Details: Vandercook SP-15 Brand new inks from Graphic Chemical and Ink (their own block & letterpress ink) Photopolymer plates from Boxcar Press Impression is somewhat deep The issue is that if I put enough ink on the press to ink in one pass the type is ragged. What I’m having to do is shift to […]
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SP-15 maximum sheet size?
Hello, I posted once previously regarding the SP-15 I recently bought and have been cleaning up. This is taking longer than I thought but it is looking better! Meanwhile I’ve been reading and enjoying learning about the press. I am somewhat confused, however, about the maximum sheet size which is listed as 14-3/4 x 20 […]
MoreAdjustment of grippers on SP-15
The grippers work fine on our SP-15 when we use the foot pedal to insert the paper, but they do not properly release the paper at the end of the print. Other than adding some shims behind the bracket that activates the gripper lever at the end of the print action, is there another method […]
MoreSP-15 in need of thorough cleanup
My newly purchased SP-15 is now moved into its new home and I’ve been able to take a close look at it for the first time (I bought it based only on photos so couldn’t see all details). It looks to be in very good shape (no rust or dents) with no major parts missing. […]
MorePressure Ink Well
*Was: Unknown device on SP-15…* changed for archiving purposes What is the component you see sticking up on the back corner of the paper feed board? I never see it on any of the posted photos. This image is of an SP-15.
Morecylinder gear tooth alignment
After reading the previous discussion about a misaligned cylinder causing the grippers to smash the form, I thought about the SP20 I’m currently going over (and on which we have not yet printed) and noted that when I received it, the gripper bar was not at 12 oclock when the cylinder was home at the […]
MoreFeedboard Feedback
Ok, maybe not the most consequential Vandercook query, but this has been nagging at me. I’m currently fixing up my departments’ recently salvaged SP20 (serial #25595), and have noticed that the feed board is ungraduated along the slot which holds the edge guide (missing, of course). In contrast, my SP15 has the customary scale for […]
MoreSP-15 inking issues
[Some comments in response to this post concern repair of the Adjustable Bed on Universal I -PM] I have what seems to be an older model SP-15. It looks exactly like the photos of Vivian Leung’s SP-15, which I have swiped from Briar Press and posted below. It only has four grippers, and the roller […]
MoreCarriage Adjustments on SP15 to limit lateral movement
At the Mass Art Press (Massachusetts College of Art), we have two SP15s. Both have what seems to be significant lateral movement in the carriage. When the carriage is rolled beyond the feedboard over the bed, the carriage can be wiggled toward and away from the operator by…oh…lets say 24-36 pts.. I’m assuming this is […]
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