. Elimination of unnecessary clutter around the bedplate and upper roller allow unimpeded access to the bedplate when loading print media. Pressure adjustment is easy via the proven T-bar screw design.

Q. How are they packed?

A. When practical, we deliver the press to your door by our own vehicle, no special packing being required.

When delivery must be made to an address beyond our own delivery range, we pack the press in a fully enclosing box. The press is first detached from its cabinet base, then placed in the box with the disassembled cabinet and handwheel. By using this system the costs of boxing and transporting are minimised.

Q. Is installation easy?

A. When we deliver the press, installation of the press is negotiable. Otherwise, installation requires only reassembly and normal hand tools.

Installation is enhanced by removal of the light bedplate, the hand wheel and the cabinet base. The press can then be carried to its point of installation. Pedestrian type doorways are easily negotiated with the press on its side. However, clients are cautioned that the E34 weighs 250kg even with the hand wheel, cabinet base and bedplate removed.

Q. What information will you provide?

A. We know our customers are looking for quality information. We provide:

        • attention to your enquiry from day one, by people who know printmaking
        • specification sheet that show the press in detail
        • a general arrangement drawing
        • a written quotation
        • an order acknowledgment and tax invoice upon receipt of order and deposit
        • advice of despatch
        • a manual containing detailed installation instructions, operation, safety and maintenance instructions
        • a written warranty, and
        • other commercial documents as required.

Q. How long does it take to get a press?

A. Sometimes we have a press nearly complete, in component form. This enables us to fulfill an order in about 4 weeks.

When that happy situation does not apply, and subject to orders on hand, we fulfill an order in 8 weeks. Unfortunately, during the annual engineering frenzy from mid November through January, delivery may extend beyond 8 weeks.

Q. Can I have confidence in Enjay?

A. Our continuous involvement with design and manufacture of etching presses since 1968, with hundreds of Enjay presses in daily use in TAFE and other schools and studios, show that you can have confidence in the Enjay name.