Elwood Enlarger need advice

**Mitchellsig** · 20-Jul-2022, 10:13

Hi everyone, I have an Elwood 5x7 enlarger that is missing the diffuser. Any suggestions as to what to use and where to purchase it? Thank you!

**Tin Can** · 20-Jul-2022, 11:01

Show us with pictures what you have

Under the dome and condition of dome, it should be shiny

I have 2 - 5X7 and 8x10

Is yours wall mount or table

If you are using the old bulbs which are rare now, it gets HOT

Then you stack up layers of glass to block heat and make the diffuser

Which was sandblasted

But can be done many ways

always rewire and use a new porcelain socket, still available Amazon

I love Elwoods

Welcome to the forum and Elwood club

**AJ Edmondson** · 20-Jul-2022, 13:04

Probably the best path forward is to replace the light source with a cold-light head... they are easily adapted to the Elwood and are much better than the intensely high heat of the original. The Aristo 810 really works well and are not too hard to find. The 810 is large enough to result in very even illumination of the 5x7 negative. LED is also an option. The Elwood is really quite good - despite the simplicity of the design - and it can be adjusted quite easily for alignment.
Joel

**Mitchellsig** · 20-Jul-2022, 16:00

I have two. An 8x10 and a 5x7. the 5x7 has the original light head with an led bulb (200-watt equivalent 5000k) I am going to replace the socket and cord with new ones. Here are pictures of the 5x7 light head and the inside tops of the 5x7 and 8x10. I don't have the negative carrier for the 5x7 but should not be too difficult to make. the 8x10 has the negative carrier. thinking I should purchase a 300mm lens for the 8x10. I have a 161mm lens for the 5x7.

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**Rick A** · 20-Jul-2022, 17:07

Originally Posted by Mitchellsig

Hi everyone, I have an Elwood 5x7 enlarger that is missing the diffuser. Any suggestions as to what to use and where to purchase it? Thank you!

You can make your own diffuser with a suitable sized piece of glass. It's just like grinding a ground glass but less work. The center needs to be ground more than the edges, start at the center and work your way to the edge easing up as you go.

**Mitchellsig** · 20-Jul-2022, 20:01

Thanks, Rick I never thought of doing that. It's a very good idea!

**Tin Can** · 21-Jul-2022, 04:12

I HAD a made for Elwood 5X7 working fluorescent soft lamp, until I picked it wrong and the tube fell to destruction

Next life I will instal LED array

It fits right where the glass stack was

5X7 Lamp by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

**ic-racer** · 21-Jul-2022, 06:35

You used to be able to get replacement lamps at the link below. The lamp in my Aristo 1414 that fits in the condenser slot of the Durst 10x10 head broke during shipping and I was able to get a new one a few years ago.

https://www.light-sources.com/soluti...acement-lamps/

**Mitchellsig** · 22-Jul-2022, 07:14

Thank you, everyone! I think I found a solution to my issue. For the 5x7 diffuser, I am using a sheet of acrylic sanded with 400 grit sandpaper. A 4060 lumen 5000k led bulb ( no heat). so far it looks good. have yet to make a print. going to move the enlarger to the darkroom today. I found a light head for the 8x10 on this forum but can't get that until December when we make the trip south. Again, thanks to all!

**Mitchellsig** · 23-Jul-2022, 13:11

here are two pictures of prints made from the 5x7 Elwood. the one on left is 5 seconds at f4.5 with the original contrast filter built into the Elwood. The one on the right is 0.3 seconds at f8 with no contrast. the paper for both is Ilford Multigrade RC deluxe pearl. The bulb in the enlarger is a led 300-watt equivalent 4060 lumens 5000k.