American French Tool 48" Floor Model Etching Press (48" x 78")

The American French Tool etching press is the premier printmaking press for all precise, heavy pressure work. With its elegant design, large offset wheel, and sweeping side frames, the AFT looks like what an etching press should look like. Beautiful from every angle, the American French Tool styling speaks to the printmaker.

Driven by a large, double rowed sprocket and oversized chain drive, the American French Tool floor model etching press is the ultimate press for any professional printmaking studio. Built to withstand the abuse of a classroom, the large 60" wheel gives the printmaker full control to smoothly pull full width prints effortlessly even under extreme printing pressures.

The American French Tool floor model press offers the largest and most impressive upper roll diameter size of any press in the printmaking industry. No other press comes close. With the optional Jumbo XL 12" Diameter Oversized Upper Roll, the AFT floor model press will easily climb onto your plate. Other floor model presses offer smaller diameter rolls as being "oversized." The Conrad 12" Jumbo XL is the only true oversized roll for floor model presses in printmaking.

The expansive printing area of 48" x 78", is achieved 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 American French Tool press drive comes equipped with a 60" enclosed star wheel (captain's wheel) for a smooth printing experience even under the heaviest pressure settings. A 15-to-1 or 10-to-1 commercial drive with a hand crank can also be added to the AFT floor model press in place of the AFT chain drive for printmakers who prefer the familiar feel of a handle and hand crank. We also offer motorized options if you would like to electrify your press. 

The 48" x 78" 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 slightest resistance.

The American French Tool 48" 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 48x78 Floor Model Etching Press comes with the following configuration:

• Micro-gauges
• Upper roll driven
• AFT double sprocket, oversized chain drive
• 60" captain's wheel
• 48" x 78" precision ground steel bed plate

Optional press configurations include:

• Protective bed cover and registration grid
• Oversized 10" or 12" diameter upper roll
• Chrome plated upper roll
• Lower roll driven
• Commercial drive with hand crank
• Electric motorized drive
• Aluminum bed