Hi Paul, Thank you so much for your help earlier this year with replacing our Vandercook [SP20] trip switch [springs]. I have run into another issue that is raising some questions now and I thought you may be a good person to ask. Our ink rollers work great some of the time and there are […]
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Vandercook SP20 locking up in both directions
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MoreVandercooking in Brazil
Dear friends of Vandercookpress.info. I’d like to share a bit about the history of this press and my hypotheses about its journey to Brazil. Perhaps you can help me clarify some questions. I purchased this Vandercook No. 3 (serial 8122) in the second half of 2022, in São Paulo, from a mechanic who had acquired […]
MoreDrum Springs for my SP20
Quick question about replacement springs on my SP20. The press is currently on long-term loan to a friend, and since their adopting it, we have now broken 3 drum springs in less than 3 years. I know at least one of them was an hardware-store spring which happened to work, but one, maybe two, were […]
MoreSP15 roller height changes erratically
I’ve been experiencing an issue with the roller height on an SP15. I calibrate the rollers, and after pulling a few proofs, I can tell something isn’t right. I check the rollers again, and find they’ve shifted, drastically — sometimes after just two or three impressions. It isn’t happening all the time. On Saturday I […]
MoreProblem with new SP-15 rollers
Sorry to start a new post on this topic but could not successfully add a photo to previous comments. I have the new rollers back on the press. They are still showing the same problem of streaking ink, but it seems somewhat less extreme this time. The front roller is taking the ink better than […]
MoreProblem with new rollers
I recently sent out an extra pair of SP-15 cores to be resurfaced. On receiving the new rollers, I transferred over the roller blocks/bearings and adjusted the height, but the rollers are not taking the ink well, it is streaking as if the rollers were skipping over the drum (the ink coverage on the drum […]
MoreImbalance of Ink of Drum and Rollers of SP-15
I noticed that the ink on the drum and rollers on my SP-15 bunch to one side, so I get uneven ink coverage when printing. I’m attaching a couple of photos. You’ll see that on the right side is where it’s light and almost translucent, and the ink tends to bunch on the left side […]
MoreSP-15 – snapped bolt
Hello from Newfoundland, Canada! Yesterday a bolt snapped off on my SP-15 in the assembly that lifts and lowers the top two steel rollers. This assembly is located in the area marked in red. I’m looking for a replacement bolt, and have contacted Fritz @ NA Graphics, just wondering if anyone has any information/insight into […]
MoreSP15 Restoration-Print/Trip mechanisms questions
Dear Printers,I was lucky to find an SP15 many years ago, albeit in nightmarish condition. I’m finally able to start restoring it again, and would like to give poor Paul a break from identifying the parts that I didn’t document properly in the dim past, and instead pester other pros with queries. Print/trip functionality […]
MoreSP20 Drum cam damaging cylinder?
I noticed that the drum cam (especially on the non-operator side) is looking worn. There’s corresponding wear on the cylinder. Does this indicate I need to adjust the screws on the support arms per page 11 in Paul’s book? If so, I’m a little unclear what screws I should be adjusting. thank you!
MoreUpdating wiring to add ground
I want to share my recent experience updating the wiring on an SP-20 motor to add ground. (Disclaimer: I am not an electrician although I consulted with an electrician.) My press arrived with the power cord cut off where it exited the press. So, I needed to add a plug anyway and decided it would […]
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