Since Omega D-series enlargers are so big and heavy, I thought a thread w/ quick tips about disassembling & transporting them would be helpful for many readers.
Please share what you’ve learned!
I noticed it’s a topic that arises frequently – and I know that many experienced Omega users here could offer plenty of practical information & helpful stories for the benefit of everyone. And, it occurs to me that since Omega enlargers share many of the same design features, tips about one model should conveniently apply to others. (Any photos would very likely add to your insights.)
— What specific secrets can you share?
— What lessons have you learned?
— What mistakes are critical to avoid?
To start, here are 7 general steps for disassembly & transport that have worked for me. Specifically, they’re for the common D2v whose column, in this case, is attached to a circular metal base plate – which in turn attaches to a base board. The steps should be general enough to apply to additional configurations:
1) Make sure you’ve securely locked the enlarger’s chassis (the part that goes up and down) to the column by tightening the lock knob.
2) Remove/loosen the 4 knurled thumb screws that attach the lamphouse/VC box to the four lever arms.
3) Remove the lamphouse + VC box + main condenser housing, as one assembly, and carefully set it aside. (This 3-piece assembly is in the photo below.) Or, you can remove the 3 pieces one at a time. In any case, once the assembly is removed, separate it into its 3 pieces for easiest transport. To be extra safe, you might also remove the variable condenser lens from the VC box – making a fourth piece.
4) Now back to the column. Unhook the counterbalance spring tapes from the upper back axle, and let the tapes back into their cartridges – carefully! If you let them snap back, someone might get hurt and cry, or the hooks might break off. (To make this safer, you might raise-up the chassis, shortening the length of exposed tape, then detach the hooks.)
5) I’d go ahead and fully retract the bellows to help protect them for the journey. You might even remove the bellows by unscrewing the tiny 4-top and 4-bottom screws.
6) Now, with someone else holding up the column, remove all three bolts holding the three clamps that anchor the column to the metal base plate. (This plate is directly attached to the base board.)
7) Reattach the clamps to the plate for travel (that is, if you’re taking the base board with you).
Now you can carry all your pieces to the car with ease, laying them flat in the trunk w/ less chance of being damaged. Or, if you place them on the floorboards (in front of the seats), they might have less chance of moving around in the restricted space…
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