4 Matching Annotations
  1. Jun 2026
    1. Get things covered up. Gloves on and fan cranking. Pre wipe as much as you can off the top. You want to keep gunk out of the segment. This one is not going to be too hard, as the typebars don't run downhill. Brush, blow, repeat. Swap out for clean brushes often. Time for the brass, And save the "you're going to damage the slugs" bs. A brass wheel will do nothing to the slugs except make your life easier. Inspect and time for the pick. Use your phone and take a pic. Inspect the vowels closely. Brush, blow and repeat. Are they clean? If you are looking at a FBM "professionally serviced machine," look those slugs over. If they can't clean the slugs, what can they do? Now you are ready to wipe each typebar with the solvent rag. Cleaning the slug under the typeface is the worst part of it. People will clean the typeface and let years of junk build up underneath. Now you are ready to tackle the segment.

      via James Grooms at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1tsct5a/lets_clean_some_slugs/

  2. Nov 2025
    1. Symptom: Ghosting lines overlaying typed text:

      This is assuredly not a type slug cleaning issue and the secret is that the loops in the letters like "a", "e", "o", etc. are clear. The lines are caused by the paper not being held to the platen, so when the slug hits, you're getting ink from the other part of the slug transferring to the paper. The remedy is to tuck the paper underneath the paper bale and rollers.

      If one still sees issues after this then check your manual to ensure that the ribbon is properly threaded followed by a check that the ribbon vibrator isn't bent too far away from the typing point and too close to the platen and causing the ribbon to rub against the paper.

  3. Jul 2025
  4. May 2025