Beseler 4x5 mixing chamber is flaky

[Kilgallb]

I have a Beseler 4x5 colour head with an issue that drives me crazy. The mixer chamber is lined with white styrofoam. It seems to flake off and leaves a noticeable white spot on the print usually near the end of a long session printing a difficult negative. At that stage I need to take the champers apart and clean it.

Does anyone else have this issue,and if so how did you fix it?

I have thought of spraying the styrofoam with clear laquer or maybe just removing it.

 

[wiltw]

It sounds like you have a Beseler Universal head with color controller. If your 4x5 mixing chamber foam is coming apart, maybe this guy has the solution for you, with replacement diffusion chambers! (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I use the Beseler 4x5 dichroic color head. Doesn't the mixing chamber have a white piece of plastic for diffusion so bits of styrofoam doesn't show up when it falls off into the chamber?

 

[Kilgallb]

You are correct, the bottom of the chamber is a piece of white plastic that acts as a diffuser. If a piece of styrofoam lands on the diffuser it completely blocks the light at that point making a white spot on the print. It is driving me mad.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

You might be able to take it apart

You are correct, the bottom of the chamber is a piece of white plastic that acts as a diffuser. If a piece of styrofoam lands on the diffuser it completely blocks the light at that point making a white spot on the print. It is driving me mad.

The whole chambers pulls out of the head. When your remove the chamber, I think there are sheet metal screws holding it together. You might be able to remove the lid to extract the foam bits out. I think heat and age might have caused the foam to deteriorate.

 

[M Carter]

I've seen Beseler replacement mixing chamber whites for sale in the past. Anyone know of that canadian enlarger shop? I think they've carried them.

 

[mwdake]

I've seen Beseler replacement mixing chamber whites for sale in the past. Anyone know of that canadian enlarger shop? I think they've carried them.

Maybe in here...
http://store.khbphotografix.com/Beseler-Enlarger-Parts/