Smashed Zone VI 16x20 print washer...advice needed [Archive]

Larry Kellogg

16-Jan-2014, 17:35

vinny

16-Jan-2014, 17:53

take it to a sign/plastics shop. If you have the proper tools for cutting acrylic smoothly, get some weld-on 4 and go for it.

kyle carter

16-Jan-2014, 17:54

You could cut a piece of plexiglass and glue it to the side that's broken.

Darin Boville

16-Jan-2014, 17:58

You may have already seen this thread on making your own--maybe there is some insight there on repairing yours...

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?110143-Acrylic-film-washer-photos-plans

--Darin

Kevin Crisp

16-Jan-2014, 18:00

A plastics shop will have the right replacement material and the special glue that essentially welds the panels back together again. Don't know where you are located. Solter's Plastics in LA, CA is great for this.

Ginette

16-Jan-2014, 18:07

Hello,
So, I bought a 16x20 Zone VI washer and it arrived totally smashed. Both sides are broken into multiple pieces, it's a mess. Has anybody tried to repair something like this? I'm leaning towards writing it off as a complete loss. Thoughts?
Larry

I will never trust a glued multiple pieces walls. You just exposed yourself to a second mess :( Full of water 16x20 weight maybe 200 lbs so don't take a chance with a bad repair.
The plexi shop will charge you more to redo the 4 walls than a "new" used one. Just reclame your purchase as a total lost and search a new one.

Larry Kellogg

16-Jan-2014, 18:31

I will never trust a glued multiple pieces walls. You just exposed yourself to a second mess :( Full of water 16x20 weight maybe 200 lbs so don't take a chance with a bad repair.
The plexi shop will charge you more to redo the 4 walls than a "new" used one. Just reclame your purchase as a total lost and search a new one.

Yeah, I think this is the right answer. I'm in NYC, but have no car. I cannot even carry this thing around to take it to anybody, and gluing it back together is going to be too dangerous and prone to failure. Both ends are broken into multiple pieces and the guide pieces are glued onto the broken end walls. I think I'll give up and just get a refund. It is more trouble than it is worth. As it is, I have to somehow throw it away. Sigh, what a bummer. I was looking forward to having a 16x20 washer, I love that print size and I'm not sure a siphon works well for a stack of prints.

AtlantaTerry

16-Jan-2014, 19:55

Larry,

Why did it break?

Was it badly packed?

Did UPS drive a fork lift over it? (I've actually seen squished boxes with tire tracks!)

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 07:38

Well, I don't think a cardboard box and some styrofoam was enough to protect something this heavy during shipment. No forklift marks, LOL, but I think the shippers take extra care to throw around packages that have yellow tape on them saying it is over 80 lbs.

So, should I take the eBay money back guarantee option? The seller did not offer any returns or refunds but says the package was insured. Trouble is, I'm not going to be able to carry this thing to UPS to show them the damage.

Larry,

Why did it break?

Was it badly packed?

Did UPS drive a fork lift over it? (I've actually seen squished boxes with tire tracks!)

vinny

17-Jan-2014, 08:19

UPS will send a guy out to make an inspection, OR they'll do one over the phone. I had a jobo processor shipped to me which was destroyed due to bad packaging. They did an inspection via phone. If the packaging wasn't up to par, ups will deny responsibility. I'd go with ebay's refund which should be faster since ups may have an issue with the packaging and want to deny the insurance?

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 10:50

It looks like a UPS Store packed it, badly, and now UPS' online claims system says the package is not eligible for a claim. I want to go through eBay but the seller is going to try to talk to UPS.

As far as I know, the UPS Stores are independent franchises, and are not really UPS. I haven't been impressed with their packing skills from what I have seen.

UPS will send a guy out to make an inspection, OR they'll do one over the phone. I had a jobo processor shipped to me which was destroyed due to bad packaging. They did an inspection via phone. If the packaging wasn't up to par, ups will deny responsibility. I'd go with ebay's refund which should be faster since ups may have an issue with the packaging and want to deny the insurance?

Pawlowski6132

17-Jan-2014, 10:55

Larry, there's a chance I may be ready to sell my 16x20 Versalab print washer. I too owned the the Zone VI 16x20 print washer. I like the Versalab much better: One piece design, better water flow, lighter materials, etc.

