My press gave out mid-joint on a $200 order

I was finishing up a run of 5 custom journals for a lady in Austin last Saturday and my book press just snapped. The screw stripped out completely, no warning. I had to use a stack of heavy encyclopedias and wood clamps to hold everything together while the glue dried. Has anyone else had a press fail at the worst possible time?

2 comments

2 Comments

henry_palmer2417d ago

Used to think a quality press was something you could set and forget, but that stripped screw taught me otherwise real quick. My buddy had the same thing happen with a cast iron model he'd had for years, just gave up on the second to last book of a big order. Stack of encyclopedias and some clamps got me through too, but now I check the threads before every serious run.

kim_nelson17d ago

Switched to using ratchet straps after my press cracked on a similar job. I mean, it sounds crazy but hear me out. You can ratchet down evenly across the whole spine and they flex just enough to not crack your boards. I keep a set in my shop now specifically for backup. That stripped screw thing though, maybe it's worth looking into a thread repair kit before you need a whole new press.