Question on registration gauge

The gripper opens up and drops it in the guides, 1/4” if you are using brass guides. For napkins I’d be running off guide, the gripper holds onto it for the whole process. Here’s a video running napkins off guide. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy6k5u6RhxB/

Whats running off guide? Please explain newbie here sorry.

Whats running off guide?

In your operation manual, see about page 50 on regarding setup and running with or without guides. If you don’t have a manual, there’s a couple on https://letterpresscommons.com/original-press-manuals/
The second one on the list is newer.
On the video, he’s running napkins down the center of the table. Your chase has a center mark to match, making it easier to line up your die to the job.

You have the option of not using your guides at all. Without gauges. Gauges and guides are the same thing. The grippers pick up your napkins or whatever, take it into the press, goes on impression then delivers to the other side, without ever dropping it into the guides. It’s not as exact as guides but it can be pretty close. A lot of people prefer it because it’s easier. If you need exact registration, then you use guides. If you need fast setup, where pretty close is good enough, then run without gauges. Refer to your manual. If you don’t have a manual, just Google it there’s several online.

The original question. The product falls/slides slightly down the platen in to the side of the gauge/guide as it lifts while still inside the confines of the loose gripper. The action of bottom gauge and gripper letting go and if using gripper registration happens just about the same time of each other.

I don’t see the marks on my chase for center

I don’t see the marks on my chase for center

Running without using guides is also known as “running commercial” and is perfectly valid for running jobs that dont need hairline register. While most chases do have a center mark (on right hand side of chase), there may be chases without the mark, but one can be added by measuring the midpoint of the chase and placing a mark there—this should match the center mark at the top center of the feeder back plate.