Kostiner Archival Washer question

[Greg]

I have a Plexiglass Kostiner Archival Print Washer. See attached image.

This plexiglass adapter came loose with the washer. I have to assume that it inserts into the bottom side of the washer.
Shorter round tune with tiny ID into the washer?
Longer round tube with larger ID to attach the water hose to?
What does the rectangular piece of Plexiglass with the small hole in it do?

thanks

[cowanw]

It takes a threaded nylon bolt that screws tight / unscrews to allow the flow of water to suck air in which creates bubbles that rise, around the prints, in the tank for turbulence.

[LabRat]

Correct, long tube jammed into washer, short to water feed, small hole is air vent that will also slowly drain washer with small stream from it with water off...

These are designed to be used inside of a drained catch area, such as a strong leveled flat bottom sink, not stand alone in a dry area.

As with any washer of it's type, assume that there is always a chance of a rupture failure, so it's catch basin should be able to catch most all of it's contents before the flood happens... Basin should have a 3" or 4" drain for fast drainage...

A good safety precaution to add to a washer is a strong band (like a large ty-wrap) around the top and bottom sides to hold washer together if a seam failed and a side panel fell... It does not have to be tight, just there as a safety, so the contents drain a little slower and not gush fourth in a great wave...

Steve K

[Greg]

thanks for info...

Tomorrow trip to local hardware store to pick up that threaded nylon bolt.

[cowanw]

Mine appears to be 9mm long and is split for 6mm from the end, in such a way as to fit tighter for the last few turns. If you need to get one longer, an O ring snugged up to the bolt head would help seal in needed.

[LabRat]

But you don't need the screw, either... As Bill posted, it adds the air bubbles, but since there's no drain unless you pull out this bulkhead, that the washer will stay filled when not in use, which is not a good idea as it puts strain on the washer between uses, and IF it lets go when one is not around, it can be a much worse situation if not cleaned up ASAP... Leaving the screw out slowly drains it after use... And make sure the water feed line hose does not put too much strain on this fairly weak connector (they can break!!!)...

I have been in different labs/workspaces during and after different archival washer ruptures, and quite a mess it leaves!!!! (I'm scared straight into being careful with them!!!!!!!!!!!)

Steve K

[Greg]

Correct, long tube jammed into washer, short to water feed, small hole is air vent that will also slowly drain washer with small stream from it with water off... Steve K

thanks,
By the way if you reverse that plexiglass fitting, water squirts out of the the aerator hole.

[cowanw]

Yes it is hard to deny gravity!

[Ginette]

I retreived recently an old Kostiner 1983 catalog. Here the page for the washer.
I have this model, the water entry is also the outlet. I think they do a second version with a separate water outlet.
The screw was missing also on mine, I replace it with a nylon bolt with a 1/4" lengh of latex yellow tubing (small caliber), unless it was leaking. Also the washer had a small crack in the hole, I reglue it with a piece of plexiglas over to reinforce the thin wall.
Even if it is illustrated to do that in the catalog, I never remove the adapter or the hose from the adapter, I put a small hose with a quick connector and this is that part that I disconnect when I wish to drain the washer. I think that only by the small hole, it will take a day to drain.

I don't trust plexiglas washer outside sink (I saw too many acrylic display cases that walls open). So my 20x24 and 16x20 washers are in a big and deep stainless tub.

[Havs]

I retreived recently an old Kostiner 1983 catalog. Here the page for the washer.
I have this model, the water entry is also the outlet. I think they do a second version with a separate water outlet.
The screw was missing also on mine, I replace it with a nylon bolt with a 1/4" lengh of latex yellow tubing (small caliber), unless it was leaking. Also the washer had a small crack in the hole, I reglue it with a piece of plexiglas over to reinforce the thin wall.
Even if it is illustrated to do that in the catalog, I never remove the adapter or the hose from the adapter, I put a small hose with a quick connector and this is that part that I disconnect when I wish to drain the washer. I think that only by the small hole, it will take a day to drain.

I don't trust plexiglas washer outside sink (I saw too many acrylic display cases that walls open). So my 20x24 and 16x20 washers are in a big and deep stainless tub.

Anyone know if there are replacement valves floating around out there? I just got this washer and the entire valve is missing-I suppose I can fabricate one if needed.

[gary892]

Havs,
I am looking for a replacement valve as well.
If you end up fabricating let me know if you would be will to make one for me and what the cost would be.

Thanks

Gary

[Jim Noel]

I have the original model which was given to me by Mr. Kostiner when he came to San Diego for a conference. It has no valve, only an input and drain. It has no opening to input air into the system, but has worked well for many years.

[bunburyist]

Havs,
I am looking for a replacement valve as well.
If you end up fabricating let me know if you would be will to make one for me and what the cost would be.

Thanks

Gary

I have recently acquired a Kostiner Archival Washer without a valve mechanism. I would be interested to know how others have solved this problem. I would love to hear from anyone who has successfully fabricated a replacement. Seems like a 3d printer might be able to do the job, but I think you'd need to have an original valve in order to replicate one.

