Rentals
STUDIO AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL POLICY
Lead Graffiti is a working studio with responsibilities to clients, other users, and a work schedule to maintain. Users are welcome to rent any equipment not engaged for Lead Graffiti projects. Lead Graffiti may limit the number of consecutive hours or consecutive days depending on our needs.
To be eligible to rent either studio space or equipment, users must fulfill three preliminary requirements.
- Permission of Lead Graffiti staff
- Must have completed one or more Lead Graffiti workshops in the use of
the specific equipment they wish to rent (it is important to note that
some workshops have prerequisites)
- Must request specific time and receive an acknowledgment from the Lead Graffiti staff at least a week in advance
Studio rental is defined as using our space to work on your projects. Studio rental includes tabletop presses (only), proofing presses, tables, type (setting and redistributing), bookmaking equipment and tools (not supplies), board shears, and light table. We do not have specific space for storage of materials related to ongoing projects, but will try to accommodate your needs.
Use of our computer-controlled paper cutter is a separate rental charge of $15 per hour. We have a guillotine cutter that can be used as part of the studio rental fee.
Reservations can be made online. Please feel free to be in touch with us about your specific needs.
We are happy to allow studio rental users to work with our metal and wood type for projects. It is critical for the user to realize that this material is old, valuable and often irreplaceable. Type that is intended for deep impression may not be allowed due to the damage it may inflict. In such a case the user is encouraged to use either photopolymer plates or metal plates which can be created utilizing .pdf files from a computer. Feel free to contact us about places from which to purchase these materials.
Equipment rental includes working directly with our presses (makeready, printing and cleanup, which would essentially keep someone else from using the press) or our computer-controlled paper cutter. Lead Graffiti will supply ink and solvents within reason, tympan, and necessary tools (ink knives, brayers, inking trays, press furniture, quoins, etc.). Paper for makeready and printing must be supplied by the user.
Most presses are heavy duty, industrial equipment, but repair for damages inflicted on the equipment is the responsibility of the renter.
Equipment rental should require minimal Lead Graffiti staff time and may incur additional charges.
Minimum equipment rental time is one hour and will be billed in half-hour increments after the first hour. No shows will be billed for one hour. Reservations will be held 30 minutes before being cancelled or turned over to next person in line. Cancellations can be made and acknowledged by phone or email up to 24 hours before time scheduled without charge. Less than 24 hour notice will be billed for one hour minimum. Payment is due by cash or check at the end of each rental session.
It is important to note that projects can take on a life of their own and often take more time than planned by even the most knowledgeable printers or bookbinders.
Safety
Any person who repeatedly ignores or violates equipment safety or creates hazards for other people will be barred from using the Lead Graffiti studio or equipment.
Lead (in the form of type and spacing material) is only harmful to your health if you ingest it. The only precaution necessary is washing your hands before eating, handling food or touching your face. We instruct workshop attendees in the safety aspects for the tools and equipment they will be using in the workshops. Attendees and rental users must sign a personal injury waiver for each workshop or piece of machinery they wish to use.