My old backing press finally gave out after 15 years

The wooden screw snapped clean through yesterday while I was rounding the spine on a leather-bound journal. I had to finish the job with a couple of clamps and a prayer. Anyone have a good source for replacement parts for vintage presses, or is it time to start looking for a new one?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_nina4d ago

The real question is what kind of wood that screw was made from. My uncle's old press had a beech screw that lasted 40 years. If you can find a local woodturner who works with hard maple or hornbeam, they could make you a new screw that might outlive the original. That's a better path than hunting for a rare vintage part. Thomas.parker isn't wrong that it's a headache, but a custom piece turns a broken tool into a project with its own story.

thomas.parker4d ago

Honestly just get a new one lol, trying to fix a 15 year old press sounds like a huge headache.

grace5084d ago

But that old press is probably better than anything new you could buy. The parts are out there if you look at specialty tool forums. Why replace something that just needs one good piece fixed?