Hi – I have my (early) Universal III up and running and it’s printing very well and all is great except for the paper release/gripper problem at the end of the bed. I posted on this awhile ago and have been tinkering with the problem on and off ever since and still no luck. I […]
MoreCategory: Grippers
Universal III – Gripper Bar Questions
As a result of a plumbing mishap a few weeks ago I have had to clean and re-lubricate the gripper bar on my Universal III AB. In the processes of doing this I’ve run into a few questions and potential problems, and I want to get clarification if I can before I do anything incorrectly. […]
More320 Gripper Bar Sheet Guide Studs—Bent?
I’m (still) refurbishing a Vandercook 320, and I’ve started attacking the gripper bar. I have it all apart and clean enough to handle, but I have noticed that the studs that hold and adjust the sheet guides seem to be a little off-square. It looks somewhat like the result of crashing the guides (several times), […]
MoreUniversal III Gripper issue/missing screw or pin?
Hello! I recently moved into a new studio and have been having problems with sticky grippers, which isn’t new to me so I didn’t think it had anything to do with the move. Today as I was printing, the pedal really didn’t do anything to raise the grippers so upon investigating, I went on the […]
MorePress Part Manufacturing, Gripper Bar Lever, Feedboard and Dead bar
I recently manufactured some press parts: a gripper bar lever for a No. 3 inspired by several posts on this blog, a new feedboard for the No. 3, that gets bolted onto two wooden side posts, and a dead bar for a Uni I. The No. 3 is actually for sale now as well. The […]
MoreLooking for a set of gripper bar extensions for a Uni III
Recently acquired a tape tower for my Uni III but didn’t realize my press doesn’t have the little cylindrical gripper bar extensions that thew tape tower bar clicks into. Anyone happen to have a spare set (I know, needle in a haystack but can’t hurt to ask). Photos showing the extensions on one of my […]
MoreReprex No 1, endguides and trip
I recently spent a day at Hazel & Violet in Phoenix but left there with two unfinished tasks: This press is missing its end guides. The channel for the end guides are ⅝” wide × 1 13⁄16” high × ½ deep. Can anyone confirm the specs and share a photo of their end guides? 2. […]
MoreNo. 3 Gripper Bar Lever Fabrication
Hi, I have a No. 3 (Old Style), and I am planning on fabricating a gripper bar lever for it and I wanted to see if anyone else would want one as well. The more that are made at one time the cheaper they should be, but they definitely should be under $100. The idea […]
MoreUniversal III Gripper Assembly Cleaning
Hi–I’ve taken apart the gripper assembly to give it a good cleaning. In the past I’ve used Simple Green to soak everything and loosen the grime and then used a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies, etc. Graphite to lubricate and then I put it all together again. BUT this time, I’m […]
MoreModel 4 Gripper Control Linkage Exposed
By request, here is a photo taken during our recent restoration of a Model 4, showing the hidden linkage for the gripper mechanism. This linkage is between the base and the bed and is accessible only by removing the bed. Stepping on the pedal pulls the chain downward, which pulls forward on the left end […]
More15-21 gripper adjustment?
I’m doing some reassemble on my press after having some work done on the bed and I don’t know what this part is called but it has something to do with the grippers in relation to trip/print mode. This is on the side opposite the operator at the head of the bed. It connects to […]
MoreNew Gripper Bar
We made or first Vandercook gripper bar assembly from scratch for a Universal I. The press had lost its bar somewhere, and to get it back into operation, we had to get this one made. This is for the first version of the Universal I press and is basically the same as used on the […]
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