My press frame split on a tight grain pull, but I fixed it with clamps and glue

Last Saturday I was pressing a 10x14 text block for a reback job and the frame just cracked right down the side, about 3 inches from the corner. I panicked for a minute (honestly, my hands were shaking) because I've had that press for almost 4 years and never had it fail before. I ended up clamping it tight with some bar clamps and mixing up some hide glue to fill the split while it was under pressure. It held through the rest of the pressing cycle, but I'm wondering if I should just get a new press or try to reinforce this one long term. Has anyone else had a wooden press frame crack on them and found a good way to save it?

2 comments

2 Comments

clairec783d agoTop Commenter

Glue and clamps can work but you need to back it up with some metal plates or angle brackets screwed into the frame. I had a split happen on an old nipping press around the same spot and put a couple small L-brackets on the inside. Never had another issue. What kind of wood is your press made from?

patricia_kelly3d ago

Oh, the metal brackets thing worked for me too, clairec78. I had a press crack in almost the exact spot, down the side near the corner, and I was sure it was toast. I glued it up with Titebond and clamped it overnight, then screwed a couple simple flat corner brackets into the outside of the frame. It's been holding strong for about a year now through heavy use. The key is to make sure the screws are long enough to bite into solid wood past the crack, not just the surface. I drilled pilot holes first so I didnt split the wood again. That press is still my go-to for rebacks and large text blocks, no wobble or flex at all since. So yeah, I'd say try the bracket fix before you spend money on a new one, unless the crack goes all the way through the frame in a bad spot. Mine was just a side split and it held perfectly.