Multiple Height Press

See the updated design at the bottom of the page.

Finishing presses often need to be fairly tall to support books well at the spine. These days it is difficult to find suitable wood that is wide enough to make tall presses. Tall presses are also more likely to have problems with jaws that cup, giving uneven pressure on the sides of the text block. This press, with interchangeable legs for different heights, may solve most of the problems and possibly introduce some new benefits. The press is nice and beefy up near the spine and with the cut-in bevels the screws can be set near the top so the pressure is applied where it is most needed. The legs are very sturdy and can be screwed tightly into their sockets. The press is very stable; especially when the legs are more widely spread as when a book is clamped between the jaws.

This is the press in its lowest form, 3-1/2″ tall with no legs attached.

Here the press has short legs and is 5-5/8″ tall.

Here the press is 7-5/8″ tall. Even longer legs could be made to lift the press higher.

With two legs the press can tilt.

Detail showing tapped leg sockets.

Updated Design

Four Multiple Height Presses; in the foreground a 12″ model with no legs attached. Behind that a 12″ model with 2″ legs. Next, a 14″ model with 4″ legs and in the back a 16″ press with 6″ legs. The presses are made of hard maple and have a new handle design.

The 12″ press bodies are 3-1/2″ tall, the 14″ presses have 4″ tall bodies and the 16″ presses have 4-1/2″ tall bodies. Any of the three leg sizes can be used with any of the presses. The short legs are 2-1/8″ tall, the medium legs are 4-1/8″ tall and the long legs are 6-1/8″ tall. At present none of these presses are in stock. These last sold for $325.00 for a press with one set of legs (any size). Extra legs sets of any size are available for $50.00 per set.

Many sets of legs ready for applying finish to.

A book spine is being prepared for casing in using a 12″ Multiple Height Press. Photo: Leonard Thompson