Comments for Vanderblog

Comment on Move Complete by john christopher

john christopher — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:49:26 +0000

I was once told that when the Daily Express newspaper moved its printing operation from its rickety Central London premises (I assume Fleet Street)they decided not to bother moving the huge web presses installed in the basement - they just poured concrete in and bricked it up… apocryphal maybe but looking at those images you’ve posted I’m now more likely to believe it…

Comment on Move Complete by Fritz Klinke

Fritz Klinke — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:17:49 +0000

Basement locations suck–my shop was in a commercial building and the Miehle Vertical was directly under the public restrooms. Not a scientific survey, but I venture that the women’s toilets overflowed 5 to 1 over the ones in the men’s room. Mark was present for a nasty sewer line backup that involved kitchen waste that blocked the main sewer, and it shut the restaurant and ice cream parlor down on a very busy day and there was much shouting, cursing, and tense nerves until we broke the block, and this all took place right in the middle of my pressroom.

The new address, with no basement, is 4 Mears Avenus, Silverton, Colorado 81433. All phone numbers, email remain the same. We are about a mile from the former location, next to the Animas River, and we have spectacular mountain views.

Fritz

Comment on Move Complete by Terry Chouinard

Terry Chouinard — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:31:52 +0000

Hey Fritz

What’s the new address & contact information?

Terry

Comment on Move Complete by Mark Wilden

Mark Wilden — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:03:37 +0000

Congratulations, Fritz!

Hopefully, the plumbing situation has improved. I’ll never forget helping scour the town for a plumber’s snake late one Friday night. :)

Comment on Vandercook Centenary Print Bundle by Paul Moxon, Moderator

Paul Moxon, Moderator — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:03:07 +0000

Yes, Klaudio, if you are printing multiples on a Vandercook then your particular methods, whatever they may be, are valid. So if, you’re in and we will have our 100 printers then I will close the roster.

Comment on Vandercook Centenary Print Bundle by Klaudio

Klaudio — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:18:39 +0000

Hi,
I tend to use my vandercook for printing methods that it wasn’t designed to do. (I hope this is not too offensive to the loyal orthodox out there). I just do it as part of my creative process. Since the theme is 100 years of Vandercook Proof Presses, I thought I had better ask if deviations in printing methods would be seen as standing outside this theme. Personally, I think it is entirely part of the theme, since within the past 100 years we have seen printing presses of all sorts pass from industry into the hands of artists, who then often deviate from their intended use. I see this transition as part of the life of a press. Mine, actually, was saved from the trash by a professor when the local industry switched to digital years ago –and eventually I came to own it. Anyway, please let me know how you feel about this. I think it would make a good expression of the theme, but if it’s not wanted I would prefer to know before I start printing my bundle.

Comment on Creasing/Die-cutting on a Vandercook? by john christopher

john christopher — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:51:01 +0000

Thank you Eric, that’s very informative.

John Christopher

Comment on Creasing/Die-cutting on a Vandercook? by Eric Holub

Eric Holub — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:25:43 +0000

Properly, die-cutting is done against a hard surface, not a yielding one. Rubber would give an indistinct crease, or cuts and perfs with burred edges or dulled rules. Steel die-cutting jackets are made for many presses, even Vandercooks. However, heavy diecutting really would shorten the life of the press. But simple creasing, perforating and slitting certainly has been done on the Vandercook.
Steel rule is used commercially to cut, perf and score, and brass rule is acceptable for scoring. Steel rule is usually 2 points thick, and creasing rule may have rounded edges. Modern practice is to use creasing matrix, and an older method is to use two rules separated by two or three points and to glue a string between them on the topsheet; the thicker the stock, the wider the spacing. Either way a well-defined hump is created in the paper, one that stretches the fibers on the outside of the fold so the paper has in effect a hinge that can be folded without cracking of the stock. Note that the bulge normally goes to the inside of the fold.
For perfing or even a little slitting, steel bands can be glued to the topsheet (some have used 2-point brass or even steel strapping). Perfabase is one brand, being flexible spring steel 1/8″ or 1/4″ wide. Used with .910″ rule, printing and perfing can be done at the same time. Sabertooth is another brand; rather than glue, it has small teeth which grip the packing. Rule should just kiss the steel.
Whatever kind of rule is used, bear in mind that rule running the length of the bed will penetrate the packing with greater force than rule aligned across the cylinder and may need to be lower than cross-rule would be. As rule forms get more comlicated, they also exert more force against the press, and the Vandercook was not engineered for, say, diecutting forms with many running inches of rule such as CD jackets or tough stock like chipboard. People may do it, but I wouldn’t advise it.

Comment on Migrating ink by The Arm NYC

The Arm NYC — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:28:03 +0000

Does the 15-21 have a skew adjustment like the #4? I haven’t had much time to look at this model. I recently had to adjust the skew plates on a friend’s #4. They were so far out of whack that the front roller and rider weren’t even turning. To be honest this is the first skew plate adjustment I have ever had to make.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

Comment on Hand gripper lever for a No. 3 by Paul Moxon, Moderator

Paul Moxon, Moderator — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:14:44 +0000

This thread continued in new post with new image. Sleeve attachment for hand-activated grippper bar

Comment on Sleeve attachment for hand-activated grippper bar by Paul Moxon, Moderator

Paul Moxon, Moderator — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:57:31 +0000

Every once in awhile I like to use my omnipotent powers for good.

Yes, it may be a bit more complicated and expensive to fabricate, but the thing I like is that I could travel with it and use as a demo in workshops.

Comment on Sleeve attachment for hand-activated grippper bar by kyle van horn

kyle van horn — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:25:55 +0000

So I admit I tend to over-engineer things, but this might be a nice, neat solution to this gripper problem.

The first issue I’ve run across so far is finding tubing in this size, with very specific inner dimensions — my Grip Trip Levers seem to be exactly .25″×1″, i’m guessing that’s standard — any sources on that kind of thing, or simple, brilliant solutions that don’t involve milling out stock rod?

Also, thx to Paul for his out-of-body posting for me.