Wtd advice on LED UV Lightbox

[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.

[koraks]

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

[Greg]

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]

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]

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]

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?threads/best-uv-light-source-led-vs-fluro-vs-hid-etc.115208/

and also

http://alternativeprinting.co.uk/2016/03/12/using-uv-for-exposure/

Tim

[bob carnie]

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.


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]

I made my own UV unit..

see posts later in this thread - http://www.apug.org/forum/index.php?threads/best-uv-light-source-led-vs-fluro-vs-hid-etc.115208/

and also

http://alternativeprinting.co.uk/2016/03/12/using-uv-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