Paterson 8x10 contact printer

[Bill, 70's military B&W]

My Paterson 8x10 contact printer, the glass is scratched. Is there any way of replacing it? It looks glued into the plastic holder, I'm afraid I'd break it.

Question #2, what is the most popular way of making contact prints? DO most just get a piece of heavy glass and place it on the negative? What makes a good base?
I could easily make a 8x10 raised base and get a piece of glass and just lay it on top.

What does others, with more experience do? Just buy a new Paterson???

Thanks, Bill

[cowanw]

I have used a Delta 1 contact printer for years, replacing the glass once. Very solid steel and glass.
http://www.thecamerashoponline.com/i...roducts_id=280
Truth be told though, the base board and a piece of 1/4 inch glass would do fine.

[Bill, 70's military B&W]

Thanks, I just placed an order with Freestyle.
Most places do not carry it anymore. Probably getting out of DR supplies. I'll bet they have memory cards!
Bill

[gliderbee]

My Paterson 8x10 contact printer, the glass is scratched. Is there any way of replacing it? It looks glued into the plastic holder, I'm afraid I'd break it.

Question #2, what is the most popular way of making contact prints? DO most just get a piece of heavy glass and place it on the negative? What makes a good base?
I could easily make a 8x10 raised base and get a piece of glass and just lay it on top.

What does others, with more experience do? Just buy a new Paterson???

Thanks, Bill

I bought a new one and still have the old one. I don't see how I can remove the glass without breaking the plastic, so I'm interested in any suggestion.

Stefan.

[AJ Edmondson]

I always preferred the plain piece of glass approach (with 2 pieces of tape on the baseboard to designate the alignment edges). Obviously this doesn't work well for smaller formats but for 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 it always suited me.

[Andrew Tymon]

I managed to replace the glass on mine although it was a few years ago. If I remember correctly there is two pieces of plastic that wedge the glass in the slot. I think I used something like a steel rule to flick them out, I think, it was a few years ago. I may have lost the plastic pieces as mine is now wedged with cardboard.

[lenser]

Just how bad are the scratches? IF they are shallow, almost like cleaning marks, perhaps you might find a product that will fill them without causing any diffraction. Perhaps you could check with a glass company that does the windshield repairs for cracks and divots.

[John Kasaian]

I like my Printfile proofer set on the baseboard of an enlarger. I used a piece of heavy glass for years but lifting it up, setting it down, registering the paper and negative and picking it up again repeatedly was a hassle without getting the inevitable fingerprints or picking up debris of some sort. The Printfile proofer really speeds things up for me.

[Bill, 70's military B&W]

I ordered a new one, and it is very similar to the Printfile model.

How does everyone keep the contact printer and probably the easels from sliding around the base board?
Bill

[Bill, 70's military B&W]

Lenser, one of the scratches is pretty bad, needs to be replaced. I like the Paterson but I can't figure out how to replace the glass, it's glued into a piece of plastic.
I'll try and force it, if it breaks, Oh Well.
Bill