How does one dismantle and put together a really large and heavy Saltzman enlarger?

[Leszek Vogt]

No idea how beastly is this enlarger, but I had to move a real nice bandsaw (750lbs in horiz position) appx year ago and only two furniture dollys were used. The truck had a real nice heavy duty lift gate on it. Lifting it onto each dolly was done via this massive belt.....one person on each side lifting with shoulders. Stairs will complicate things. Hope this would be of some help.

Les

[Andy F]

This is an image of the type of Saltzman I am moving. I have to figure how to take apart the counterweights and base. The head has already been taken apart.

[Tin Can]

The lamp head is off, the bellows assembly is also easy in one unit

Yours is just like mine, the smallest 10x10

Get 2 car jack stands first, I prefer the cast iron type as they have a wider saddle

If you have a forklift that makes it easy with web slings, do not use a cherry picker, a portable horizontal hoist may be handy, you can rent them

Crank the weights to the lowest

My weights are 20 lbs each, X 6

They have a hole the chain runs through to a hook, making a 120 lb stack, yours may have more

The SS pipe is very heavy all by itself, If you have the top cap, preserve it now, they are rare

Strip the bottom table off completely so it doesn't get damaged

My has 2 parts stacked

I suggest you get 3 strong guys with gloves and steel toe boots

and tip it down onto the jack stands

But the base is not square at the rear, so block it up with wood so it won't tip away

Then unbolt the cast iron column socket from the base

Which requires removing the hand wheels first, mark them as they can be exchanged and will screw you up

Disconnect the chain plate

I had a hard time getting the gummed up weights out

So I used a good 2X4 x 8 ft to hammer them out, with a 4 lb hammer

If stairs are used, remember the bottom guy has a far heavier load

I may have forgotten something, it's been maybe 6 years

Good luck and thanks for the picture

ps I read the story of the 2 post Saltzman move in one piece, they had a real hard time







I

[Andy F]

The lamp head is off, the bellows assembly is also easy in one unit

Yours is just like mine, the smallest 10x10

Get 2 car jack stands first, I prefer the cast iron type as they have a wider saddle

If you have a forklift that makes it easy with web slings, do not use a cherry picker, a portable horizontal hoist may be handy, you can rent them

Crank the weights to the lowest

My weights are 20 lbs each, X 6

They have a hole the chain runs through to a hook, making a 120 lb stack, yours may have more

The SS pipe is very heavy all by itself, If you have the top cap, preserve it now, they are rare

Strip the bottom table off completely so it doesn't get damaged

My has 2 parts stacked

I suggest you get 3 strong guys with gloves and steel toe boots

and tip it down onto the jack stands

But the base is not square at the rear, so block it up with wood so it won't tip away

Then unbolt the cast iron column socket from the base

Which requires removing the hand wheels first, mark them as they can be exchanged and will screw you up

Disconnect the chain plate

I had a hard time getting the gummed up weights out

So I used a good 2X4 x 8 ft to hammer them out, with a 4 lb hammer

If stairs are used, remember the bottom guy has a far heavier load

I may have forgotten something, it's been maybe 6 years

Good luck and thanks for the picture

ps I read the story of the 2 post Saltzman move in one piece, they had a real hard time



I

Hi Tin Can,

I have a lot of questions. Part of the problem is that the enlarger is not in front of me it is at the other person's house. I will just ask the first few. You said something about "disconnect the chain plate". Do you mean just take apart the chain? I assume "chain plate" refers to part of the chain the rivets go into. Is it difficult to put the chain back. I assume you are not breaking it first. It just slips off? Also, how hard is it to put the gears and counter weights back.

[Tin Can]

No need to 'break' the chain, or push the chain link pins like a bicycle

The chain is connected to the 'traveler' which rides outside on the chrome tube, then it goes over a fixed rolling gear at the very top, then goes down the tube inside and through lead weight donut holes where it fastens to a worm drive gear

Where is this thing, is the last user/owner no longer available?

I am far better at mechanics when I have the thing in hand rather than telling somebody else how to do it, with unknown skills

Get back next to it with a good cell phone camera with flash and shoot every angle, part and particularly underneath

Ever change the engine on a car? Same skills


Keep it coming!

[Michael R]

Off topic but

nice Focomat.

Before I answer I want a picture of YOUR Saltzman

Talking is no good, writing is easier to remember for you

Learn how to post a picture on this forum, like below, my Saltzman is in storage in pieces in my shed

Here is my smallest 5X7 Elwood, which I can pick up off the floor, barely! Notice the 2 tiny enlargers next to it

IMG-1572 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

[Andy F]

I have some photos that were sent over. He wrote "Surveying how to dismantle it, there are 5 bolts, a pin, and one Allen key to remove or loosen. You and I will do that. " My fear that while it is easy to take a car apart putting it together is much harder. So I am trying to take this slow.

I may try to video tape it. Thank you so much for your help. I bought this thing and I desperately don't want to turn it into trash. Would you be willing to do a google call so I can show it to you and get your advice? Feel free to say no. I know the request is a bit of a random imposition.

Once again thanks.

[Tin Can]

Andy, I am very aware that many cannot reassemble a spoon, those that can break bolts

Sounds like the seller is very cooperative, not always the case

We will talk on cell phone when you are ready

I will PM you my email shortly

The 3 complicated 10X10 enlargers I moved twice all came to me in bits, puzzles

FOTAR, Calumet, Saltzman

2 8X10 Elwoods, they are simple yet heavy like the rest

My wall mount 10X10 Beseler conversion was also easy, this weak old man hung it on the wall with a boat winch


Lastly I want us to continue documenting your Saltsman adventure in this thread, not secret PM

I have some photos that were sent over. He wrote "Surveying how to dismantle it, there are 5 bolts, a pin, and one Allen key to remove or loosen. You and I will do that. " My fear that while it is easy to take a car apart putting it together is much harder. So I am trying to take this slow.

I may try to video tape it. Thank you so much for your help. I bought this thing and I desperately don't want to turn it into trash. Would you be willing to do a google call so I can show it to you and get your advice? Feel free to say no. I know the request is a bit of a random imposition.

Once again thanks.

[Andy F]

Andy, I am very aware that many cannot reassemble a spoon, those that can break bolts

Sounds like the seller is very cooperative, not always the case

We will talk on cell phone when you are ready

I will PM you my email shortly

The 3 complicated 10X10 enlargers I moved twice all came to me in bits, puzzles

FOTAR, Calumet, Saltzman

2 8X10 Elwoods, they are simple yet heavy like the rest

My wall mount 10X10 Beseler conversion was also easy, this weak old man hung it on the wall with a boat winch


Lastly I want us to continue documenting your Saltsman adventure in this thread, not secret PM

Thank you so much. This is so nice of you. But just to let you know I am rather new to the forum so I don't know what "PM" means or how to do it.... Sorry.

[Tin Can]

PM means Private Message

Look that up in your forum settings

And set it up

Thank you so much. This is so nice of you. But just to let you know I am rather new to the forum so I don't know what "PM" means or how to do it.... Sorry.