How hard/expensive is it to build my own enlarger?

[Eric De Santiago]

I want a 6x7cm dichroic enlarger, although I might want to make a large format enlarger, if it’s not too much harder.

 

[BMbikerider]

I do not know the equipment situation in the US, but 6x7 enlargers using dichroic filters which are still produced today (Kaiser, LPL) costing over £1000 new, sell 2nd hand for around £250 for a perfect one so why bother to attempt to make your own. Large format enlargers are obviously more expensive, but still cheaper than a new one. With a professionally made enlarger you do not have the problem of sourcing specialised parts and ensuring the film planes are accurately placed on the head.

 

[MattKing]

Quite hard, unless you have machine shop skills and equipment.

 

[markbau]

An option to explore is converting a 8x10 camera into an enlarger, many people have done it in time past. With reasonable metal work skills building one from scratch wouldn’t be too hard but if you have never heard of the word “lathe” it might be a good idea to just buy one.

 

[wiltw]

1. The illumination across the area of the negative needs to be EVEN.
2. The plane of the negative needs to be PARALLEL to the plane of the lens board.
3. The plane of the negative also needs to be PARALLEL to the baseboard.

Unless you think you can achieve ALL of the above, don't give it a try, as you will likely be disappointed with the inferior resultant print.

 

[Hilo]

It is commendable you have this idea. However, to aim for constructing what is already around a lot (and at very low prices) I am not sure off.

What would make more sense is you build this enlarger how you like and far-from-perfect. No even illumination and nothing parallel, with a weird negative holder and a strange light system. Then each one of your prints will be unique, your enlarger will be your signature.

 

[AgX]

From those days when enlargers were expensive or even hard to obtain there are books on self-making.

In your set-up the dichroitic part would be the most difficult to make. Though you could acquire a readmade one, think of the modules from Dunco, and built the rest around it.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I want a 6x7cm dichroic enlarger, although I might want to make a large format enlarger, if it’s not too much harder.

It's doable;AA did it from a LF camera and for a special design purpose OK but for standard formats? why bother?

 

[removed account4]

here you go
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/an-inexpensive-led-enlarger-head-alternative-video.168844/

sounds like a fun project !

 

[Chan Tran]

Building an enlarger isn't extremely difficult but you need a reason to build one. You can buy one for less than the price you or any one can build one.

 

[bdial]

Building one from scratch would be challenging. But adapting a camera wouldn't be difficult. A monorail view camera would be the easiest. Graflex made a lamp housing attachment for Speed/Crown Graphics to convert them to enlargers.
The really hard part would be making a dichroic light source, but if have some electronics knowledge you could build a light source with addressable RGB LED's that would likely work as well or better than a conventional dichroic head.

 

[Paul Howell]

The difference between MF and LF is only in scale, the same skill set needed to make a 6X7 is the same set as making a 4X5. As already mentioned you can start with a 4X5 view or press camera as the base, then build out. There is a thread on the enlarging thread about using LED light panels as a light source, with a 4X5 a light panel should should match a lighting panel. If you have access to machine tools, you can find orphaned enlarger heads on Ebay really inexpensive, you can make the rest.

 

[John51]

It's a bit far for you to pick up but this listing shows how simple a lf enlarger can be:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-...432560?hash=item23c1de63b0:g:5OwAAOSwUY9dLDiV

If the build budget is good, for the rails I would go for linear bearings as used on cnc builds.

 

[neilt3]

I bought two 5x4 enlargers .
The DeVere 54 cost me £50 , and a colour wall mounted one cost me about £80 with a ton of other bits and pieces .
So again , about £50 for the enlarger .
The DeVere is a cold light head , the other ( I forget the make ) uses a bulb .
At these prices there's no point making one from scratch , but a complete one , and if you want , them make an LED light source to fit in it .
You'll be struggling to make a basic enlarger for less .
Use a 5x4 enlarger and mask off for your 6x9 negatives .
Job done .

 

[Sirius Glass]

Uh yes.

 

[Luckless]

If you are familiar with precision fabrication and have access to a well equipped shop space and materials, then building a custom enlarger is easy. And fun if you're into that sort of thing.

If you have no clue about geometry or how to control alignment between two planes, and tool collection that "mostly consists of a dollar store hammer in a kitchen drawer...", then you're probably not going to have a great time, nor access to a working enlarger anytime soon...

How much you spend is also going to depend on what exactly you want.

If you want something that is a simple design and expect to make frequent minor adjustments to 'keep it in tune', then you can get away with far cheaper materials. Doubly so if you are happy to spend more time in making it to save cash.

If you want something that is consistently rock solid and barely have to think about when you start printing, then you'll be spending far more.

For a creative type with skills and a suitable shop space, you could totally make an enlarger to fit a lens you have over a few weekends out of some hardwood pallets and other odds and ends. - Building an enlarger lens itself is also totally doable if you really wanted to. But while being able to make every last piece by yourself is going to be rewarding to some people, and mean you never end up hunting online for some obscure replacement part, there are limits you should strongly consider adopting...

Consider all the core parts that you really need for an enlarger, and what you have the ability to make: How much of an enlarger could you make, how many parts would you have to adapt from existing gear to make up for any tool or skill shortfall, and how does that compare to just finding an existing enlarger?

 

[neilt3]

I bought two 5x4 enlargers .
The DeVere 54 cost me £50 , and a colour wall mounted one cost me about £80 with a ton of other bits and pieces .
So again , about £50 for the enlarger .
The DeVere is a cold light head , the other ( I forget the make ) uses a bulb .
At these prices there's no point making one from scratch , but a complete one , and if you want , them make an LED light source to fit in it .
You'll be struggling to make a basic enlarger for less .
Use a 5x4 enlarger and mask off for your 6x9 negatives .
Job done .

Just to add , the other enlarger was an "Ahel 1245" and it only cost me £40 for everything ( not £80) .
People are almost giving these away , why go to the time and effort of making one ?

 

[Chan Tran]

As I said before you need a reason as to why you want to build your own enlarger. There are actually many reasons but you need to state your reason.

 

[DREW WILEY]

As cheap or expensive as you want. I've been outright given enlargers that originally cost more than $25,000. So why would I spend 3 years and $15,000 building something even fancier? Long story. Neighbors spend lots of money and time working on speedboats, racing cars, and vintage motorcycles, and aren't rich either. So I guess I can legitimize my interest in darkroom gear. It helps to have a shop.