Press update
The press handle did not want to come out of the fitting. Since the moving parts are, for the most part, pegged together with tension set steel pins. There are two large (slightly bigger than 3/4 inch)pegs at the main connection points. Once of these main points is held together by the shaft for the handle.
The handle was broken when I got it, so it needed to be removed so that I can get it repaired.
Removing it was a major project. The fact that the douche who repainted it filled the oil holes with gooey paint so that the fittings could be properly oiled didn't help. The lack of oiling caused a couple of the parts to become very friendly in their bonding. Not having the proper tools to knock it loose without mushrooming the end didn't help either.
I had to call upon A to use the technique known as Hit It Harder With Hammers.** As long as the force was ONLY applied to the steel pins, we'd be fine. Hitting the brittle cast iron would likely shatter the part. We did ok. The handle is out and ready to take to the house of metal repairs.
Since I had to disassemble one of the main connection points, I started tearing it down so that I can strip off the klugey paint. I get a little obsessive about taking things apart, so it was more of an excuse.
The next steps are:
**A is supporting my printing efforts. Not only did he hit things with hammers for me, but he devoted a day to driving to Zion IL to visit the Platen Press Museum. He is wonderful.
The handle was broken when I got it, so it needed to be removed so that I can get it repaired.
Removing it was a major project. The fact that the douche who repainted it filled the oil holes with gooey paint so that the fittings could be properly oiled didn't help. The lack of oiling caused a couple of the parts to become very friendly in their bonding. Not having the proper tools to knock it loose without mushrooming the end didn't help either.
I had to call upon A to use the technique known as Hit It Harder With Hammers.** As long as the force was ONLY applied to the steel pins, we'd be fine. Hitting the brittle cast iron would likely shatter the part. We did ok. The handle is out and ready to take to the house of metal repairs.
Since I had to disassemble one of the main connection points, I started tearing it down so that I can strip off the klugey paint. I get a little obsessive about taking things apart, so it was more of an excuse.
The next steps are:
- take handle in for repair
- remove paint
- remove rust
- take parts in for professional sealing and painting (it needs some sort of protection that can stand up to solvent)
- look in horror at the array of parts and connectors
- use diagram and parts list along with corresponding labels and numbering system to reassemble the press
- bother the guy who is supposed to be making the rollers, cores, and trucks
- bother the guy who is supposed to be selling me a new set of grippers (same guy who sold me the broken handle). Since I had the nerve to complain about the handle being broken, he hasn't responded to my emails.
**A is supporting my printing efforts. Not only did he hit things with hammers for me, but he devoted a day to driving to Zion IL to visit the Platen Press Museum. He is wonderful.