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Workshop safetyWash hands after handling typeVentilate for solvent and powderKeep both hands behind the bladeNo lead dust — never dry-sweep
WORKSHOP & SAFETY

Ink Solvent

The wash-up liquid for rollers and type — and the main vapour source in the workshop.

3Printing stage Rank 25 of 28
Line drawing of a ink solvent
Line drawing
Specification
TypeAliphatic hydrocarbon or terpene
Flash pointAbove 38 °C for a "high flash" wash
Vapour density3–5 (heavier than air)
Odour threshold0.5–5 ppm
UseRollers, type, slabs, tools
ContainerSealed metal tin, with a dispenser
RagsCotton, in a lidded metal bin
Water-miscibleRinses with water; lower vapour, less effective
Working parameters
TypeAliphatic hydrocarbon or citrus terpene
Flash pointAbove 38 °C
Exposure routeInhalation of vapour; skin contact
Suitable stockNot applicable
ProcessesWash-up, roller cleaning, type cleaning, die cleaning
CompatibilityAttacks some rubber compounds; check before soaking a brayer
ConsumptionAbout 100–250 ml per wash-up
DisposalHazardous waste; never down a drain
Overview

Letterpress ink does not dry by evaporation, so it cannot be washed off with water. Solvent is what removes it from a brayer, a forme or a slab at the end of a run. The common choices are a light aliphatic hydrocarbon (white spirit or a proprietary wash), a citrus terpene, or a water-miscible wash that is rinsed away.

Solvent vapour is the one exposure in a letterpress workshop that accumulates without you noticing. It is heavier than air, so it collects at bench height where you are breathing. Ventilation is not optional, and neither is keeping the container closed.

3Printing: Ink, packing and impression on the press.

Safety

Before you use itSolvent vapour is heavier than air and collects at bench height. Work with extraction or with the door open, and never in a closed room without ventilation.
Before you use itOily rags self-heat and ignite. Put every used rag in a lidded metal bin at the end of the session, or spread them flat outside to dry. A pile of rags in a corner is a real fire risk.
Before you use itSolvent removes the natural oils from your skin and can cause dermatitis. Gloves, and a barrier cream if you are working with it daily.
Before you use itNever use solvent near a flame, a hot foil die, or any source of ignition. Store it in a sealed metal container away from heat.

Using it well

  • Wipe the bulk of the ink off with a rag before you reach for solvent. You will use a quarter as much and the solvent will work better.
  • Keep the lid on the tin between rags. An open tin of solvent in a small room will reach a headache-inducing concentration within minutes.
  • A water-miscible wash is worth the slight drop in performance for anyone working in a room without extraction.

What it works with

Papers and substrates

  • Not applicable

Type and fonts

  • Not applicable

Processes

  • Wash-up
  • Roller cleaning
  • Type cleaning
  • Die cleaning
Note. Specifications are conventional working ranges for this class of tool, not a measurement of any particular machine. Follow the instructions that came with your own equipment, and treat every figure here as a starting point to check rather than a limit to trust. Nothing on this page is for sale and no manufacturer had any input into it.
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Nitrile Gloves

Disposable gloves for handling type, ink and solvent — the simplest control there is.

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Ventilation Fan

Extraction that moves solvent vapour and lead dust out of the room you are working in.

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Ink Brayer

A hand roller that picks ink off the slab and lays it on the forme, evenly.

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