Cleaning an Omega DII

Waldo

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I've been using an old Omega DII (not D2) for several years now. The vertical movement is a bit sticky, and I'm thinking a general cleaning and light oiling of the mechanics are probably over due. I've not don't this, and I've had this for about 10 years now. Does anyone have any specific suggestions on the subject?
 

mshchem

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I would use a microfiber cloth and just go over everything. Then very sparingly apply a thin film of white grease, really the bare minimum.
I would avoid anything but a warm damp cloth to clean.
 

Bill Burk

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I once took mine completely apart and sent the chrome parts off to a plater.

A year later I call the plater and they tell me they never started. Talked for a while and they said just steel wool it and it’ll be fine.

So I got all the pieces back and used steel wool.

Steel wool will clean it up well.
 

BradS

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I also took mine completely apart and cleaned the parts with warm soapy water and a stiff brush. Wiped it all dry with shop towels and then let it air dry for several days. During re-assembly, I applied a very, very tiny amount of white lithium grease to rear track on the back side of the main vertical thingy and iirc, someplace in the mating gear thingy. (EDIT: the strike through parts are me remembering the D2). I think oil would probably be a mistake.

There was a time when people were giving these away and putting them out with the trash...at one time, I had four or five D2 and D-ii in various states of completeness / disrepair in the early 2000's. I fixed most of them up, gave some away to members here. I still have a D2 and some spare parts in storage.
 
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Bill Burk

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Speak of multiplying DII - you’re welcome to have the one I was talking about. I use a D2 now and my old one is up in the rafters. My wife would be glad for me to get rid of it. I’m nearby.
 

BradS

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Paul Howell said:
What is the difference between a DII and a D2?
Click to expand...

The main, or perhaps most obvious, difference that I can remember is the way that the upright attaches to the baseboard. I think there may have been some differences with the way the springs that help the head defy gravity attached too. There were a few different lamp houses too but I'm not sure that those differences were specific to D-II vs D2.
 

MattKing

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BradS

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MattKing said:
Courtesy of KHB:
D2: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D2.htm
DII: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/DII.htm
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! The D2 column was geared but, iirc, the DII had a pinch and friction contraption - the column was held in place by the anti-gravity springs and friction between the pinch thingy and the column....so grease on the column uprights would be a bad thing. I've edited my post above accordingly. I was remembering the D2.

And I still think oil would be ill advised.

Thanks Matt.
 

Bill Burk

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A very thin coat of oil to prevent rust is good for it.

Big difference is the D2 has crank and aluminum rails. But there are some dimensions differences for example the arm that lifts carrier is shorter (I like the long arm better so swapped them. It took some jerry rigging and washers.)
 

MarkS

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A note to other D-II users: when tightening the carriage lock only tighten it enough to hold it in place. Over-tighten it and you'll disrupt the alignment and thus your focus... of course when you release it it comes back, so it's not deadly. Just a reminder that those D-IIs were designed in the 1940s, and that Omega kept making improvements for forty years.
 

Bill Burk

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@Waldo look at this! Thread 'Aristo cold light head for Omega D2'

I’ve used all kinds of light sources and this is the best. One plug is a “heater” like a 40 watt element that keeps the head warm, for consistent exposures. The other activates the light.

It covers the 4x5 evenly


For Sale - Aristo cold light head for Omega D2

Aristo cold light head for Omega D2 4x5, with PC filters (Kodak + Ilford), both complete sets with half grade steps. Also included Kodak CC40Y filter which gives approximately grade 2 with VC papers (slightly higher contrast without filter). Has cone for enlarger, slightly raised on inside...
www.photrio.com
 
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OP

Waldo

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Thank you all for the helpful tips! Please forgive my cooking brain, where oil is good and grease is bad! A very light amount of grease in a few strategic places with parts rubbing against each other is exactly what's needed. Thankfully I don't think I've got any rust showing, so a light cleaning with a soft cloth should do. I'll leave the steel wool unless I find something particularly bad. The previous owner was very careful with this enlarger. I suspect he might have been only the second owner, an older gentleman but not quite of an age that would have been buying equipment when these DIIs were still being sold.
 

john_s

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Bill, is yours a single tube model, and if so, is it the wide spectrum later version that was developed for use with VC filters? I have an older one (and spare tubes) from the 1970s that I haven't offered for sale because I understood that it was too blue for VC use. (now i have a 2-tube model)
 

Bill Burk

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It’s not mine up for sale but mine is a single tube with the color teal which is great for multigrade (it has blue and green components so filters blue and green just fine).

Anyway I use single grade paper so it doesn’t matter to me.
 
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