building a UV light box

[Pkarmatic]

I see a lot of references for building a UV light box according to the specs on Dead Link Removed, but the page states that kits and plans are no longer available. Does anyone, or is there any post on here that still has the plans for this unit?


TIA

 

[John Koehrer]

This may help.

http://www.instructables.com/id/UV-LED-Exposure-Box/

 

[Pkarmatic]

This may help.

http://www.instructables.com/id/UV-LED-Exposure-Box/

How do LED's compare to BL bulbs?

 

[drgoose]

I went around and around for several months with this question. Did not wan to pay 700 dlls for one. I did the halogen light, the T12 blue light tubes, the sun, etc. Finally what ended up working for me is using one of my CF light sources set on the floor on top of the printing frame. They go for about 150 dlls. My print times for Pt/Pd with digital negatives are about 10 minutes.

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-C-1600-Fixture-Softbox-Flourescent/dp/B0095PO930

 

[chrisaisenbrey]

I simply use a facial tanner with fluorescence tubes.
Placed between two blocks over the printing frame.
Used they are sold very cheap. (€ 30-50)

 

[nworth]

I built mine several years ago. I mounted three double 20W fluorescent lamp strip light fixtures to a square chunk of MDF (with laminate facing, but who cares) and mounted that to a sturdy frame made from dimensioned pine. The frame holds the lamps about 6 inches above the printing frame and is open at one end to let me slide the printing frame in and out. I wired the lamp fixtures to a switch and line cord, installed 6 360BL lamps, and had the whole thing done in 24 hours. It's good for prints up to 16X20.

 

[KenS]

I see a lot of references for building a UV light box according to the specs on Dead Link Removed, but the page states that kits and plans are no longer available. Does anyone, or is there any post on here that still has the plans for this unit?


TIA

email KenS (photo1@telusplanet.net)

 

[timparkin]

Here's one using UV leds. Getting 10 minute exposure with Na2. It uses 4x 5m rolls of 395um and two 250W power supplies (you could get away with one). The rest was just a bit of soldering, wire trimming and screwing (screws).

 

[NedL]

If someone wants to try for simplicity, I recently got a sixpack of these CFLs. They are hung with cable ties inside a plastic milk crate that fits perfectly over my contact printing frame. Then I put a sheet of heavy aluminum foil over it, leaving two ends open for air circulation. So it's crude and rube goldberg, but it took all of 10 minutes to make it. ( I already had a string of 9 sockets on a cord that I use for starting vegetables indoors ).

Print times are about twice as long as in the sun, which is fine with me ( my print times are usually measured in hours anyway, even outside ) It is nice to be able to print on a rainy day or after the sun is down.

It's out in the garage, with a switch by the door that comes from our kitchen, so I can turn it on or off from 30 feet away and don't need to worry about protecting my eyes.....

 

[Fr. Mark]

6 T8 fluorescents 18" long, 3 ballasts a switch and cord or even skip the switch and plug directly into a darkroom timer. Bulbs are from topbulb.com and cost very little. I think they are used in commercial insect catchers for kitchens. Later I saw them at a restaurant supply store. Mine gives quite nice cyanotypes for little cost. With a little additional work, I think it would work for 16x10 but I usually use it 4x5 up to 8.5x11.