Experiences re: Calumet Archival Print Washer

AnneArden · Jan 12, 2022

Hello !!
Someone donated me a Calumet print washer with no tubing, and I'm trying to hook up the tubing, clamps and valves--
Could someone send me a photo of theirs with tubes in place ?
Thanks so much !! From reading around on the internet, I've gotten this far, thanks for the instruction sheet--
http://www.rangeoflightphotography.com/Technical Manuals/Calumet Archival Washer.pdf
But I'm confused when they say--
"Filling: a clip is provided at end of the exit hose. Close it completely before you fill the washer (also close the clip when the water supply has been turned off).
What kind of clip / clamp are they talking about?
Someone mentioned that they got them here--
https://www.usplastic.com/default.aspx
But I can't find them, can you send a picture? Or let me know what to google?
I get that this thread is several years old, but any help would be very welcome, thanks so much--
Best wishes--Anne

MattKing · Jan 12, 2022

Welcome to Photrio Anne.
I'm sure someone here will be able to help.

AnneArden · Jan 12, 2022

Thanks Matt !!
Still digging, maybe this one ?
https://labelpeelers.com/large-siph...MI7K_JtuCt9QIVdP_jBx2GFAIFEAQYCSABEgKDYfD_BwE

MattKing · Jan 12, 2022

That is probably the sort of thing you need, but I'll let others chime in.

Bill Burk · Jan 12, 2022

Here you go!

Big hose is main drain and always open to the sink.

Small hose under it needs to be clamped or (as in my setup) held above waterline. It’s the “done for the day” drain that you open to let all the water out.

Upper back side goes to left and right and is where the water goes in. 12 slots, each gets a left and right jet that lets water in and eventually fills up and waterfalls over into the outer tank where it goes out the big drain.

Bill Burk · Jan 13, 2022

Looks like you are missing all the inserts. They should be pretty easy to replace. The piece of plastic on top I have cris-crossed but normally it goes over the inserts to hold down the prints under the water. You don’t need a clamp if you hold the hose up.

I assume there is a small hose fitting under the big hose, right?

Bill Burk · Jan 13, 2022

At that site that you mentioned in your first post they have this clip...

Item 1795
Acetal Tubing Clamps
From Bel-Art Product

mshchem · Jan 13, 2022

The issue of the plexiglass dividers is the first thing to address. My Calumet print washer came to me 2nd hand. The person before me bought it and never used it, took forever to get the aged protective film off the dividers.

These washers are not for resin coated papers, only fiber base. Any quality clip will do the Bel-Art item Bill mentions looks like a good one. Bel-Art is a supplier of quality labware.

Dani · Jan 14, 2022

AnneArden said:
Thanks Matt !!
Still digging, maybe this one ?
https://labelpeelers.com/large-siph...MI7K_JtuCt9QIVdP_jBx2GFAIFEAQYCSABEgKDYfD_BwE

I have one of those with the hardware that it was shipped with and that one in the link would definitely work.
Here's what mine looks like.

Nokton48 · Jan 14, 2022

16x20 Calumet Print Washer Plumbing by Nokton48, on Flickr

The tubing and connectors I bought at the local lowes. The valve for a beer tap I bought on Ebay. Took a few trips to get everything just right, not hard to do. Hopefully this year I will start fibre printing. I'm still going through several boxes of 250 sheet 8x10 and 5x7 Aristo #2 RC. Have made quite a few "work prints" so far.

The yellow "sink" is a slop tray for two 55 gallon drums, purchased on the internet. I think it was 3D printed? Anyway under $70 so makes a good "sink" for holding the washer and a B&W 8x10 basket line. Bought a nice sink drain on the internet and it drains quickly and completely

Bill Burk · Jan 17, 2022

From the side view I didn't understand how that little white clip worked but sure... hose goes through it! I like that best because it stays there when you need it again. You would have to hunt for the blue one every time. Anyway I rigged a chain with hook to hold the hose above water level so short circuited the whole clip issue.

Looking closer at Anne's picture I see the output is large plug over small plug, it was hard to see on the phone (looks at first glance like a shiny reflection on a huge plug).

Sirius Glass · Jan 17, 2022

No need for the clip, I put my finger over the hose until the tank fills with water.

