Anyone know how to use the Durst RCP 40 Vario?

mpirie · Apr 13, 2018

If you need a photo of the tag on my RCP20, just let me know, but it's something you can pickup from a car or electrical store......just a method of ensuring the metal base is earthed.

BTW, Odyssey supplies in Brighton carry spares for the RCP20/40.

Mike

AgX · Apr 13, 2018

Something like these should be on the base plate or at a screw holding the vent (maybe the tongue broke off, then that still might be inside the female part at the end of that cable):
https://www.reichelt.de/Flachstecke...Q7b6e002e77b646e6aee02b05bb395aa2&LANGUAGE=EN

mpirie · Apr 13, 2018

Yep, that's exactly what is needed.

Maplin in the UK should have something.......just so long as the earth is connected to the metal base.

Mike

SteD · Nov 29, 2018

AgX said:
Rollers can be refurbished.

How would one go about refurbishing a roller?
I recently got hold of one of these, not the vario just the fixed speed 40 cm. After a bit of work have managed to get it running but a few of the rollers are quite lumpy and swollen in places so are causing the thing to jam.
I may be able to get hold of some but if they can be refurbished it would be helpful to know how.

AgX · Nov 29, 2018

There are firms specialized in refurbishing such rollers, by taking off the cover and manufacturing on them a new cover of same material. One did especially rollers from roller-transport processors.

SteD · Nov 29, 2018

AgX said:
There are firms specialized in refurbishing such rollers, by taking off the cover and manufacturing on them a new cover of same material. One did especially rollers from roller-transport processors.

Do you have the names of any of these firms? Have searched google but can’t find any who appear to do rollers for processors

AgX · Nov 29, 2018

A quick search at Google brings up several alone in Germany that do refurbishing of rollers.
I would have to look that certain one up in my archive. I guess I posted on it too.

Berri · Nov 29, 2018

SteD said:
Do you have the names of any of these firms? Have searched google but can’t find any who appear to do rollers for processors

Thermaphot is still going in Germany and they can refurbished your rollers but they are extremely expensive. I have been offered a new old stock rcp40 Vario first something like 1200€

SteD · Dec 3, 2018

Hmm, just used a knife to open up one of the worst looking spare rollers that was in a box which came with the processor. Seems like the spindle has rusted and broken up, causing the lumps and bumps. Don’t think refurbishment is an option.
Anyone know of a source for these in the uk ( or anywhere else for that matter)? Or have any they’d be willing to sell? I have contacted Odyssey but still waiting to hear back.

Berri · Dec 3, 2018

SteD said:
Hmm, just used a knife to open up one of the worst looking spare rollers that was in a box which came with the processor. Seems like the spindle has rusted and broken up, causing the lumps and bumps. Don’t think refurbishment is an option.
Anyone know of a source for these in the uk ( or anywhere else for that matter)? Or have any they’d be willing to sell? I have contacted Odyssey but still waiting to hear back.

Get in touch with Klaus at thermaphot germany, if you are lucky he'll answer

mpirie · Dec 4, 2018

SteD said:
Hmm, just used a knife to open up one of the worst looking spare rollers that was in a box which came with the processor. Seems like the spindle has rusted and broken up, causing the lumps and bumps. Don’t think refurbishment is an option.
Anyone know of a source for these in the uk ( or anywhere else for that matter)? Or have any they’d be willing to sell? I have contacted Odyssey but still waiting to hear back.

I was corresponding with John Boyce at sales at odyssey-sales.co.uk on replacement rollers for my RCP20.

He advised that they carried some spares and asked me to let him know which parts i needed. I told him, and heard nothing back and that was in April.

My rollers too has corroded under the rubber causing bumps. My brother had a business which bonded rubber to steel many years ago and it required specialised solvents and an autoclave, so manufacturing replacements would be extortionately expensive.

Mike

AgX · Dec 4, 2018

These firms offering refurbishings of rollers typically do not work for amateurs but for commercial users where a refurbished roll pays off it costs.

SteD · Dec 4, 2018

Berri said:
Get in touch with Klaus at thermaphot germany, if you are lucky he'll answer

I’ll give that a go, thanks.

