At-Home Stone Lithography Part 7

In today's video I learnt a valuable lesson- to check my grained stone better! I examined the stone after graining with 220 grit and thought it was good to go. However, either the lighting in my basement is terrible or my eyesight is poor (hopefully the former), because I missed a very large scratch on the surface.
I will be double checking the next time before I start drawing because there is no way to remove a scratch without regraining at a lower grit. I decided to continue with the drawing in progress for the etching and printing practice. In the end, I was really impressed with the evenness and rich details in the printed results. Stone printing with a spoon is no easy feat! I'm learning more and more as I go and maybe next time will be a complete success.
Thanks as always for watching and supporting my endeavours!

[@starvingartistscollective]

Lovely video series!! Am finding your home litho concept so, so fascinating!! Tried litho stones at college but never thought it'd be possible for home use...very exciting!! I have questions...
1. I have access to one stone but not 2, how else would you grain a level surface?
2. You hand print, which blows my mind, can you use an etching or relief press? .. with or without padding?
3. Your baren appears to be a flat 'door knob', have you experimented with Japanese or Speedball barens? Results?
4. Your preferred papers and inks?
Thanks for sharing your lovely work!!

[@valeriesyposz]

Thanks for the great questions!
1. If your stone is large, a levigator will be worth purchasing. If your stones are small like mine, it might not be the worth the cost, but you will still need something to move the grits over the surface of the stone for graining. A solid steel puck that will fit within your grasp is supposed to be a good option. I am trying to get myself something like that to help with the raised edges of my stones during graining.,
2. I don't know. I know you can you use etching presses for plate litho, but the shape of the stone might make it difficult. If you were trying, a rubber blanket would be the best. I used to roll litho plates through the etching press with compressed cardboard backings and a thin felt. The plates didn't last as long as when printed on the litho press. I don't think I ever mastered the correct pressure for the etching press.
3. I have some japanese barens, but I prefer the solid wood for hand burnshing litho. Perhaps the bamboo covered baren for printing on extremely thin gampi paper. I sometimes use my disk baren first to make sure the print is flattened/stuck to the ink before going over with the wood. I think the speedball plastic one would do fine.
4. Anything gampi based for paper. The smoothness of the surface picks up the ink well and I love the natural tones. Masa paper is also a good choice and extremely reasonable in price. I always print on the smooth side. Inks are a combo of Graphic Chemical and Hanco. I use Setswell Compound if I ever need to loosen anything up.