Building an enlarger chassis

[Jim Jones]

. . . . OP - may I ask where are you located?

That makes a difference. I have pieces of an 8x10 Elwood in Missouri, but improvising one wherever you are is likely more practical (and much more interesting) than shipping one anywhere.

[Tin Can]

Here is what OP has from his first thread

https://www.largeformatphotography.i...=1#post1502594

[Tin Can]

Now I see he is missing the main rack, which complicated things immensely.

[Ethan]

Ethan, you already have all the moving parts as i saw in the other thread.

If you wall mount, to a sturdy wall, it will be less work than a floor stand.

West Epoxy is for boats, I really doubt you need that stuff.

Steel is great, but will be expensive and i bet the second version would be better than the first.

All you really need to do is fasten the existing rack to something strong.

Since the main elevation crank is big, you need to allow for it's complete movement. Rectangular tubes would work. Go to Home Depot and look around. Look in a scrap in scrap metal yards.

You could also just buy precut metal online. Drill holes and bolt it together.

I also shop here, for many things. No order from them is too small and they ship quick.

https://www.mcmaster.com/

https://www.mcmaster.com/standard-al...-hollow-tubing

I have most of the pieces, but not the large rack to move the head up and down on, which I will probably need to fabricate. I also use McMaster Carr, but the only gear rack they have in the specs needed is made from nylon, so I think I will have to source that from somewhere else. I'll probably get the rest of the pieces from them though.

[Ethan]

Thanks for the memory kick. I have two aluminum stands, one for an Polaroid MP-4 and the other is unknown. OP - may I ask where are you located?

I'm from Massachusetts, so shipping from Minnesota would probably make that inconvenient

[Ethan]

Here is my design for a wooden enlarger stand, The rack for moving the head up and down would be aluminum plate with a steel gear rack bolted to it, and the column would be 6 feet tall. In the images of Elwood stands that I've seen, it seems like there is some pulley/spring system to support the head and make moving it easier. A simple pulley with a weight on the other end should work fine, right?

[Tin Can]

Yes, use a weight and pulley.

Barbells are often the cheapest weights.

[Havoc]

I would use the aluminium profiles used in the building of machines. There are all kinds of sections, the needed pieces to bolt them together at whatever angle needed and I'm pretty sure that you can source rack and pinion that fits it. These extrusions are maybe not as cheap as wood or plain steel but at least they are made for that purpose and they do not require treatment against moisture or rust.

[Jac@stafford.net]

A simple pulley with a weight on the other end should work fine, right?

Yes, and simple, although my devices use coil-ribbon type constant force springs with their advantage of compactness they are more expensive.

[Peter De Smidt]

Looks good. I used a pulley + weight for a Durst enlarger. It worked fine. I put some felt on the weight, and it slid against the wall. The felt kept if from acting like a pendulum.