Household bulbs

I have been trying different bulbs with various success, simply because I'm too lazy to place an order for real enlarger bulbs. Currently I'm using a GE Reveal 75W bulb where I scraped off the stamp. The light from that particular bulb is nice and even, and I've frosted the glass on it by using sandpaper very carefully.
Other bulbs, like a 150W bulb I used, had non-uniform coverage, so one corner of the print area would always be less exposed than the rest. What to do? Ever heard of burning? I learned that about 25% more exposre in the less illuminated region would make an even print... It works, but it's a hassle. Time for me to wake up and go order a decent bulb!

- Thomas

I use ordinary household bulbs in my Gnome Alpha 2. It has a column to adjust the height of the bulb above the condensers and I find coverage varies according to which focal length lens I use. It seems best with the 105mm I use for 6x9 negs.

Rob

Hi, I have been doing a number of tests with various ES bulbs on a condenser enlarger. Spot light bulbs seem OK. The ones I have tested have on writing onn the end and you can use a lower wattage as they concentrate the light. My tests also included 'low energy' in particular Phillips bulbs - the ones that look like normal light bulbs. Causes real trouble with multigrade paper; a grade 0 filter comes out as grade ~3-3.5 with a compresed contrastr range.

Stick to the real photographic ones, or try the spot light bulbs (the glass was 'milkly' over the filament area).