George Collier · Jan 17, 2022

The clip should have notches or steps (like in Anne's link notice the steps on the right end - https://labelpeelers.com/large-siph...MI7K_JtuCt9QIVdP_jBx2GFAIFEAQYCSABEgKDYfD_BwE) that allow you to control the amount of water draining, with the supply just enough to exit the top overflow hose, to ensure the level doesn't drop. Mine are Gravity Works, who at one time made them for Calumet, slightly different but same operating principle.
You fill with the exit hose clamped. Then open the clip slowly, measuring exit volume (x quarts per minute - 2 to 3 for me, slow but sure). Opening 2 clicks does this.
Then adjust the supply flow so that a tiny dribble exits the top overflow hose, with the bottom drain as set above. Once you know the right number of clicks, it's always the same. The bottom drain comes from a lower compartment with holes under all the prints (based on fixer being heavier than water). Mine is hooked to a temp control valve for temp setting. When finished, close the clip and place the hose into the top and turn off the water. Ready to go for next time without filling the whole thing again.

Bill Burk · Jan 17, 2022

George Collier said:
The clip should have notches or steps (like in Anne's link notice the steps on the right end - https://labelpeelers.com/large-siph...MI7K_JtuCt9QIVdP_jBx2GFAIFEAQYCSABEgKDYfD_BwE) that allow you to control the amount of water draining, with the supply just enough to exit the top overflow hose, to ensure the level doesn't drop. Mine are Gravity Works, who at one time made them for Calumet, slightly different but same operating principle.
You fill with the exit hose clamped. Then open the clip slowly, measuring exit volume (x quarts per minute - 2 to 3 for me, slow but sure). Opening 2 clicks does this.
Then adjust the supply flow so that a tiny dribble exits the top overflow hose, with the bottom drain as set above. Once you know the right number of clicks, it's always the same. The bottom drain comes from a lower compartment with holes under all the prints (based on fixer being heavier than water). Mine is hooked to a temp control valve for temp setting. When finished, close the clip and place the hose into the top and turn off the water. Ready to go for next time without filling the whole thing again.

Oh I get it! I wondered how flow over top could be archival. I don't believe fixer heavier than water, turbulence and diffusion account for a lot more than weight. But without water flow down and out I felt something was wrong with the design.

Sirius Glass · Jan 17, 2022

George Collier said:
The clip should have notches or steps (like in Anne's link notice the steps on the right end - https://labelpeelers.com/large-siph...MI7K_JtuCt9QIVdP_jBx2GFAIFEAQYCSABEgKDYfD_BwE) that allow you to control the amount of water draining, with the supply just enough to exit the top overflow hose, to ensure the level doesn't drop. Mine are Gravity Works, who at one time made them for Calumet, slightly different but same operating principle.
You fill with the exit hose clamped. Then open the clip slowly, measuring exit volume (x quarts per minute - 2 to 3 for me, slow but sure). Opening 2 clicks does this.
Then adjust the supply flow so that a tiny dribble exits the top overflow hose, with the bottom drain as set above. Once you know the right number of clicks, it's always the same. The bottom drain comes from a lower compartment with holes under all the prints (based on fixer being heavier than water). Mine is hooked to a temp control valve for temp setting. When finished, close the clip and place the hose into the top and turn off the water. Ready to go for next time without filling the whole thing again.

Without the click steps, the level of the water in the tank is controlled by the water amount flowing in to the tank.

Bill Burk · Jan 17, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Without the click steps, the level of the water in the tank is controlled by the water amount flowing in to the tank.

I was blocking all water flow down the bottom holes of the chambers by holding the hose above waterline. So I was getting all water flow over the overflow.

The click steps give you a chance to let some water out the bottom drain which comes from bottom holes of the chambers, with the idea that inflow is slightly greater and still causes a little water to flow over the top to the upper drain. But you're always removing some water from the bottom. I wasn't doing that.

Nokton48 · Jan 17, 2022

Large Siphon Hose Shut-Off Clamp - Fits 1/2Inch Hose - 4860, Brand: Fermtech (labelpeelers.com)

Right this is what I have. It came with the washer which came from a used photography shop

AnneArden · Feb 4, 2022

Thanks to everyone for helping !!
Best wishes--Anne

https://www.anneardenmcdonald.com

Bill Burk · Feb 5, 2022

Nokton48 said:
Large Siphon Hose Shut-Off Clamp - Fits 1/2Inch Hose - 4860, Brand: Fermtech (labelpeelers.com)

Right this is what I have. It came with the washer which came from a used photography shop

Also thanks! I got three of these since they were so cheap. I figure someday someone will need one.

Experiences re: Calumet Archival Print Washer

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