Does anyone have a beginner's manual to operate offset machines?

[Virtuoso]

I'm new to the industry(offset machines) but not in printing in general. I'm blessed with 2 very old machines. Komori 225 and Solna 225. Some may consider them as ancients. Problem is, I've been all over the internet searching for manuals/guides on how to run them, but I always end up with nothing. Can someone please guide me on where to study the fundamentals? We're currently hiring freelance operators and I've noticed that they all use different techniques. Like Operator A, presses a button in the Komori that activates the buzzers while the other one completely skipped the buzzer and yet was still able to run. Both at comparable speeds of 4500 impressions/hour(same job).

Both of them never had proper machine education and are using the techniques that they learned from others. I just want to know the proper ways so that I would know which operator to hire and which one not to. Planning to invest in a big name machine like a Heidelberg soon but I would want to be educated first rather than relying everything on an offset pressman who might or might not be right at all.

Thank you all.

 

[turbotom1052]

There are many ways to skin a cat. Ive found it nessasary to deviate from the manufactures textbook rules on many instances. A free thinking guy that is able to work around some of the textbook rules, and know the acceptable shortcuts, will in most cases be the best candidate. Watch both guys as they work. Who seems the most poised? Who keeps it together best when presented by the inevitable challenges of the process? Who consistently, under all conditions produces the most, and the best impressions. Often you will find that the better pressman will not look like he is working real hard, but getting lots done. Then there is the issue of mechanical savvy. You mention older presses. Dont underestimate the value of the guy who is more mechanically inclined. He will in many cases be the one that has an edge in all other areas too. Good luck in choosing the right candidate.

 

[Virtuoso]

There are many ways to skin a cat. Ive found it nessasary to deviate from the manufactures textbook rules on many instances. A free thinking guy that is able to work around some of the textbook rules, and know the acceptable shortcuts, will in most cases be the best candidate. Watch both guys as they work. Who seems the most poised? Who keeps it together best when presented by the inevitable challenges of the process? Who consistently, under all conditions produces the most, and the best impressions. Often you will find that the better pressman will not look like he is working real hard, but getting lots done. Then there is the issue of mechanical savvy. You mention older presses. Dont underestimate the value of the guy who is more mechanically inclined. He will in many cases be the one that has an edge in all other areas too. Good luck in choosing the right candidate.

The problem is, there's no guy/guys in this scenario. What you said is also my preference for learning just about anything in life. Always learn from the person who's done the craft 1000 times rather than learn from a person who did 1000 stuff once.