American French Tool 14" Tabletop Etching Press (14" x 28")

The American French Tool etching press has long been the foremost printmaking press for professional and academic printmakers desiring the most precise, heavy pressure work. Taking its design cues from the elegant floor model press, the tabletop American French Tool press offers a large wheel and sweeping side frames. This design is beautiful from every angle and will quickly become the centerpiece of your printmaking studio.

Offered with a direct drive or geared drive, the American French Tool tabletop etching press offers both the control of a wheel or the familiar feel of a hand crank making it the ultimate press for any professional printmaking studio. Built to withstand the abuse of a classroom, the large 36" wheel gives the printmaker full control to smoothly pull full width prints effortlessly even under extreme printing pressures.

The American French Tool tabletop press offers an impressive 8” oversized upper roll diameter making plate climb easier and more measured.

The full-scale printing area of 14" x 28” is realized with a precision ground steel or aluminum bed. This is the only type of bed material capable of the highest pressure prints like etching/intaglio, photo gravure, and solar plates. Softer materials like wood, MDF board, or laminate simply don't have the strength for printing precisely with this level of pressure.

The tabletop American French Tool press drive comes equipped with a 36" enclosed star wheel (captain's wheel) for a smooth printing experience even under the heaviest pressure settings. The acclaimed Conrad geared drive with a hand crank can also be added to the AFT table top press in place of the AFT geared drive for printmakers who prefer the familiar feel of a handle and hand crank.

The 14" x 28" precision metal bed glides smoothly through the press on 8 independently adjustable support bearings allowing you to print lighter pressure work like monotypes, linocuts, wood blocks, letterpress type, and other relief techniques without the most minute resistance.

The American French Tool 14" Etching Press can easily print the following media:

• Monotypes
• Wood blocks
• Linocuts (mounted & unmounted)
• Type high blocks
• Letterpress
• Drypoints
• Engravings
• Intaglio/Etchings (copper, zinc, etc.)
• Photogravure/Photopolymer
• Caligraphs
• Plate lithography

The American French Tool 14x28Floor Model Etching Press comes with the following configuration:

• Micro-gauges
• Upper roll driven
• Direct drive
• 36" captain's wheel
• 14" x 28" precision ground aluminum bed plate

Optional press configurations include:

• Protective bed cover and registration grid
• Oversized 8" diameter upper roll
• Chrome plated upper roll
• Lower roll driven
• Geared drive
• Steel or Aluminum bed