23cII OLD BLUE MODEL

redbandit · Apr 7, 2023

Two major questions..

1. The contrast filter dawer is for 5.5" squares of gelatin goodness. The ilford set comes as 6x6 or 3.5x3.5

Can i simply use the little metal slide drawer for the RED SAFE LIGHT that is IMMEDIATELY over the lensboard on my enlarger and use the 3.5x3.5 set. Or am i gonna be forced to spend a few hours trimming down the 6x6?

Just to cheap and kind of broke for the underfilter set.

2. FIgured out the bulb i need to get,,, its the uniquelyfun PH-111 or PH-111A. It even matches what is in the lamphouse socket

Now as said elsewhere in the incandescent ban thread, my bulb is either jammed or corroded into the socket. I have emailed KHB for assistance, but havent gotten a stinking reply in 3 days. Not right in my opinion.

It pushed into the socket slightly, perhaps 1mm but wont turn, and it sounds like sand is in it. As its mounted horizontally and is very close to the metal plate, what is the bestest and safest way to get it out?

Kino · Apr 7, 2023

I took my 6x6 filters and cut them on a rotary blade paper trimmer, being careful to NOT cut off the marked contrast number. Works great.

The bulb on mine is a bayonet mount; did you push in and turn? A bit of wiggling may be required if the socket has become crusty...

redbandit · Apr 7, 2023

it took some wiggling, and i wasnt pushing it in hard enough... or turning it to the side enough..

tiny little knobs suck.. at least i can do it now.

If i dont have a rotary cutter, would it be easy to use heavy duty knife to cut them.

r is the 3.5x3.5 set in the red light drawer be as good?

reddesert · Apr 8, 2023

You should be able to cut the 6x6" multigrade gel filters to size quickly with just about anything including a pair of scissors. Do be careful not to undersize them. I think there may be a slide in filter holder that is square with a round hole; if you don't have that piece, you could always make a paper or cardboard mask if you need it to mask the edges.

The point of the filter drawer is that it is well above the negative, so any optical flaws in the gel filter wouldn't show up in the print. If you put the filters between negative and lens or under the lens, then they need to be good optical quality, which is why under-the-lens filters are glass. I would use the filter drawer.

I don't think it is entirely fair to Beseler or KHB to expect instant email tech support for enlarger mechanical issues if you bought it used and not from them.

Rick A · Apr 8, 2023

Do you have a manual? If not and can't find one let me know, I'll scan my copy and send it to you.

Ian C · Apr 8, 2023

You can find the PH-111 at reasonable prices on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165901951371?hash=item26a086e18b:g:YdYAAOSwR-Fjzuaj&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4F1u4Omo6xfGAi/WK2K2+t4rTSShKu8r27S8LwyAPac0GEwnEDSdUpgd13eyW7bJYYSRGLUIs0AFGqTJ7SRbvxy1AJwWZuMwpQes4fgwCv7XwvGxvy5y7wdbTzeXXxOO2Vhon43xA60QvUR28G7jMdcUy98Ivc+t6Mc5UJCqEJ55vISSxEYfxlEAg7917DeJR2v5I+MR5DduqF/DdoDzFuD6iWv+FEt5KmC7sz80xoGF2JDEOzJdFEuVnGh9R06n8llYaw99XNuhe552b7tNj6rjwGCv1TB0tIH9FHjT7EWa|tkp:Bk9SR-6Bk4zsYQ

The Ilford below-the-lens filter kit is much easier to use than cutting 6” x 6” filters to 5.5” x 5.5” for the filter compartment. Too, Beseler advises using the expensive heat-absorbing glass filter in the upper slot to prevent heat damage to filters in the filter chamber (near the lamp).

I looked at the current eBay offerings for the filter kit. One looked good but lacked the filter holder. If you keep checking, you might find a complete set for a realistic price.

Kino · Apr 8, 2023

Yes, I found a full NOS case of the bulbs for $25 shipped not long ago.

I like to have bulb spares well beyond the Apocalypse...

Rick A · Apr 8, 2023

Ian C said:
You can find the PH-111 at reasonable prices on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165901951371?hash=item26a086e18b:g:YdYAAOSwR-Fjzuaj&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4F1u4Omo6xfGAi/WK2K2+t4rTSShKu8r27S8LwyAPac0GEwnEDSdUpgd13eyW7bJYYSRGLUIs0AFGqTJ7SRbvxy1AJwWZuMwpQes4fgwCv7XwvGxvy5y7wdbTzeXXxOO2Vhon43xA60QvUR28G7jMdcUy98Ivc+t6Mc5UJCqEJ55vISSxEYfxlEAg7917DeJR2v5I+MR5DduqF/DdoDzFuD6iWv+FEt5KmC7sz80xoGF2JDEOzJdFEuVnGh9R06n8llYaw99XNuhe552b7tNj6rjwGCv1TB0tIH9FHjT7EWa|tkp:Bk9SR-6Bk4zsYQ

The Ilford below-the-lens filter kit is much easier to use than cutting 6” x 6” filters to 5.5” x 5.5” for the filter compartment. Too, Beseler advises using the expensive heat-absorbing glass filter in the upper slot to prevent heat damage to filters in the filter chamber (near the lamp).

I looked at the current eBay offerings for the filter kit. One looked good but lacked the filter holder. If you keep checking, you might find a complete set for a realistic price.

Yes, the below the lens kit is easy to use, but you need to treat the filters with care so you don't mar them or leave a finger print that will show. There's nothing hard about trimming above the lens filters and you don't have to be so cautious with them. I have a piece of HA glass installed in my filter slot(there's a separate slot for it. I use below the lens filters on my MX with a cold light head.

Bill Burk · Apr 8, 2023

redbandit said:
it took some wiggling, and i wasnt pushing it in hard enough... or turning it to the side enough..

tiny little knobs suck.. at least i can do it now.

If i dont have a rotary cutter, would it be easy to use heavy duty knife to cut them.

r is the 3.5x3.5 set in the red light drawer be as good?

My buddy Jim had one of these and cutting the filters down for the drawer was the first thing we did. We cut a set of CC filters too, I still have them.

In the 70’s we had strong opinions about not putting anything in the light path between negative and paper.

A filter drawer was an important feature.

When I got my own enlarger in 1983, it was an Omega D-II and I lamented the fact that there’s no filter drawer.

Now I simply toss a Wratten ND 0.6 on top of the lens, and use an under the lens tray for the Omega if I want to use Multigrade filters.

My opinion is under the drawer is good enough if you have to settle. But ‘cmon… you have a better option! Use the filter drawer with a piece of heat absorbing glass.

redbandit · Apr 8, 2023

that heat glass is what 90$ from us retailers

Brad Deputy · Apr 9, 2023

I too have an old 23cii, black, which uses those bayonet type bulbs. It has that red glass in the drawer under the lens you can slide in and out. I guess the newer models or XLs don't have that.

In the upper filter drawer, I just trim the larger ilford filters as I need them with a pair of scissors. I also throw a few ND-2 gels in there too. I print 5x7s at F5.6, and need 1 to 3 NDs to keep exposure times sane (depends on how dense/thin the neg is) Exposure was a couple seconds (!!) without.

I don't have heat absorbing glass either, but I am only printing 35mm at this time and I haven't experienced negative popping.

logan2z · Apr 9, 2023

redbandit said:
that heat glass is what 90$ from us retailers

Looks like it. Like everything, it seems to have gone up quite a bit. I paid $64 for it in 2018, and even that seemed expensive for what it is.

23cII OLD BLUE MODEL

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