Wtd advice on LED UV Lightbox

**Greg** · 16-Mar-2016, 07:16

Finally decided to purchase a good UV light box for my alternative process work. Was about to purchase a EEP unit with built-in vacuum frame, but LED UV units seem to be the current state of the technology. All I found out there were DIY units. Did find a very low cost ($150) Chauvet DJ LED Shadow DMX UV Blacklight Panel Wash on EBay but I can't believe that it would be powerful enough... it seems too good to be true.

But then yesterday came across the STARLIGHT 2331 TABLE-TOP Nuarc LED Exposure Syst., definitely current LED UV technology. It can expose frames up to 31" x 40" or multiple prints in my case. Goes for bit over 4K.. ouch... This STARLIGHT UV unit is going for twice my budget, but in perspective equal to what I paid for my 11x14 Chamonix. Info at:
http://www.mrprint.com/en/ProductOverview.aspx?id=169
Anybody out there had any experience with this or similar units?
I have been looking around locally for a used UV light box from a printer but no luck.
I'd gratefully welcome for any comments.

**koraks** · 16-Mar-2016, 11:22

How large do you need to print and what processes do you want to use? These two parameters determine what your options are.

**Greg** · 16-Mar-2016, 13:13

Originally Posted by koraks

How large do you need to print and what processes do you want to use? These two parameters determine what your options are.

For me Salt and Platinum/Palladium up to 11x14. A good friend of mine makes large Cyanotypes and I'd let take advantage of the 31" x 40" max size. For my Pt/Pl I like to print 4 different digital negs at the same time. Nice thing about the LED unit is that it's not on all the time.

**koraks** · 16-Mar-2016, 15:15

So have you tried something with uv fluorescent tubes? They run relatively cool as well, only need a few seconds to get going and they're quite cheap. Personally have used a uv tanner for a while now and haven't really run into a situation where I'd want to upgrade.

**Duolab123** · 16-Mar-2016, 18:42

I have a old Arkay Speed Dodge 8x10 contact printer. It use Argon lamps. Produces long wave uv and an ethereal purple glow. It will print Azo in under 5 seconds. I know you are looking for something bigger, I just wonder how "fast" tanning bed lamps are? It seems like you should be able to put something together.

One thing there are still a lot of old plate burners out there. I could of had one for the hauling a few years back. I know that there still are a lot of letter press and printing devotees out there, you might try looking around at some of these sites or blogs.

A place I worked about 35 years back had a nuarc job that could have made 4 ,11 X14s at a time easy. Laid everything out on a huge vacuum easel closed the glass, flipped the whole thing over and had some sort of arc? light buried down in the cabinet . Made lithograph plates in a hurry.

**timparkin** · 17-Mar-2016, 11:06

Originally Posted by Greg

Finally decided to purchase a good UV light box for my alternative process work. Was about to purchase a EEP unit with built-in vacuum frame, but LED UV units seem to be the current state of the technology. All I found out there were DIY units. Did find a very low cost ($150) Chauvet DJ LED Shadow DMX UV Blacklight Panel Wash on EBay but I can't believe that it would be powerful enough... it seems too good to be true.

But then yesterday came across the STARLIGHT 2331 TABLE-TOP Nuarc LED Exposure Syst., definitely current LED UV technology. It can expose frames up to 31" x 40" or multiple prints in my case. Goes for bit over 4K.. ouch... This STARLIGHT UV unit is going for twice my budget, but in perspective equal to what I paid for my 11x14 Chamonix. Info at:
http://www.mrprint.com/en/ProductOverview.aspx?id=169
Anybody out there had any experience with this or similar units?
I have been looking around locally for a used UV light box from a printer but no luck.
I'd gratefully welcome for any comments.

I made my own UV unit..

see posts later in this thread - http://www.apug.org/forum/index.php?...id-etc.115208/

and also

http://alternativeprinting.co.uk/201...-for-exposure/

Tim

**bob carnie** · 17-Mar-2016, 11:14

I am interested in this machine as well but to date have not heard of anyone using it.

there is also the possibility of hanging a UV unit from the ceiling and using vacumn frame on table top set up with timer this may be the route I go.

I am not as mechanically inclined as Tim but what he is doing looks very good.

Originally Posted by Greg

Finally decided to purchase a good UV light box for my alternative process work. Was about to purchase a EEP unit with built-in vacuum frame, but LED UV units seem to be the current state of the technology. All I found out there were DIY units. Did find a very low cost ($150) Chauvet DJ LED Shadow DMX UV Blacklight Panel Wash on EBay but I can't believe that it would be powerful enough... it seems too good to be true.

But then yesterday came across the STARLIGHT 2331 TABLE-TOP Nuarc LED Exposure Syst., definitely current LED UV technology. It can expose frames up to 31" x 40" or multiple prints in my case. Goes for bit over 4K.. ouch... This STARLIGHT UV unit is going for twice my budget, but in perspective equal to what I paid for my 11x14 Chamonix. Info at:
http://www.mrprint.com/en/ProductOverview.aspx?id=169
Anybody out there had any experience with this or similar units?
I have been looking around locally for a used UV light box from a printer but no luck.
I'd gratefully welcome for any comments.

**Greg** · 17-Mar-2016, 16:59

Originally Posted by timparkin

I made my own UV unit..

see posts later in this thread - http://www.apug.org/forum/index.php?...id-etc.115208/

and also

http://alternativeprinting.co.uk/201...-for-exposure/

Tim

Have read your posts and am in admiration. 20 or 30 years ago, heck even 10 years ago would have made a DIY UV unit, but am approaching 70 years old and will be going the buy-it-already-made route.

thanks