Drop table with Saunders 4550/4500?

Bryan McHenry · Sep 4, 2004

I am building a darkroom and would like to know how difficult it is to remove a saunders lpl 4500 or 4550xlg from it's base board and attach it to a drop table. What kind of problems can I expect to face (if this is even possible).

Thanks,
Bryan

jovo · Sep 4, 2004

The enlarger is attached to the baseboard with four (4) bolts. That's it. First, take the head off the column by removing the little rubber stop near the top of the column and also remove the column's plastic 'cap'. The head slides easily up to the top where you will meet a bit of resistance but only just a little. Remove the head, unbolt the column. Finished. Then, pour yourself a cold one!

Bryan McHenry · Sep 4, 2004

Thanks

Thanks - sounds easy enough... Another question: Does the fact that the chassis is perfectly vertical rather then tilted forward like the Bessler's restrict the size of possible print? Also, do you know if the lower wattage of the 4500 dramatically increase exposure times?

Thanks again.

Donald Miller · Sep 4, 2004

Bryan McHenry said:
Thanks - sounds easy enough... Another question: Does the fact that the chassis is perfectly vertical rather then tilted forward like the Bessler's restrict the size of possible print? Also, do you know if the lower wattage of the 4500 dramatically increase exposure times?

Thanks again.

I think that you will find that there is very little advantage to wall mounting the 4550 XLG for the very reason that you mention. What size prints are you wanting to make?

The lower wattage will increase printing times on large prints. How much? It would be impossible to verify unless one were printing the same negative to the same degree of enlargement with the same voltage to both enlargers sitting side by side. The bulb in the Saunders enlargers are not line voltage devices and so consequently the transformer is a proportional device that is proportional to input voltage. If I were interested in making large prints (which I am not) then I would buy the higher wattage unit.

galyons · Sep 4, 2004

Bryan,
Depending on the configuration of your drop table and space, you may want to consider wall mounting the enlarger. The wall mount brackets mount the column about 2-3" out from the wall. Mine is mounted this way and the floor and the side partitions of the enlarger station are the limit to my size max. That being said, the largest enlargement that I have made was from 6x6cm to 16"x16".

Exposure time on my 4500 (200w) at f16 was about 30 seconds, but I can not recall whether I had the 2 stop baffle in or out! Paper was Forte Poly V.
Cheers,
Geary

jovo · Sep 4, 2004

The 4550XLG now comes with a baseboard that will accomodate a 20x24" enlargement. If that's what you're getting, there's not much sense in mounting to the wall unless you plan to make enlargements beyond that size. Also...the alignment of head, column and baseboard is very 'true'; I would hate to have to contend with the degree of fine tuning I'd have to achieve to equal it if I didn't absolutely have to since it's already so thoroughly well done.

Bruce Osgood · Sep 4, 2004

Bryan McHenry said:
I am building a darkroom and would like to know how difficult it is to remove a saunders lpl 4500 or 4550xlg from it's base board and attach it to a drop table. What kind of problems can I expect to face (if this is even possible).

Thanks,
Bryan

I think the hinging of a drop leaf table will not allow for a top/easel to be true with the enlarger. I've never seen a drop leaf table that when the leaf is up it is perfectly level with the table top. The same table would support a base board.

Bryan McHenry · Sep 4, 2004

Thank you for feedback

I appreciate it from you all, and am excited about finding such a wonderfully active web community dedicated to our passions and practices. Cheers to APUG. Look forward to starting an active dialog with you all.

Now I need to get this damn darkroom finished! back to the grey paint...

-Bryan

Drop table with Saunders 4550/4500?

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