Berri · Dec 4, 2018

AgX said:
These firms offering refurbishings of rollers typically do not work for amateurs but for commercial users where a refurbished roll pays off it costs.

It's not the case with Thermaphot. But they are pricey

Pat Martin · Jan 31, 2020

Hey there, I just got my rcp 20 working - All running smoothly except I keep get scratches on my prints. I’m inserting them face down, and I’ve cleaned the rollers several times (with toilet bowl cleaner as recommended) and they’re still getting scratched. Always in the same spot. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas to fix?

Pat Martin · Jan 31, 2020

Hey there, I just got my rcp 20 working - All running smoothly except I keep get scratches on my prints. I’m inserting them face down, and I’ve cleaned the rollers several times (with toilet bowl cleaner as recommended) and they’re still getting scratched. Always in the same spot. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas to fix?

mpirie · Jan 31, 2020

The paper should be inserted emulsion side up, not down.

Make sure the stainless steel guides are in the right positions to ensure the paper travels through without catching.

Mike

bardamu · Feb 2, 2020

please allow me a dumb question. Is anyone processing bw fiber paper in these machines? I only read about RA4 and bw RC paper. thanks

mpirie · Feb 2, 2020

Not used fibre paper with the RCP processors. The clue is in the name RC Processor.

I think fibre paper does not have the lateral strength to allow it to transfer from one roller/solution to the next.

You'd end up with the print wrapped around a roller and jamming the whole processor.

Mike

RMB10 · Feb 23, 2020

Hi to all the RCP users out there! Finally my processor (RCP40 Variospeed) is up and running and I love it.
There's one thing however that I noticed. Comparing with prints from the past using various public darkrooms, the white border in prints I'm producing now in my darkroom is not as white.
It seem to be slightly greyish and sometime it even has a very light cast ( yellowish or cyan).
Could it be something to do with the darkroom not being light-tight?
Or could it be that the fixer time is too low or perhaps the fixer's temperature?

On another note, what is your preferred Dev and Blix temperature on the RCP 40?
I have mine both sets on 36 degrees celsius.

Thanks you!

btaylor · Feb 23, 2020

First thing would be to check light tight quality of your darkroom, yea. Temp seems fine, is your paper fresh and factory packaged (not cut and packaged by a third party vendor)?

RMB10 · Feb 23, 2020

Actually, lately I have been using paper cut and packaged by a third party as well as factory packaged.
While in the past I was only using factory packaged paper.
I'll check tomorrow if theres any difference between the 2 types of paper.
Thanks a lot for pointing that out!

btaylor · Feb 23, 2020

RR10 said:
Actually, lately I have been using paper cut and packaged by a third party as well as factory packaged.
While in the past I was only using factory packaged paper.
I'll check tomorrow if theres any difference between the 2 types of paper.
Thanks a lot for pointing that out!

Of course I brought that up because I had an experience much like yours. My problems went away when I bought factory sealed Fuji.

RMB10 · Apr 28, 2020

Just wanted to check if I'm doing things right with my RCP.
I was advised to fill the second and third bath with Bleachfix.
Or does anyone use a stop bath in the second bath?

Lastly, because of the quarantine I haven't been able to use my darkroom for nearly 2 months and I left my processor in clean water.
I was advised to keep it in clean water when not in use. I wonder if I did the right thing?!

RMB10 · Jun 3, 2020

Hi guys, I'm still having problems printing color in my darkroom and I can't tell if the problem is the paper ( that is fogged ) or there's something wrong with the chemicals.
I did a test today with a fresh box of paper ( fuji crystal archive not factory cut but cut by a third party vendor ).
I used that type of paper in the past and I was having issues with the border being off white compared to my older prints from a factory sealed box.
I fed an unexposed teststrip into the RCP 40 and that's how it came out ( see photo attached ).
Im wondering, is it definitely a paper related problem or could it be a problem with chemicals being contaminated?
Do chemicals affect unexposed paper as well or only exposed paper?
If that is the case that would mean the issue is with the light in the darkroom or the paper itself and not the processor.

Thanks a lot!!!!

Anyone know how to use the Durst RCP 40 Vario?

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