Kreonite sink rescue

[drew tanner]

Today I rescued a 10-foot late model Kreonite fiberglass sink from someone who is preparing to move.

For anyone else who has a Kreonite, I have a few questions:
1) Has anyone ever re-gelcoated (or maybe just polished) a Kreonite sink? I’d welcome any tips on prep, product to use, and application. This one was clearly cleaned with abrasives and has long lost its original shine. I’m just hoping to prevent/reduce staining and degradation from darkroom chems.
2) Those of you who have Kreonite sinks: is there support under your sink, or is it solely resting on the outer lip? Pictures from the underside of your cabinet/sink stand would be welcome!

Of course, this turns up just 30-minutes away two years after I built my own 7-foot sink. But my Cirkut panoramic work is already making that sink feel tight, and I have a feeling this will long outlast what I built, which is lined with 40-mil PVC shower pan liner. . The extra room will be welcome, but it will necessitate reconfiguring my darkroom space. First, however, I need to clean up the sink, descale the fixtures, and see where I might need to repair leaks in the plumbing, replace seals, etc.

 

[mshchem]

I've been using a Kreonite fiberglass sink for 35-40 years and it was 20+ years old when I got it. I would forget gel coat. If you find a automotive cleaning wax/buffing compound and go over it. Last time I installed, (3rd darkroom, 3rd house) I made a frame out of 3/4 plywood. I will get some pictures tomorrow. It's supported around the perimeter of the sink.

Looks like yours has a thermostatic mixing valve, wonderful thing.

 

[drew tanner]

I've been using a Kreonite fiberglass sink for 35-40 years and it was 20+ years old when I got it. I would forget gel coat. If you find a automotive cleaning wax/buffing compound and go over it. Last time I installed, (3rd darkroom, 3rd house) I made a frame out of 3/4 plywood. I will get some pictures tomorrow. It's supported around the perimeter of the sink.

Looks like yours has a thermostatic mixing valve, wonderful thing.

Thank you. Yes. The Powers/Watts mixing valve is great to have. There’s also a smaller 32-inch Kreonite wash sink that came with this one as a package deal. I may canibalize some of its valve and fixtures if need be. My current sink has a Powers Foto-Panel, and I have a spare one of those. So, I’ve got some options on the plumbing front. Glad to hear yours has lasted so long! I’m planning to pick up a buffer and some compound this weekend. I was also taking a look at thehulltruth.com forum to see how the boat crowd handles fiberglass.

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

I'd go with polishing the surface. If you really want to coat it, what you are looking for is called Topcoat. Gelcoat would remain sticky as it is designed to be applied to a negative form and covered with fibreglas saturated resin.

 

[drew tanner]

I’m finally rebuilding the valves and building a frame for this 10-foot sink. Question for those with longer Kreonite sinks: Do you have reinforcement or bracing along the underside? It seems there’s some lengthwise bracing cast into mine, but I wasn’t sure if it would benefit from additional support from perpendicular or parallel pieces of lumber added to the frame I’m building.

 

[mshchem]

I’m finally rebuilding the valves and building a frame for this 10-foot sink. Question for those with longer Kreonite sinks: Do you have reinforcement or bracing along the underside? It seems there’s some lengthwise bracing cast into mine, but I wasn’t sure if it would benefit from additional support from perpendicular or parallel pieces of lumber added to the frame I’m building.

My big Kreonite sink has a metal band that has been glued with some sort of adhesive to the underside. Not sure when it was applied? Factory, 1st user?

I wouldn't be overly concerned unless you plan on filling the sink with something like a big acrylic print washer etc.

 

[drew tanner]

The sink is in place and a joy to use! I have some Cirkut panoramas, 3-5 feet long, that I’m printing for the Midwest Large Format Asylum’s ‘Inspiration Weekend’ May 1-3. The 10-foot Kreonite has plenty of room for processing.

I found rebuild kits for all the Chicago faucet valves and the Powers tempering valve. I appreciate user serviceable parts. These should be good for many years of use.

 

[MattKing]

@drew tanner ,
You win for Photrio's "best illustrated by photographs" post - at least for today, and perhaps longer!

 

[drew tanner]

@drew tanner ,
You win for Photrio's "best illustrated by photographs" post - at least for today, and perhaps longer!

Is that a good thing? I hope so.

 

[MattKing]

It is.
I envy your opportunity to work with those Cirkut negatives.
All of the ones I have seen in real life are in the collection of the Vancouver Archives.

 

[mshchem]

Great to see. I have 1 Kreonite rescue and a couple others awesome!