Changing Up My Darkroom and Home Studio

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Nokton48

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Fallingwater5 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Fallingwater 6 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Upstream from Fallingwater. No wonder Frank Lloyd Wright liked this place

4x5 Sinar Norma
(Top image) Efke PL100 developed in Pyro PMK+
(Bottom image) Ilford Commercial Ortho processed in D76
Both printed today on #2 Arista EDU RC paper
 
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Nokton48

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Thanks Devin. Your construction ideas have been quite helpful. And also many THANKS to all contributors in this thread and others.

As to what is ahead, stay tuned. I like the Arista EDU matte #2 RC paper, it's high quality and relatively cheap, so I'm ordering an 8x10 250 sheet box from Freestyle on Tuesday. After printing on RC I will live with these "work prints" for a while, then decide how to best fibre print them. Taking notes is important but I am starting to get a "feel" for these materials respond to my equipment. It will take a -while- to go through the images I have on file. Printing five or six 8x10s in a stretch seems to be about right for me at this point.

Should be getting another DII chassis and base (hopefully next week), I will mount that on drop table #2, and attach the uber cool "Modern Enlarging Systems" LED light source on that one. Wonderful to have identical side by side machines.

I'm stoked to be printing again.
 
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Nokton48

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Omega DII Lensboard Adaptions by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here I am adding three way adjustment of lens plane, to omega DII lensboards. With the alignment laser I can nail the parallels on the carrier stage, and the lens board stage (with this adaption). Grain wide open sharp all the way across the field. One thing I did was jettison the silly glass plate/rubber bands contraption thing, and put a UV filter on each enlarging lens. Then the calibration with laser is easy.

250 more sheets of 8x10 matte Arista EDU #2 RC ordered, for large format and 120 work prints. Also 100 sheets of 5x7 matte Arista EDU #2 RC (for 35mm and 6.5x9cm work prints). I like this paper, it comes in #2 and #3. Both papers same exposure so it makes it quick and easy.
 
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Nokton48

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Where is the DII? by Nokton48, on Flickr

Can you spot the Omega DII chassis in this tangle of enlargers? There is one there

Soon to be -mine-.

Answer:
Right under the grey Beselar
 
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Nokton48

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Printing again this morning. Will post when it all dries.

Omega DII Column Replacement Bushings by Nokton48, on Flickr

Above are two complete sets of replacement bushings for the center column of an Omega DII. I should be getting my second enlarger this Saturday, so this seem like the best time to completely rebuild and adjust everything.

Everything came from www.McMaster.com

The original article regarding modifying the DII column is here:

http://www.afterness.com/vico222/omega_enlarger_bearings.html
 
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Nokton48

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Omega DII No 2 renovation started by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's Omega DII No 2 finally here and renovation started. So far I have removed eight old plastic bushings, and replaced them with four brass and vinyl tubing idler bearings, and four load bearing radial ball bearings. The old plastic rollers were out of round and very worn, this is a very sweet upgrade. The column now slides up and down smooth as silk.

Will need a few important parts, not surprisingly. Luckily my friend has a box full of Omega DII parts
 
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Nokton48

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Arista EDU RC Grade 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Paper arrived over the weekend. 250 sheets of 8x10 Arista EDU RC Grade 2 Matte finish, and 100 sheets 5x7 Arista EDU Grade 2 matte finish.

I like this paper!
 
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Nokton48

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Glen Helen Yellow Springs 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr


Enlarged onto 8x10 Arista Ultra EDU #2 graded paper, using Modern Enlarging Systems Model II LED head as light source.
Uber bright LED light source, blue LEDS only (for graded paper use). Which I happen to prefer right now.

5 seconds at F32 enlarging time. development in Ilford Multigrade developer. Using vintage Omega Omegalite circuline bulb exposure time same height 35 secs at F16.

Glen Helen Yellow Springs waterfall
Sinar Norma 4x5 HP5 D76
 
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Omega DII Second Enlarger rebuild by Nokton48, on Flickr

The DII chassis on the right, I picked up last weekend. It turns out it has a couple of issues I can't resolve, so I went to another friend, and bought a second DII chassis, this one needs cleaned up but will work properly. The first chassis I will keep for parts as these units are not expensive.

I spent the afternoon cleaning with 0000 steel wool, fine sandpaper, and various cleaners. Tomorrow I should be able to complete this second enlarger and move on with getting it installed on my new drop table.

Dirty job!
 
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Second DII finally initial install by Nokton48, on Flickr

Side by side Omega DIIs is real luxury. Finally DII #2 is initially installed on the second drop table. Needs more cleaning and boku adjustments, but the images on the easel look sharp and all good. I can print on it starting right now.
 
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silveror0

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While I'm enjoying all the running water images, I have to admit the imagined sounds are having an effect on me ... now I must go pee ! Dang.
 
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Nokton48

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I need to make a light for exposing 8x10 contact prints. I have many 8x10 negs from 25 years ago to print. I am thinking Lomida souped in Ansco 130 to start. I'm also thinking about using the box to split filter 8x10 contact print with fibre VC paper. I do have a set of large Multigrade filters I bought for this purpose.

Also maybe an Omega E6 with Omegalite head. About time I got busy with my 5x7 Norma.............. I have all the big chrome Componons up to 360mm.

I'm totally comfortable using graded paper, right now I prefer it.

16x20 is as big as I will ever go.
 

silveror0

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I have an Omega E6 w/ extra tall column and Omegalite head that I converted to LED, then checked it out using MGIV fiber paper for prints up to 16x20.
Details here: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?111226-Omega-5x7-E6-LED-Mod.
Prior to this mod, I used Galerie far more than any other paper to print my Norma 5x7 negatives, but my longest chrome Componon is only 210mm. If I had a 360 I'd no doubt use it more than the 210. I much prefer the 5x7 format with a glass carrier of course.
 
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Nokton48

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I took an inventory this weekend, and I have PLENTY of everything on hand to make my two favorite fibre paper developers.

Ansco 130

Water 125F 750cc
Metol (Elon) 2.2 gm
Sodium Sulphite 50 gm
Hydroquinone 11 gm
Sodium Carbonate 78 gm
Potassium Bromide 5.5 gm
Glycin 11 gm
Water to make 1 liter
Add pinch SS to water, then rest in order


Ansco 113

Amidol 6.6 gm
Sodium Sulphite 44 gm
Potassium Bromide 55 gm
Water to make 1 liter
Add SS and PB, then Amidol

I have some old Fortezo 8x10 #2 Matte, some old Agfa Brovira, and fifty sheets of 8x10 Ektalure, also 11x14 and 16x20 Ektalure.

Ordered from Photographers Formulary, fresh PMK and TF4, Dr Beers variable contrast paper developer, and their version of Selectol Soft. Also I have some old Ektonol that might still be good.
 
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