Cozzer
Established Member
Long time since the original question, but thought I'd chuck my two pennorth in...
My first marquetry press was just two rectangles of thickish ply, with a couple of straight bearers screwed underneath and another two placed across the top. I planed the top pair from the middle outwards, so when turned upside down, a fair bit of pressure would be applied. Coach bolts through them all, and wingnuts to tighten. Simple, but effective.
I picked up an old letter press for a song a few years later, and again two rectangles of ply could be used to sandwich the work. Got to watch that your work doesn't get moved though - spinning the central screw handle down slowly seemed to be the answer.
As regards the vacuum idea, I did try a poor-man's version - household bags, used for storing bedding, clothing and the like - dirt cheap and easily available. Ordinary vacuum cleaner nozzle over the bag's one-way valve, and you'll see the air being sucked out. You then have to be quick to screw the valve cap down! It did work to a degree, but of course you haven't got a constant (near)vacuum because the cleaner is disconnected and eventually air does get back in.
My first marquetry press was just two rectangles of thickish ply, with a couple of straight bearers screwed underneath and another two placed across the top. I planed the top pair from the middle outwards, so when turned upside down, a fair bit of pressure would be applied. Coach bolts through them all, and wingnuts to tighten. Simple, but effective.
I picked up an old letter press for a song a few years later, and again two rectangles of ply could be used to sandwich the work. Got to watch that your work doesn't get moved though - spinning the central screw handle down slowly seemed to be the answer.
As regards the vacuum idea, I did try a poor-man's version - household bags, used for storing bedding, clothing and the like - dirt cheap and easily available. Ordinary vacuum cleaner nozzle over the bag's one-way valve, and you'll see the air being sucked out. You then have to be quick to screw the valve cap down! It did work to a degree, but of course you haven't got a constant (near)vacuum because the cleaner is disconnected and eventually air does get back in.
