Polymetaal

Preparing a leather lithographic roll.

The leather of the roll must be treated in such a way that the surface is soft and supple and that the "excess" leather structure on the outside of the roll is removed. The following materials are needed for preparation; Neatsfoot-oil, #0 lithographic varnish, #5 lithographic varnish, #7 lithographic varnish, roll-up ink, an ink knife, and a wide spatula for scraping off the roll.

PROCEDURE

• Allow as much Neatsfoot oil to soak into the leather surface as possible. This takes a few days, during which the leather becomes completely saturated. The roller should be lightly scraped each time after the oil has been applied.
• The roll is then rolled several times a day with #0 lithographic varnish. In between, the roll should be lightly scraped. Do this for about a week.
• Then the roller is treated in the same way, also with lithographic varnish #5 for a week.
• The roll is lightly scraped and rolled in #7 lithographic varnish for several days. This varnish is thicker and will therefore remove the loose leather fibers from the roller. During scraping and rolling, more and more fibers come loose from the roll. The remaining Neatsfoot oil and thinner varnishes are also largely removed by this varnish.
• The roll is rolled several times a day with "roll-up-black" for a week, after each time the roll is scraped off. The roll will now have a velvety surface. Gradually the roller can be used, but during the first few weeks only for the "grosser" work. The roller will lose more leather fibers in the coming months. This will eventually stop, especially if the roller is used regularly.
• Roll preparation must not be interrupted. If that does happen, there is a risk that the varnishes will harden on the surface. If it is necessary to stop during the procedure (for a week or more) the roller should be rubbed with sheep fat. When the preparation is then continued, the mutton fat should be scraped off the roll as much as possible.