Challenge Gordon 8 x 12

Good evening everyone. I live in Deep River, ON and would like to find someone who knows a great deal about 8 x 12 standing presses to come to my studio for a consult. I am having some difficulties with my press with respect to impression vs trip. This is a lovely press, and I just want to understand it more completely.

I have checked the roller height and gotten my 1/8” stripe just fine. I think the platen needs to be adjusted. I just don’t want to try and do too much more with this press without a very knowledgeable person here with me at the time.

I print with this press and also a Vandercook 01 proof press, shown in the photo.

Is there anyone in Ontario who might be willing to make a studio visit for a consult? I can promise you an amazing home cooked meal, fresh baked goods and peanut brittle, as well as a very good bottle of wine in trade!

(And yes I am a starving artist!)

Thank you for thinking about this request.

image: Nancy Press - 1.jpg

Nancy Press - 1.jpg

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I forgot to mention that a friend had a machinist make two more trucks for me based on my original trucks for my third roller. Since I have added a third roller, the middle roller does not get completely covered in ink when I am printing. Is there something I need to do to the trucks so that the roller will be fully inked? It appears to be turning, but 1/4 of the roller never seems to be fully inked.

Thank you again for listening and for any advice you can share.

My press studio, with Challenge Gordon, Etching Press, and Vandercook 01 proof press.

image: PressStudioTrottier.JPG

PressStudioTrottier.JPG

I would have asked your machinist friend for 6 trucks and use the same new trucks for all the three rollers. Also, are your trucks equipped with a screw, to fix them to the spindle of your rollers? Maybe you want to look at your rails as well. Give them a good clean with some acetone and a rag. Good luck and best wishes for the New Year.

I would have asked your machinist friend for 6 trucks and use the same new trucks for all the three rollers. Also, are your trucks equipped with a screw, to fix them to the spindle of your rollers? Maybe you want to look at your rails as well. Give them a good clean with some acetone and a rag. Good luck and best wishes for the New Year.

Although it is a three roller press only the two together are required for general work, the third roller only needs to go on for a full forme or large solid. If you have just a single line of type to print only one roller is required.

Attached is a photo of all three of the rollers on the press with the newest trucks on the bottom. They are the exact same size as the older ones.

Do I have the roller trucks mounted properly, with the raised ridge closest to the roller itself? There is no screw on any of the trucks, just a notch that the roller core locks into.

It is the middle roller that was not fully inking when I printed this past week.

I am going to clean the rails and re-do the lollypop test to get my 1/8 inch stripe now.

Thank you for all your help.

image: press roller and trucks.JPG

press roller and trucks.JPG

Not in Ontario (in Michigan) and loathe to drive long distances in winter…especially to the northeast, but if you can be patient for warmer weather I have almost 40 years experience with a 8x12 C&P and can be tempted by peanut brittle.

Thank you Arie! Sent you a message tonight through Briar Press.

Nancy -

There certainly is something wrong with the rollers, the trucks or the roller hooks the shafts ride in or the rails the rollers roll on.

Since it’s just one roller, the problem is not the rails - unless the problem is masked on the other two rollers from latent inking. A close look at the offending roller as it’s crossing the form could be interesting…

It goes almost without saying, but the rails must be clean and smooth. A burr or even spot of dried ink, a bump in the tape on taped rails - at a certain spot can raise a roller above the form.

First step in troubleshooting would be to isolate the problem. - See what’s actually causing it, eliminating other possibilities, one at a time.

Mark the rollers and try them in different positions - using the same trucks on each roller. If you can reproduce the problem in a new position, suspect that set of rollers and trucks.

Change the trucks. If the problem moves again, one particular truck seems to be associated with it.

If the problem has moved, reverse the trucks, end for end on that roller and see if you can move it to the other side.

By this point you should have isolated the problem. If it’s the hooks, clean them. I use a brass gun-barrel cleaning tool - inexpensive at Wal-Mart.

If the problem moves with the roller, it’s likely that the roller is out of round. This can happen to rollers - particularly lower durometer 20s or so -or composition rollers. Had they been exposed to any heat recently?

The roller shaft could also be bent. I’ve seen this before - as well as dirty hooks. In one case, someone had actually painted over what must be a bare, polished steel bearing surface. Those hooks must be clean and the shaft must turn easily in it. A spot of oil is a good idea as well..

So. Get to know your press. Troubleshooting inking and images problems is part of letterpress printing. Enjoy the adventure! ;)

You might also want to take a look at the width of those trucks. It might be my old eyes, but the appear to be wider than any C&P trucks I’ve ever seen, and that could easily be well over a hundred. If the trucks are too wide, one might pinch at a certain spot on the run up or down the rails and cause the problem you are experiencing…

Best of luck!
- Alan