Hi-speed Quoins -

high speed quoins are about the best, the gauge just tells you how far they are extended, if you are using an automatic press I think these should be used but for table top hand operated presses I mostly use wickersham quoins. The wickersham quoins will snap back when extended to far, the high speed do not. Not all high speed quoins have that gauge you talk about, I think most of mine don’t have that. High speed quoins are more expensive but they are my favorite, you need a quoin key made for high speed.

J. K. Pure coincidence, (but as our U.K. saying goes, you wait forever for a Number X, Y, Z, Bus and then 2 come along together) re your High Speed quoins,?? Sunday last in our Museum print shop, Amberley, Sussex, U.K. interesting discussion re, amongst many other aspects, of L/press Print, High Speed Quoins,??
The explanation was, because the opposing sections of the quoin, (wedges) could not be seen on expansion, the visible markings were/are a guide to the amount of compression, per quoin, when used in a big chase, this was demonstrated with little sketches,
Nowadays (presumably) a low capacity *Torque* wrench would be used, to achieve even pressure on a Bigger Forme/Chase.
After seeing many Bowed,Warped, BUSTED chases, perhaps the use of a Torque wrench, may yet be a a good idea, or perhaps a better appreciation/understanding on how to *Lock Up*
The desire to utilise *High Speed* Quoins with a *comparitvely* small tabletop Press is quite understandable, but (A) they take up a lot of useful/usable space within the chase, and (B) a lot of pressure, maybe too much, can be exerted.??
Generally tabletop Adanas, seen here, U.K. in the 3 smaller sizes, 3 x 2, 5 x 3, and 6 x 4, have lock up, grub screws, within the side walls of the chase,s the Bigger Adana,s 8 x 5, and H.S. 3 = 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, could utilise Hi Speed quoins, but as above, Too Powerful and too big, by choice we would use *Narrow Margin Quoins* in Single, Double, and Triple format, Cornerstone type Barely 26 point wide fully closed, with up to 5/6 point expansion capacity.
Apologies for the *ramble*. Good Luck.

Dick, Apologies also, I started my Seminar, while you were still feeding the goats, but took so long, you got in first, I had 2/3 coffee breaks, and R.S.I. How are the New Family.? Mick, The genuine *Old Goat*.

No apology necessary, the goats are fine, we had 19 for a while, we are selling some, now we are down to 15, was laid up for a week or two, had knee surgery, I guess some of my parts are starting to wear out, first the eyes, then the brain, now the knees. Hope you are well, seen you posting a bit, keep up the good work, the *Young Goat*

What the numbers mean is expansion in points which is not necessaarily a measure of pressure. A quoin expanded against nothing exerts no pressure.

Thanks for the information, I am going to check out the wickersham quoins too.
Jocelyn

I also have some small quoins with a cam that seem very quick, but if you go past the cam-more than about half a turn- they spring back to zero again, perhaps they were more for galley proofing? Mick,
I tried a Tork wrench in the Soldan speed-lok quoins I showed you but it doesn’t seem to want to fit I think, I tried grinding down a Hempel quoin key but then that doesn’t fit the teeth….if anyone has a photo/specs of correct quoin key I would be thankful or even a spare one…also can the speed-loks be taken apart easily? I inherited some and they are rusty inside……….

Challenge hi-speed quoins are held together by just two straight pins. One pin is the indicator of expansion, once you find that you can figure out the other. The correct pin punch and a hammer will drive them out and disassembly is easy.
I’ve had a lot of these quoins that needed to be cleaned out because the retaining spring inside (which causes the slight clicks as you turn the key) were broken, sometimes the fragments jamming the quoin. The quoin functions well even without the spring, but I wouldn’t use it for a critical lockup.

thanks for advice might give it a go-soaking in oil at the moment-if I had a key then I could hear if the spring is broken too……might try just with a screw driver blade…cheers

Challenge used a five-spline key on the hi-speed quoins. If you have access to an older Challenge paper drill such as the JO, this same spline holds the side guide in place.

Or, buy a new one. Bar-Plate owns the former Challenge HiSpeed quoin line and still makes new quoins and quoin keys. See one of Bar-Plate’s dealers/distributors.
This is a product first introduced in 1932 and is still made.

Fritz