My first inclination was to try using a rubber stopper with a hole driilled out to allow a tube to be inserted. However, after reading the cautionary tales of structural failures, it seems likely that the back pressure of the water's weight would pop the plug out as soon as it got full.

My second idea, born of both laziness and expedience, would be to leave the washer drain open and fill it from the top and let it drain from the bottom. I realize that this isn't optimum, but I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this method and what the results might have been.

[NER]

Buy a Ziss Air valve for $1.59 - https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/ziss-premium-air-valve?_pos=2&_sid=584ca9c83&_ss=r (or something similar) and cut the threaded shank down the middle about 3/4 of the way as seen the poor snapshot below. You will need hose clamps and possibly PVC adapters to fit the tubes from your water supply to your washer. These items are easily had at any hardware store.

218703

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

[bunburyist]

Buy a Ziss Air valve for $1.59 - https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/ziss-premium-air-valve?_pos=2&_sid=584ca9c83&_ss=r (or something similar) and cut the threaded shank down the middle about 3/4 of the way as seen the poor snapshot below. You will need hose clamps and possibly PVC adapters to fit the tubes from your water supply to your washer. These items are easily had at any hardware store.

218703

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't considered aquarium supply stores as a possible source. Thanks for the tip!

[Kirk Gittings]

I have the original model which was given to me by Mr. Kostiner when he came to San Diego for a conference. It has no valve, only an input and drain. It has no opening to input air into the system, but has worked well for many years.

I've used mine for decades with no air bubbles, as I replaced the valve myself-to long to explain (I may have it sitting around somewhere). I think the bubbles look cool but serve no real purpose.

[tax888]

218790


I have the same Washer, but I never know what is this for? See attached photo. Could you please help me? Thanks

[Keith Pitman]

I think that’s a “fishing stick” to help pull prints out of the tank between the dividers.


218790


I have the same Washer, but I never know what is this for? See attached photo. Could you please help me? Thanks

[Joe O'Hara]

Yeah, it helps to dig out small prints that have drifted to the bottom of the tank. The guy who sold me mine didn't know what it was for, either.

[NER]

I've used mine for decades with no air bubbles, as I replaced the valve myself-to long to explain (I may have it sitting around somewhere). I think the bubbles look cool but serve no real purpose.

They serve to agitate the print, thereby facilitating removal of thiosulfate residues.

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

[John Brady]

I have recently acquired a Kostiner Archival Washer without a valve mechanism. I would be interested to know how others have solved this problem. I would love to hear from anyone who has successfully fabricated a replacement. Seems like a 3d printer might be able to do the job, but I think you'd need to have an original valve in order to replicate one.

My first inclination was to try using a rubber stopper with a hole driilled out to allow a tube to be inserted. However, after reading the cautionary tales of structural failures, it seems likely that the back pressure of the water's weight would pop the plug out as soon as it got full.

My second idea, born of both laziness and expedience, would be to leave the washer drain open and fill it from the top and let it drain from the bottom. I realize that this isn't optimum, but I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this method and what the results might have been.

Glad I found this thread. I have a 16x20 Kostiner archival washer that I purchased used some years ago, it also did not arrive with a valve. It just has a hole in the base, if I hold a hose against it, it will fill the tank starting at the bottom and let water overflow out of the top, I guess that's how it works. I have never come up with a fitting so don't use it. I would be interested in what some of you come up with.

[NER]

Yes, that is how it works; except there's no reason to hold a hose against the bottom to fill it. You can attach a hose using a clamp and PVC fitting(s) as seen in the example below. The water flows out the top - 2nd photo. I have my aerator in line as seen in the 3rd photo, but you can have it at inlet too, provided you are able to take it out to drain the washer. Otherwise, draining it will take forever. You don't need to use an aerator, but washing will be more efficient if you do.

218839

218840

218841

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

[bunburyist]

Yes, that is how it works; except there's no reason to hold a hose against the bottom to fill it. You can attach a hose using a clamp and PVC fitting(s) as seen in the example below. The water flows out the top - 2nd photo. I have my aerator in line as seen in the 3rd photo, but you can have it at inlet too, provided you are able to take it out to drain the washer. Otherwise, draining it will take forever. You don't need to use an aerator, but washing will be more efficient if you do.

218839

218840

218841

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

As per you attached photos, my washer does not have the pictured elbow which allows the hose to be attached to the bottom of the tank, as per John Brady's description above.

To start, I need to determine the size of that hole and how a fitting would attach to it. Does it screw in? Is it a tapered end that is just pushed into the hole and held by pressure (like a cork)?

[NER]

It's a straight PVC coupling with an outside diameter of 5/8 inch that fits snuggly into the washer without leaking. The rest is a 90-degree PVC elbow and other PVC couplings/adapters as needed to fit whatever size hose you're using. Any hardware store will have these items.

218843

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

[Kirk Gittings]

I have never used the aerator as I don’t trust how it washes where the bubbles stick to the prints or film (I use mine for film also). Washing is actually a leaching process and I don’t rush it. I do it overnight for the final wash at a very very low flow rate and have never seen an issue.