I'm converting a 138 into a copy stand and need to reduce the tension on the counterweight spring.
I understand this can be very dangerous. Can anyone tell me the safe way to do this?
Durst 138 counterweight adjustment
I'm converting a 138 into a copy stand and need to reduce the tension on the counterweight spring.
I understand this can be very dangerous. Can anyone tell me the safe way to do this?
Might it not be simpler to add some mass to the arm that held the head (that now holds the camera)?
My Verito page
An Old Master with a New Trick
Anyone can appreciate a fine print. But it takes a real photographer to appreciate a fine negative.
Good idea!, I think I'll go looking for some giant steel washers (2" hole).
They would slide right onto the 2" shaft of the camera mount.
Should be cheap enough. Thanks.
Maybe the kind they have at the gym...Originally Posted by Dik
My Verito page
An Old Master with a New Trick
Anyone can appreciate a fine print. But it takes a real photographer to appreciate a fine negative.
I would be very very careful... I have seen an enlarger spring break and it is not a pretty site.
Yes, tha's why I'm hunting for a couple of Barbell plates. Thinking about getting the holes opened up to 2" and sliding them onto the camera mount shaft.
What I did is take a bit of stainless aircraft cable and suspend a short section of ABS drainpipe with caps on both ends, filled with lead birdshot. This way the counterweight remained relatively small in size compared to steel. And it turned out to be quite a bit
cheaper than buying deep-sea lead fishing weights.
Oh ... just noting Bob's wise warning .... I did not monkey with the original enlarger spring, but attached the counterwt cable attachment to the outside of the column. Works great
and is safe.
Are you using it as a copy stand?
How did you attach camera/head to the 50MM shaft?
No. I have a separate dedicated copystand. I neglected to state that the 138 is firmly mounted to the wall with huge welded L-braces (this is earthquake country), providing the
space for the counterweight tube behind, and that the cable runs thru wall-mounted pulleys, which could be arranged to support counterweight to either the head or the
platform as needed. Sorry, but I don't own a digital camera suitable for taking web pics of
this setup.
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