handpresse

A hand press, or handpresse, is a manually operated device used to apply force to a workpiece. It relies on lever, screw, or cam mechanisms to convert human effort into pressing action. Typical components include a frame, a movable platen or die, a fixed bed, and a handle that drives the press toward the work area.

Two common designs are screw presses and lever presses. In a screw press, a threaded screw raises or lowers the platen, producing high pressure with relatively modest effort; in a lever press, a long handle acts on a linkage that moves the platen, enabling faster cycles but generally less maximum force per stroke.

Historically, hand presses have appeared in many crafts. The screw press was a crucial development in early printing, enabling the production of books and broadsides in the 15th century. Besides printing, hand presses are used in bookbinding, embossing, metal and wood forming, and crafts such as stamp making or seal pressing. They are also employed for small-scale fruit juice extraction or olive oil pressing in artisanal settings.

In contemporary practice, hand presses are mostly encountered as historical artifacts, in specialty print shops, or among hobbyists. They are valued for precision, control, and sustainability but require manual labor and have limited throughput compared with powered equipment.