@tim
Thanks!
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@tim
Thanks!
My guess is an alignment issue, as suggested by xkaes in post #8. Also, are you using a glass negative carrier? This is an interesting post, there will soon be an answer!
no glass carrier just the standard one thanks!
The negative is perhaps not flat at the carrier stage. That may be the problem. It is less likely to be at the easel; see post #2 by Maris.
These enlargers can be aligned, but it can be difficult. I learned a tip from John Sexton. Loosen the fasteners on the column and slide shims made from pieces of 120 film. You can also use aluminium foil for small adjustments.
Might try using a large piece of glass over the paper for a print and see if that stops the out of focus areas. If so, it is the paper waviness making it out of focus. You aren't going to print through glass every time, just for a test to hold the paper flat. If that solves the problem a vacuum easel may solve your problem. Or try some light adhesive on the easel to hold the paper flat.
If the glass does not solve the problem it is the negative. A glass carrier will solve problems with a negative that is not flat.
Thanks everyone really appreciate the help!
So far I am finding this thread interesting and helpful! I have an LPL 4550 enlarger and use a Saunders "V-Trac" VT1400 easel, both of which were acquired from another LF user earlier this year and moved into my darkroom. I had to do some shimming to get my negative carrier, the baseboard and the easel all level at the same time (while the enlarger column also appears straight and true). With that, I haven't noticed such focus/sharpness issues using 11x14in Ilford WT or Classic FB papers, but the practical diagnosis and remedy tips being offered to the OP here are helpful. It's good to hear that the precise flatness at the easel level is less critical, so I'll keep an especially sharp eye on the negative carrier. Thank you all...
"Less critical" doesn't mean unimportant, of course. Most darkroom users, especially when buying a used enlarger, don't even consider aligning the negative carrier and the baseboard.
And, as usual, unfortunately, some people lose a lot of sleep and buy expensive tools to solve/resolve it. It's easy to test for, and most of the time, easy to fix.
I join the others waiting to see the outcome. Alignment is frequently an issue. However, I use a paper safe and had a problem with Warmtone curling (edges up on the emulsion side) some years ago. It was a humidity issue; the darkroom, with no running water, was really dry in the winter. Once the humidity returned to normal levels, the paper relaxed and lay fairly flat.