Restoration

First thing you need to do is find as much information you can about the press you have. It will help you see if any parts are missing and what it should look like when you are done. If it has its original paint DO NOT paint over it. If it has spent time outside and has rusted then you will need to take it apart. Googling it will give you an instant idea of what you are up against. I am currently restoring a 1930 Nebiolo and it is a handful. I have previously restored an Emil Kahle and you can see my before and after pictures if you search this side for “Emil Kahle”. Enjoy your restoration project !

Thanks!

I see lots of places online where they took it completely apart and soda blasted it and painted… Looks great but really uneasy about taking it apart without documentation on getting it back in order.

Yes, I want to get it running again to actually use. I started my career 24-ish years ago on a similar press and have always wanted one for my personal use.

It’s going to take some time but I’m ok with that. Now I’m on the hunt for parts and any documentation I can find!

Thanks!

If you record your steps with photographs, it will be very easy to put it back without any documentation or schematics.

I have a 10x15 C&P old style that is working condition with all of its parts. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

I’m a firm believer in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I recently took a couple of table top presses from someones junk pile, they were rusted solid, nothing moved, it took months of spraying with liquid wrench and a lot of fine oil but they work now, I never took anything apart. Cast iron breaks very easy, I try not to take too much off anything.

How about soda blasting? Any harm using that to break up the mess on the springs, etc? I’d like to repaint and get everything smooth again.

I see that the soda itself may become a problem after spraying since it’s a powder… But may be able to be air blasted off afterward?

soda blasting is a relatively non-corrosive way to clean painted or rusted metal parts. If you are going to do it, do it on individual parts and not while those parts are on the machine. It is very easy to concentrate on a spring while it is on the machine and not notice that your spraying is corroding the paint behind it. Fixing that would be too much trouble.

if you are going to blast it, take it to someone who can do it with dry ice. no rust, no particulate when finished.
i would get the thing running and turning over first if possible. then take it apart later.

I’m going through the same thing you are with a 8x12 C&P. I’ve found that ZEP Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser from Home Depot, does a really good job at removing the old ink, oil, gunk and even some rust coloration on the cylinders. Make sure you dilute it with water or it WILL eat the paint away. Works really well with some green brillo scrubbing pads and a spray bottle. I had to take my press apart trouble shooting an issue and have been soaking the parts in a large rubbermaid container for a bit and then wiping them down. The crud comes right off! Just make sure that you’re spraying the parts down with WD40 or wiping them with an oiled cloth after to prevent rusting and oxidation.