Archive

Our physical collection of public interest technology zines is growing! Do you make PIT related zines? Drop off or send us a copy, and we will archive it for you. Want to make zines? We have everything you need for small scale independent publishing. Drop by the ETC office during business hours, or make an appointment. A reservation portal, collection inventory, and circulation system coming soon, check back often!

Zine Lab

You can find the Zine Lab in the Humanities and Social Sciences building on the second floor, in the office suite for the Department of English and Technical Communication. Our physical location is a small space for publishing big ideas! Come visit us to learn more about zines, or make a lab appointment to make one of your own. We have premium paper stock, colored pencils, crayons, fine-tip markers, stencils, and more for S&T zinesters to express themselves with hand drawn work. Once you’ve got the artwork down, it’s time to turn it into a publication using the simple machinery found at the Zine Lab. We will help you re-produce your work via photocopy or scan and print methods. Currently, the lab can support four types of zine binding methods: folds, staples, spiral, and thermal (glue). We also hope to add the supplies necessary to support stitch binding in the future.

Equipment

Thermal Binder

A thermal binder is a machine that uses heat to bind documents into a cover. It’s a quick and easy way to create professional-looking books, presentations, reports, and proposals. With this binder, you can create professional-looking documents with the appearance of bound books. The machine is simple to use, requires no hole punching, and can support both hard and soft cover zines.

How it works

  1. Insert documents into a cover with pre-applied adhesive
  2. Put the cover into the thermal binding machine
  3. The machine heats the glue, forming a secure bond between the pages and cover
  4. The machine beeps when it’s done
  5. Let the project cool

Spiral Binder

A spiral binder, also known as coil binding, uses a continuous, spring-like coil (made of plastic or wire) that is threaded through holes punched along the edge of a book’s pages and cover, allowing the pages to turn easily and lie flat. Spiral binding can be used for a variety of documents, including notebooks, planners, calendars, and manuals. This technique has several advantages over other types of bindings; these advantages include durability, a flat opening, and easier page turning

How it works:

  1. Holes are punched along the edge of the pages and cover. 
  2. A spiral coil is inserted through these holes.
  3. The coil is then crimped or secured at both ends to hold it in place.

Manual Paper Press

A manual paper press machine is a heavy-duty steel device designed for applying extreme, even pressure to flatten paper, books, and other documents. It is used in offices and commercial settings to level invoices, ledgers, and financial receipts, as well as by crafters and bookbinders for flattening handmade paper or pressing books. The manual operation and sturdy construction provide significant, consistent force without the need for electricity.

How it works

  1. Prepare the machine: Ensure the press is on a stable, level surface. The machine is heavy and comes pre-assembled.
  2. Ready the materials: Stack your paper, documents, or book evenly on the baseplate, ensuring the stack is centered within the working area. To protect your documents and ensure pressure is distributed evenly, it’s recommended to place a piece of scrap wood over the stack before pressing.
  3. Apply pressure: Turn the rotary handle clockwise to lower the top plate and apply pressure. For best results, tighten the handle gradually to allow the pressure to distribute evenly.
  4. Press and release: Hold the pressure for the desired amount of time, depending on the material and level of flattening needed. Afterwards, turn the handle counter-clockwise to raise the top plate and remove your perfectly flattened documents.

Woodzilla Hand Lino Press

The Woodzilla Hand Lino Press is a compact, lever-operated relief printing press made of heavy-duty steel. It is used by printmaking artists to apply consistent and even pressure to inked lino or wood blocks, resulting in clear, professional-quality prints on paper or fabric. Designed for smaller workspaces, the press folds up for easy storage and can be mounted to a table or workbench for stability.

How it works:

  1. Prepare your block: Carve your design into your linoleum or wood block, and then use a brayer to apply a thin, even layer of ink over the surface.
  2. Position your materials: Place your inked block face up on the press bed. Carefully align your paper or fabric on top of the block.
  3. Add the felt blanket: Place the included felt blanket over the top of your paper. The felt helps to distribute pressure evenly across the block.
  4. Apply pressure: Lower the top plate of the press and apply firm, even pressure by pushing down on the handle.
  5. Pull your print: Lift the handle, remove the felt, and carefully peel the paper from the block to reveal your finished print.