Decades of oil and ink deposits…

Recently purchased and moved two Chandler and Price “Old Style” presses. They had been in the same location since 1938. I would like to remove the old oil and ink before they are reassembled.
I am very aware that this will take considerable time and effort. Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You…

i like to use press wash or keroscene and just wipe them down, for the bed and ink disc i would use steel wool and keroscene. 100 years of oil and old ink gives the press some character.

You are correct that it will take considerable time and effort. That is time you will not be printing. If you really want a parlor press, clean one up and paint it.
I agree with Dick. Wipe it down.
In the old comercial shop the press was often filthy except where the paper and the ink went. It was also oily.
I was taught that if there was not some oil on the floor, you were not oiling it enough. Oil is cheap. Wear is not good.

I use mineral spirits (paint thinner) as my solvent

I use an ink knife to scrape crud and dried ink off of the flat spots, Kerosene or WD-40 and wire brushes and Scotch Brite pads to clean the rest of the presses I work on.

A rusty ink disk, platen, bed or flywheel can be brought back quickly using a mild acid and a thick, coarse Scotch Brite pad - or one of those BBQ Grill cleaning pads with the hand grip. “Prep n Etch” - sold for cleaning concrete prior to painting - is available at Home Depot - and is ideal.

Just be sure to wear safety glasses & gloves - and to get it all off - and replaced with WD-40 - within 10 minutes to avoid staining the steel.

No harm in taking it to a car wash, either. Their high-pressure hot, soapy water does a good job. Don’t worry about rust - just get in there right away with WD-40 and clean and dry the steel before it has a chance to rust.

The most important thing that you *must* do before using those presses is to locate and clean *all* of the oil holes. They are often clogged with paper dust and oil and various grime. If they are not clear, oil will not reach the bearing surfaces and the press will not move as smoothly as it should.

There are oil holes everywhere that metal moves against metal. You don’t need a diagram to find them - you need to sit and stare at and study the press to get to know where parts move against each other - and then get them clean and keep them well oiled.

I have used nails, screws, drill bits and q-tips to clear these holes in the past, but the best tool of all that I have found to clear these oil holes is a short length of threaded rod - easily available at your local hard ware. I use a 1/8” rod for small holes and a 1/4” rod for the larger holes. Just spin the rod into the hole and draw out the gunk. Then hit each hole with WD-40 once or twice, work the press around a bit, then follow up with straight 30 weight (or, frankly, just about any motor oil). Just keep those bearing surfaces wet with oil.

Last year, I had a client who paid $1,500 for such a press, then $1,000 more to have it shipped north. The press moved, but it was tight and the flywheel would not spin on its own, so they called me in to help. After a few hours’ service, I had cleaned it, oiled it and mounted a treadle. They were thrilled - and I was proud.

( - and “Newsies” - the musical - was a big success. This press was operated by treadle in one of the scenes. )

To gauge the condition of lubrication, pull hard on the flywheel and make it spin. If it will continue for 3 impressions or more, you have a well-lubricated press. If not, there’s still work to be done.

Pay particular note to the ink roller saddles. There should be an oil hole above each roller shaft. These are often “lost” under paint or dried ink & solvent which accumulates there after years of use. Find those holes and tap a 10-penny nail through to clear it. Then follow up with a drill bit or section of thin threaded rod.

When the presses are back in operation, be sure to oil those roller saddles - and the main shaft bearings - *every* time you use the press. I have seen those main shafts scored from motorized operation without lubrication. The oil will drip through, so be sure to oil at least those bearings - and the rollers - every time you use the press.

There is one oil hole - a 1/8” hole - that cannot be found by inspection. It is in a roller that rides inside of a channel within the main gear on the right side of the press. This bearing controls the action of the platen as it rotates into impression position. If it has not been oiled regularly, it will wear - or even freeze up and develop a flat spot - this is what causes looseness in the platen; the platen will rock as it rotates into position.

You can check for “platen rock” by laying your forearms across the platen from the front, grasping the far edge and applying upwards pressure with your finger tips while pressing down with your elbows. Many of these older presses will have rocking platens.

The solution is to replace that worn steel roller inside of the channel inside of the large gear. There is an access hole on the right side of the large gear that will allow you to oil that hole - or unbolt the idler for replacement.

Best of luck - and have fun.

- Alan

- Printer since 1962, began working on C&Ps in 1964

Great information!
Many thanks to you all and Happy Holidays!
John