condenser to diffusion conversion

raucousimages · Oct 3, 2006

I may have the chance to refurbish some old enlargers (several brands, basicly junkers) for use by students. Some are condenser enlargers without the condensers. My question is can I paint the chamber white and add a diffusion glass and have an efective diffusion enlarger? I realise this is not the best solution but There is no money to buy new parts for these old enlargers. We just want to make a couple of extra enlargers to go along with the new ones we have for beginning photo students.

donbga · Oct 3, 2006

raucousimages said:
I may have the chance to refurbish some old enlargers (several brands, basicly junkers) for use by students. Some are condenser enlargers without the condensers. My question is can I paint the chamber white and add a diffusion glass and have an efective diffusion enlarger? I realise this is not the best solution but There is no money to buy new parts for these old enlargers. We just want to make a couple of extra enlargers to go along with the new ones we have for beginning photo students.

Without increasing the wattage of the lamp the enlargers may be very slow. Try one and see how it works.

With the price of used enlargers being so low perhaps you can purchase some for parts or replacement of the ones you are trying to convert.

Jim Noel · Oct 3, 2006

I understand the problem trying to provide equipment for students with little or no budget having done so in the past.

I believe your idea will work. Be sure you use enough diffusion to eliminate hot spots from the lamp. Usually 2 pieces of ground glass with one facing up, the other down, or a piece of milk glass, or similar piece of plastic will work. If you are lucky enough to find a box of Kodak Diffusion MAterial which was a paper like plastic material, 2 or 3 pieces do an excellent job.

Good luck!

epatsellis · Oct 3, 2006

Stop by your local signshop, (a real signshop,not a vinyl sticker shop) they should have tons of 3/16" white acrylic or lexan/polycarbonate, most signshops just throw away the smaller scraps, I'm sure they'd love to give you more than you'd ever use in a lifetime.

erie

Marco Gilardetti · Oct 4, 2006

Seen the huge amount of "technologic content" injected in those Durst diffusion boxes (four plied aluminum pieces plus some white plastic) I am extremely positive in regard to your experimental conversion.

epatsellis · Oct 4, 2006

Marco, I was experimenting last night, a piece of translucent white works, but you lose a lot of light with a 3/16" (roughly 4 or 5mm) piece, finding the right thickness would help, I tried a combination of things, settled on 4 airspaces sheets of glass, and then 2 airspaced sheets of clear acrylic (perspex on your side of the pond) sanded on both sides with 600 grit sandpaper, works like a charm...

erie

Jim Jones · Oct 4, 2006

Uneven illumination can be a problem with enlargers modified for diffusion printing. I've used two ways to even out the illumination. One is to sand or grind the center of the top layer of material to refract light away from the optical path. Another is to darken the center with graphite or charcoal pencil.

vet173 · Oct 6, 2006

I needed a diffusion peice for my coldlight. One day at the hardware store I noticed that the white plastic waste baskets that had flat sides might work, and it did.

condenser to diffusion conversion

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