A simple fix for my old book press in the garage

Last week, I was trying to press a leather-bound journal in my old 12-inch press and the pressure was uneven. I found a stack of old playing cards in a drawer and used them as shims under the low corner of the platen. It worked perfectly to level the pressure across the whole book. Has anyone else found a good way to fix a press that's a bit out of true?

3 comments

3 Comments

parkera222mo ago

Wait, you just had a stack of playing cards lying around?

jesse_allen2mo ago

Honestly yeah, who doesn't have a deck of cards somewhere? They're in a junk drawer or stuck in a box from an old game night. Tbh I find them useful for way more than just playing games. I've used them to prop up a wobbly table leg or even as little bookmarks. They're just one of those cheap, handy things you end up keeping forever.

sarah8292mo ago

Right, like you've never used a coaster in a pinch.