Yesterday I wrote about the important role a hotplate has in the printmaking studio, especially in cold climates. Living in the Tropics allows for less of a need for a hotplate but some etching plates require the use of a hotplate especially if the ink is drying out from age, exposure to air or the plate is worn.The best hotplates are made commercially for kitchens but are very expensive to purchase. But it is easy enough for you to create your own hotplate.
You will need,
- An excellent quality two-burner electric hotplate, also referred to as a burner
- An old copper plate with the back still in good condition at least 1.2 mm/18 gauge
- 3 equal sized pieces of wood for the frame.
The copper plate should be big enough for your larger plates and there should be no screw or nails sitting above the surface of the timber to damage your etching plates. Make sure to leave a little gap at the back for the electric cord to feed through. The copper plate top should sit just above the hotplates to ensure that the heat is evenly distributed and you're not wasting energy.
The Hotplate is a tool that should be used judiciously but is essential in cold climates.
Happy printmaking
Warmly,
Jo Lankester
P.S. Get a FREE report of the 7 Secrets to building a Sustainable Printmaking Practice.
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Alyson B. Stanfield
Complete Printmaker
great jo. i just searched google and your plage come up first! as i urgently have to make a hot plate tomorrow as its cold. the first part of the editions i did last summer and no problems, but today's effort was troublesome. this looks like a nice easy home job. thanks. danielle creenaune
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