>I got an odd chance to purchase a second-hand Agfa Pro processing machine for RA-4.
There are a multitude of processing machines for RA-4. I have one at the small end of the spectrum a fijimoto CP-31, which is a makimum 12" wide roller processor. The larger units I am familiar with are made by Kreonite etc.
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>I thought to ask if there's anything very important to know about operating this type of machine
It is imperative that the rollers or belts be still in good shape. Shape is hard to define. Are there flat spots on any. Are they uniformly hard or sticky? There are frequently hard and sticky type once in the same machine.
The other variable is racks - are they all there to giude the prints through the roller, and are they free from cracks.
The other variable is how clean is the thing. I spent at least 10 rounds of scrub, soak, scrub and flush with dilute toilet bowl cleaner before my machine was servicable again becasue it was put away without rinsing the last of the active chemicals out of it.
Finally, are all drives working to power roller, belts, etc, and are the circulating pumps and spray arms clear and working, and do the heaters and heater controls keep temperature as they were meant to do.
> I have no prior experience with processing machines.
There is a learning curve; it is not insurmountable. I have come to use Kodak RA-RT chemistry. It is stored out of the machine between runs, becuase the CP-31 only takes 2L of developer and blix to fill it. In gas topped off glass stoarge bottles the solutions keep in spec for between 8 and 12 weeks for me before going flaky, and are then ready for a trip to the HHW depot for same recycling. A persomal use machine will live and die on how much solution it takes to top the tanks. Your usage is likely to be very low, in terms of what RA-4 is designed to be used before exhausting - it will oxidize off first. Big machines can take many liters to fill the tanks. I don't know the Agfa machine you speak of, and how big it is
>How much will the estimated water consumption be, for example, with these machines?
This will vary, and also the temperature needs of the wash water will too. My little machine has an attached wash dry unit that asks for something like 1.5l per minute, which I turn on only when I have prints running. This is a very low flow, and I have a heard time holding the something like 80F that the thing asks for.
>Is there something else that I need to take into account when planning the arrangement of the facilities in the darkroom? Extra ventilation, etc?
Mine gets power from a dedicated circuit protected by a GFCI, since the load is close to 1300W with the dryer active.
It needs a water supply, and a drain, as well as overflow tanks. I don't have a replenisher module, but if I did I would need a spot to let the relinisher solutions gravity drain into the tanks. It also will need a spot for drain jugs, to catch the overflows of the different tanks, as well as for me a general gearbox overflow for when things get spilled a bit.
>It will be a single room of approx 10x8 feet, used for enlarging and developing mainly BW prints on RC paper. Also for developing films (35mm and 120) and maybe also drying them. Prints will be viewed and dried in a separate room (a smaller room or porch with natural light).
>My enlarger is a Durst AC800 that takes some 2x2 feet of tablespace. Additionally there will be a small sink and a glass-top table for the wet side work.[/QUOTE]
Mine is a 'tabletop unit' and lives on a wheeled cart. It is abour 24" deep by about 40" long, and puts the machine top at counter top height. It lives in my 6' x8' darkroom against the wall between the dry side enlargers bench and wet side sink. When it is in postition there is just room for me to move around. I park it outside in the adjacent laundry room if I am teaching someone b&w printing,etc.