Peter Mounier

17-Jan-2014, 11:04

It looks like a UPS Store packed it, badly, and now UPS' online claims system says the package is not eligible for a claim. I want to go through eBay but the seller is going to try to talk to UPS.

As far as I know, the UPS Stores are independent franchises, and are not really UPS. I haven't been impressed with their packing skills from what I have seen.

When I ordered my 16x20 print washer, it broke in transit 3 times! On the fourth delivery it made it unscathed. Thankfully it was replaced each time without complaint until I got one intact.

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 11:27

Thanks, I'm interested, how in the world would we get it to me? ;-)

Larry, there's a chance I may be ready to sell my 16x20 Versalab print washer. I too owned the the Zone VI 16x20 print washer. I like the Versalab much better: One piece design, better water flow, lighter materials, etc.

Tony Lakin

17-Jan-2014, 11:29

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 11:29

When I ordered my 16x20 print washer, it broke in transit 3 times! On the fourth delivery it made it unscathed. Thankfully it was replaced each time without complaint until I got one intact.

Yikes, I see this is not a new problem. So, how did they pack the washer that made it? ;-) It seems to me that the inside should be filled with a big hard foam block to try to keep it from racking, but still, it's a tough job.

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 11:34

Sorry to hear about your problem Larry, maybe I could make some extra cash by giving packing lessons having successfully shipped two cold light grids to NY from the Isle Of Man:D I hope you are successful in getting a full refund and wish you well in getting a suitable replacement:)

Regards

Ha ha, right you are, Tony. ;-) Maybe you should send the next one. I hope you are well. I wonder if I should give up on the washer and stick to the Eugene Smith two tray washing system. His method was one larger tray with a siphon, above another tray. Prints start in the bottom and get cycled to the top tray. Like I said, though, I don't think it is the best for a large stack of prints.

Drew Wiley

17-Jan-2014, 14:11

Some UPS handlers, esp the seasonal ones in Dec, can be pretty horrible. But the Zone VI washer would be made with acrylic sheet, so can easily be solvent-repaired and put into use, though that does nothing to solve the fairness aspect of the situation.

Bob Salomon

17-Jan-2014, 14:43

Yeah, I think this is the right answer. I'm in NYC, but have no car. I cannot even carry this thing around to take it to anybody, and gluing it back together is going to be too dangerous and prone to failure. Both ends are broken into multiple pieces and the guide pieces are glued onto the broken end walls. I think I'll give up and just get a refund. It is more trouble than it is worth. As it is, I have to somehow throw it away. Sigh, what a bummer. I was looking forward to having a 16x20 washer, I love that print size and I'm not sure a siphon works well for a stack of prints.

If you can rent a car you can drive about 20 miles west of the city to West Paterson, NJ on Route 46. Just off of 46 is Acme Plastics. They are a supplier of plastic sheeting as well as a fabricator. If they can't repair it they can make a new one. Very nice people. There also has to be several similar places in Manhattan. http://www.acmeplastics.com

Larry Kellogg

17-Jan-2014, 15:39

If you can rent a car you can drive about 20 miles west of the city to West Paterson, NJ on Route 46. Just off of 46 is Acme Plastics. They are a supplier of plastic sheeting as well as a fabricator. If they can't repair it they can make a new one. Very nice people. There also has to be several similar places in Manhattan. http://www.acmeplastics.com

Thanks for the information, Bob, I just don't think I'll have the time to go to all that trouble to try to get it repaired.

Ginette

17-Jan-2014, 15:43

Hard to see a so good piece of equipment be broken like that but don't put more money to try to repair "multiple pieces" broken walls. Glued walls are solid in a corner assembly but not in a middle of a wall! Any honest plexiglas shop will tell you the same: they will have to redo all the walls. It is not UPS who will pay the repair!!
If UPS don't want to refund you, go directly to Paypal for a full immediate refund.
Save the parts that can be used as spairs for the next one you will found (soon!). Look for a pickup one near NYC (craiglist, WTB in photo forums), this will be the better way to not have it broken.