Hello all, I’ve owned a Vandercook SP-20 since April of this year, and it’s been, to this point a beautiful machine. About a week ago, I started getting a strange issue that I have not been able to decipher, and is not covered in any of the books I have looked at. Here is what’s […]
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Sliding, chattering rollers on SP20
Recently, and all of a sudden (or perhaps having reached their tipping point), the rollers on my SP20 are not laying ink correctly. I get the sense that the rollers are sliding over the form (I use photopolymer plates) and the look of the prints produced (scuffed and uneven) support this idea. The sliding is […]
MoreSP-15 Roller Blocks/Knobs Issue
We have recently discovered that some of our roller knobs are loose, even when the allen screws to hold the knobs in position are tight. John Horn was by our shop the other day, and says that the threads on the knob screws might be worn. We also have the opposite problem on at least […]
MoreWear to bed bearers on SP20
I’ve noticed a pattern of wear on the bed bearers of my press. The wear is localized where the support rollers and the carriage bearings sit when the carriage is at the feed board. This occurs on both sides of the press, but the wear is more distinct on the operator side. I’m not sure […]
MoreFriction Fingers
Hi All! My SP-15 has the round bases on which friction fingers mount, but no friction fingers, friction finger stiffeners, or screws that hold these things to the brackets. Consequently, I don’t actually know what these fingers are for. do they help keep the tail end of the paper from hitting the form? Should I […]
MoreVibrator worm lubrication
Hello, There’s a squeaking noise happening when my SP15 vibrator heads toward the non-operator’s side of the press. I have plenty of vaseline on the worm on both sides. I suspect my press isn’t level. Should I take the vibrator off and attempt to clean the worm, or try to level the press first? Thank […]
MoreUpdate: Found —Wanted: Worm gear and collar
Hi guys, I’m in the process of building a new oscillator for my SP15 and the machinist is already in the process of making the oscillator cylinder, and the shaft. He told me though, that making the worm gear is out of his possibilities with the machinery he has. He said that it would probably […]
MoreCritical dimensions for SP-15
Hi All, Could someone please help and let me know the critical dimensions for the SP-15, I have my press arriving in a few weeks and am concerned about logistics of a few poorly positioned stairwells, doors and the like. I can find the floor area dims here but not those for exact width with […]
MorePacking: What I have, What I need
My Current Packing. Is that an original Vandercook Mylar-Coated Underblanket? Hi All! On to my next newbie question. This is a photo of the current cylinder packing on my SP15, which has a standard .040 undercut. There are four layers: 1. Hanger : A red something that appears to be fabric coated with rubber. 2. […]
MoreHelp! I can’t get this screw out of my SP-15!
Hi All! This screw in the vibrator assembly of my SP-15, a screw which my manual tells me is properly know as the Crescent Holder, is stuck. It has been three days now soaking in alternating baths of WD-40 and PB Blaster, and it still won’t budge. It’s purpose is to insert the Crescent into […]
MoreMoving our SP-15 from a Basement
Hi All! Thanks to great advice obtained here and form the folks on letpress, we successfully moved an SP-15 and a C&P 8×12 this weekend, from a basement location to the shop out back of our house. Key to the process, other than caution and moving slowly and carefully, was the use of a Maasdam […]
MorePower Inking for SP-15
This past January, we took a three-day letterpress course from Frank Brannon at Bookworks in Asheville, NC. The letterpress bug bit and we bought an SP-15 at auction from Boggs Graphics in Ohio. The press was very clean and in excellent shape, but it had manual inking. After some tries to use the press without […]
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