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 the back roller. Previously, the oscillating roller was making quite an unusual clanking sound when it returned to the operator’s side, but that has now diminished quite a bit and it’s much quieter. I have alot of ink on the press, more than I’m used to needing. I’ve oiled the roller shafts, worked the ink and have the heat cranked up so the pressroom is very warm. Here is a photo of the full rollers lowered onto the ink drum.
5/23 Update– After about a dozen ink-ups and wash-ups, these rollers are now inking correctly and print quality is very good. So it seems there was a “breaking in” period needed that I was unaware of.
Yes to every point in the recap list. No I didn’t use a stiffener, the ink is rubber base and already pretty thick. If anything, I thought about adding a bit of Smooth-lith to thin it, but decided not to this time since I don’t routinely use it. In my session yesterday, I continued to add ink and let the press run until eventually the front roller became evenly covered. The coverage on the back roller improved, but did not completely lose the streaking. The streaking was worst on the end away from the operator’s side. I tried printing a photopolymer plate which contained some small type and a small solid area, and expected it to be wildly overinked due to how much I’d put on the press, but in fact the type looked only slightly overinked, while the solid area was a little underinked. So it seems these rollers can handle alot more ink than what I’m used to with my old rollers. I will keep working with them and see if repeated use and cleaning lead to any better results. Any other suggestions welcomed. Thanks.
Let’s recap:
You said you worked the ink? Did you stiffen with magnesium carbonate?