who wants to build a 4x5 horizontal enlager for me?

[jimmygcreative]

I would like to work with someone who could build a simple enlarger in horizonal confg.

I would like to have a light source that can be replaced at home depot, needs to be about 1200 watts maybe 1400. 120 service. bellows lens boards based on sinar 4x5 f system and a basic track and chassis, any ideas??


the enlarger will be used for bw printing only, the contrast controlled by gels

thanks-J

[John Koehrer]

how large are you printing? 1200W is a ton of light.

[jeroldharter]

With all the inexpensive vertical enlargers and light sources out there, why not use a wall mounted 4x5 enlarger with a drop table? Just asking.

[Leigh]

how large are you printing? 1200W is a ton of light.

Not really.

B&W photo paper is only sensitive to blue, or green and blue, and most of the output power of an incandescent bulb (including halogen) is red.

My Ilford Multigrade head uses two 300-watt lamps, one each for the green and blue channels, and I get normal exposure times for 8x10 to 16x20 prints.

- Leigh

[Peter De Smidt]

There are some super-bright 3w Cree LEDs available in both white and blue. (Maybe green.) There's lots of tips on how to use these on salt water reef aquarium sites. For instance, see: http://www.nanotuners.com/

[Oren Grad]

I guess the other question is whether you can accomplish what you need with an existing enlarger that's designed to allow the head to flip 90 degrees for horizontal projection. My Beseler 23CII will do that, and I imagine the 45M series enlargers will too. There must be others.

[Steve Smith]

It's much easier to design an enlarger like this horizontally than it is vertically as you don't need to attach everything to a central column or framework. It can all rest on a level worktop and has the benefit of gravity working in its favour rather than against it in a vertical design.

If I didn't live half way around the world, I would offer to help.


Steve.

[jeroldharter]

There are so many people who make their own cameras, some of whom sell them to others. I wish someone would come up with a simple enlarger designed to enlarge 8x10 maximum format, variable contrast light source (or at least a simple way to use filters above the negative), enlargement size up to 20x24, ability to use masking carriers like Radeka's, 3-screw alignment of lightsource/negative plane/lens plane, and a simple lens board attachment like on a field camera.

I know the appeal of horizontal enlargers, but they take up a lot of floor space and most existing darkrooms are not designed for them. I would like a vertical enlarger with nothing motorized and made out of standard materials. Sort of like a Wehman camera but an enlarger.

It would take someone more clever than me to build this. I wonder if anyone here has built an enlarger?

[Ari]

This guy was pretty smart:
http://www.deadbread.com/crumbs/23c.html

You could build a light source to accommodate any size negative, and, if you're handy enough, build a simple chassis for it.

I'm not saying I could do it...

[D. Bryant]

This guy was pretty smart:
http://www.deadbread.com/crumbs/23c.html

You could build a light source to accommodate any size negative, and, if you're handy enough, build a simple chassis for it.

I'm not saying I could do it...

I'm impressed!