Dropped $120 on a vintage finishing press from an estate sale and it was a total win

I got it home, cleaned it up with some vinegar and steel wool, and it works perfectly for gluing up text blocks. Way smoother than my cheap new press that kept wobbling. Did I just get lucky or do you all prefer old gear too?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler_baker19d ago

The real win is probably the cast iron. Modern presses use chinesium pot metal that flexes under pressure. That estate sale find likely has a flywheel and rack and pinion setup machined from actual iron. I bet the threads are acme pitch too, way better for binding than the standard threading on modern stuff. Plus old equipment was designed to last generations not just through a warranty period. You basically got a heirloom for the price of a night out.

the_aaron18d ago

Old gear just hits different. That cast iron build quality is something they just don't make anymore. You scored a lifetime tool for what a modern plastic one costs.