Some time ago, we acquired a Vandercook 320 proof press in need of some repair. So far, about all I’ve done is clean off years of dried ink under the location of the inkplate and chase out the mouse nest…
Category: Useful gadgets and ideas
Challenge Proof Press dead-bar stops
As with most proof presses, for quick printing jobs where absolute alignment is not essential the type on the bed of our Challenge MA-15 press is usually locked up lengthwise using the quick lockup bar supplied with the press. This…
A Pump Stroke Counter for the Monotype Caster
I recently installed a pump stroke counter on my Monotype Composition caster, which will prove very useful when casting spacing and fonts of display type (fonts of composition type can be produced using the paper ribbon or computer interface). The…
Lubricating Oil for Old Printing Equipment
Many old pieces of printing and typecasting equipment recommend (amongst other products) Mobil Vactra for lubricating some of the sliding surfaces. Locations like journal bearings (where a shaft rotates in a round smooth hole) retain their oil by surface tension.…
A product possibly useful to papermakers
I was in the local Costco today and I spotted this chopping block: It is a 2″ (2cm) thick end-grain chopping block. People who do their own fibre processing may find this useful for cutting or hand-beating plant fibres. I…
Making Cement Board
One choice for exterior siding on a building is cement board, which is made from a mix mostly of cement, sand, and fibre. The fibre toughens the board to give it tensile strength and resist cracking. Originally, the fibre used…
A Useful Online Glossary of Papermaking Chemistry
I have stumbled across this web site a few times, and I’m finally getting around to posting about it. The site is a glossary of terms relating to what is referred to in the industry as “wet-end chemistry” and covers…
Quick Roller Diameter Gauge
In letterpress printing it is often necessary to check the diameter of various rollers in the press. In general the rollers that transfer ink eventually to the forme have to be of a consistent diameter so that the ink is…
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