HOW TO CLEAN PHOTAX DRYER

[tonyowen34]

I've been given a Photax dryer/glazer, but the surface has chemical (>??) residue on it [see image]. How or what will remove this crud with zero or minimal damage to the surface.

regards
Tony

 

[Neal]

It kind of looks as though it is missing the ferrotyping plates.

Neal Wydra

 

[tedr1]

One common gentle abrasive is the kitchen cleaning pads (scotchbrite is one) it comes in two grades over here, green, which is tough and will cut aluminum and polish steel; and blue which is for plastics and is metal safe.

I have a couple of similar machines that I use for drying FB prints, I put the emulsion side to the fabric blanket so the condition of the plate is unimportant.

 

[tonyowen34]

It kind of looks as though it is missing the ferrotyping plates.Neal Wydra

Don't understand reply. The 'canvas cover' has been removed for cleaning and the 'glazing sheet 'is still in its cardboard/paper envelope.
regards
Tony

 

[AgX]

Then there is not much reason to clean that aluminium surface. Otherwise you can use a standard kitchen-abrasive. If that does not work, use fine sanding paper(600-1000) on the complete surface and end with polishing.
The marks are not chemical residues as such but corrosion of the heating body, due to storage in damp condition with the canvas stretched over. The canvas thus should be thoroughly cleaned too.

 

[bdial]

If the marks aren't deep (they don't look to be), I'd skip the course abrasives and just use a metal polish.
Aside from that, the aluminum surface isn't polished enough for ferrotyping and likely was never meant for putting a glaze on. As Neal indicated it is probably meant to be used with separate ferrotype plates.
Ferrotype plates, weather separate or built-in to a dryer have a mirror finish.

 

[Ian Grant]

Don't understand reply. The 'canvas cover' has been removed for cleaning and the 'glazing sheet 'is still in its cardboard/paper envelope.
regards
Tony

You didn't state that you had the glazing plates so Neal assumed they were missing.

Once the Aluminium starts corroding like that there's little you can do, clean the worst off with wet and dry. Personally I wouldn't use a glazer to dry prints the cover tends to get contaminated.

Ian

 

[AgX]

"Personally I wouldn't use a glazer to dry prints the cover tends to get contaminated."
What cover? The woven sheet? It should be regularly washed. Best with detergent that contains Protease.

And if following the correct workflow I do see a way for contamination, as all base papers come out of the wash with the same amount of residues.

(Some people use such apparatus not for just drying, but glazing (hot ferrotyping).