Modifying a Nova slot processor

[Jarvman]

Hi all, I've just bought a 16x20" Nova slot processor on ebay for dirt cheap. One of the outer panels is damaged, which got me round to the idea of replacing the whole panel with clear material so that I can view the emergence time of prints. I have spoken to Nova today and have been informed that the job is not even worth attempting. I'm feeling plucky and am sure there must be a way of doing it though. It's just making a sheet of acrylic waterproof on three edges after all. Some input on this challenge would be really helpful. I think it would be a great thing if it works. So much cheaper than shelling out for a new (or second hand even) FB model.

Cheers,
Gareth

 

[Mike Wilde]

Damaged as in cracked, or damaged as in pieces missing? If cracked, a less than beatiful, but wholly servicable unit where the cracks have been sealed with the approporate plastic solvent.

I would make a form to hold the panel in the right alignment from the inside, and then solvent weld the panel while laying horizontal from the outside.

 

[Jarvman]

On the ebay listing it just had a hairline crack. When it arrived it had a piece missing from the same panel. I've filled it with water and two of three slots are watertight

 

[michaelbsc]

...One of the outer panels is damaged, which got me round to the idea of replacing the whole panel with clear material so that I can view the emergence time of prints. I have spoken to Nova today and have been informed that the job is not even worth attempting. I'm feeling plucky and am sure there must be a way of doing it though. It's just making a sheet of acrylic waterproof on three edges after all.

Acrylic solvents and adhesives are your friend. Buy the tube of glue from Nova; it works very well without setting up too slow or too fast.

Be patient, and make smooth cuts by going slow.

For a commercial repair, it isn't worth it; that part is true. But you have the advantage that you can spend a whole lot of labor time that doesn't count in the equation.

I bought a used one and the shipping company broke the outer panel. They paid me the total cost from the bill. At the end of the examination I asked the guy would he sell me the heaters out of it as scrap, and he just gave me the whole unit. For them it was written off as an insurance loss.

I reused the broken pieces rather than replacing the panel with clear acrylic. It's ugly as home made sin, but it is water tight, and effectively it was free if I don't count my labor. (Factor in my labor and a new one would have been cheaper, but it's a hobby!)

Besides that, the room I use it in is *DARK* most of the time, so I don't have to see it much.

 

[perkeleellinen]

You might be able to buy a spare panel from Nova and glue it in with the tub of glue they sell. They've just moved premises and I don't really know if they even make that many processors any more, but at the old place they used to have loads of spare bits and bobs around. I'd give them a call and see if they've got a spare panel kicking around.

 

[Jarvman]

Cheers Michael, good to hear someone has had the same experience and it's do-able. How many pieces was your outer panel smashed into? I never intended on a vertical jigsaw. Did you ever consider taking out the entire panel and replacing it with one whole piece of acrylic and sealing the edges? Think it'd work just as well if sealed properly? Was it difficult to get watertight? I want to make it reasonably pretty if possible!

 

[michaelbsc]

Cheers Michael, good to hear someone has had the same experience and it's do-able. How many pieces was your outer panel smashed into? I never intended on a vertical jigsaw. Did you ever consider taking out the entire panel and replacing it with one whole piece of acrylic and sealing the edges? Think it'd work just as well if sealed properly? Was it difficult to get watertight? I want to make it reasonably pretty if possible!

My panel was in three intact pieces, not smashed to bits. But it was broken out none the less.

I didn't have a good source for a sheet of acrylic that was reasonably priced, so I reused what was there.

My fear in the repair was that I'd leave a jagged edge inside that would damage the surface of the paper as it slides in and out, so I used a piece of plywood as the inner form to get the inside surface reasonably flat. The plywood was removed after repair.

The pieces didn't want to go back together "exactly" like before. So there was a bit of sanding to make them fit, and then a bit of filling in the sanded down cracks.

Acetone will dissolve the acrylic, so you can use it sparingly to soften the edges of the pieces for working. But I expect if you got carried away you could melt far more than you plan.

I think if you have a good sheet of acrylic that can be cut to fit that replacing the whole panel might be easier than the jig saw puzzle approach I used. And it would probably look better in the end.

But, again, it's supposed to be used in the dark. So who cares what it looks like if it's water tight. I'd be delighted for someone to think my pictures were beautiful. I don't care what they think about my darkroom equipment.

I suspect if you saw out the whole panel leaving a beveled edge to work with, then make a replacement panel that fits properly, gluing it together isn't going to be difficult.

Keep in mind that your replacement sheet has to be stiff enough to handle the static pressure head of the water when full, so flimsy acrylic will need a stiffener. If you're acrylic sheet is thick enough that it doesn't need stiffening, then you're good to go.

 

[Jarvman]

Thanks for the in-depth reply Michael. That clears things up a lot. I know of some good acrylic suppliers that will cut sheets to fit luckily. Do you have a picture of your tank I could look at? Would be most grateful.

Cheers, Gareth

 

[michaelbsc]

Thanks for the in-depth reply Michael. That clears things up a lot. I know of some good acrylic suppliers that will cut sheets to fit luckily. Do you have a picture of your tank I could look at? Would be most grateful.

Cheers, Gareth

I can send you one when I get back home. But that will take several days.

In the mean time you can simply image large cracks running toward an impact point about 1/3 the distance from one end.

 

[michaelbsc]

I can send you one when I get back home. But that will take several days.

In the mean time you can simply image large cracks running toward an impact point about 1/3 the distance from one end.

Found this in my email. It's after the repair, so it doesn't show the damaged pane.

Note, this is an 8x10, not 16x20. But the idea is the same.

 

[Blighty]

If you're planning on using Nova's Tensol 70 acrylic adhesive, be aware that you can get it here much, much cheaper (although you do have to buy a larger quantity!) http://www.rapidonline.com/1/1/10297-tensol-70.html.