Nova Washmaster Eco any good?

ericdan · Nov 21, 2021

I have a Paterson auto print washer that recently broke. The basket inside that moves around agitation the prints broke.
I’ve been looking at the Nova as a replacement but wants to check here what people think about it. I mostly print 5x7 fiber paper. will it be difficult getting the small prints out of the unit?
The other option would be versalab print washer.
Thanks!

logan2z · Nov 22, 2021

I had the Versalab and currently own the Nova. There's no comparison IMHO, the Nova is the much better print washer.

I mostly print 8x10 and 11x14, but I doubt you'll have an issue getting 5x7s out of the washer. The paper floats up near the top of the wash slots which makes retrieval easy.

ITD · Nov 22, 2021

Smaller prints can be retrieved but I found it’s worth getting some of their print clips if they’re available, they make handling smaller sizes much easier.

miha · Nov 22, 2021

It's precisely these print clips that put me off considering a Nova washer.

ITD · Nov 22, 2021

miha said:
It's precisely these print clips that put me off considering a Nova washer.

Well they’re not compulsory, I just find them useful.

logan2z · Nov 22, 2021

miha said:
It's precisely these print clips that put me off considering a Nova washer.

I've never used a print clip with the washer, never needed to. I don't believe Nova even mentions the clips in the context of the washer (they are used with the print processors).

Why did the clips put you off of the washer?

miha · Nov 22, 2021

logan2z said:
I've never used a print clip with the washer, never needed to. I don't believe Nova even mentions the clips in the context of the washer (they are used with the print processors).

Why did the clips put you off of the washer?

Because I don't like the idea of punching holes into my prints, however you are correct, the clips are necessary with their slot processors only.

pentaxuser · Nov 22, 2021

miha said:
Because I don't like the idea of punching holes into my prints, however you are correct, the clips are necessary with their slot processors only.

Miha, my experience with the clips is that they do not punch holes. They must made a mark of some kind of course. If they didn't then thye would not hold the paper but all I can say is that the marks they make are either so small as to be invisible or the paper somehow loses the marks within a very short time. When I look at the prints again within a few hours I am not conscious of the marks, nor has anyone else who looks at the prints ever mentioned seeing any marks

pentaxuser

logan2z · Nov 22, 2021

pentaxuser said:
Miha, my experience with the clips is that they do not punch holes. They must made a mark of some kind of course. If they didn't then thye would not hold the paper but all I can say is that the marks they make are either so small as to be invisible or the paper somehow loses the marks within a very short time. When I look at the prints again within a few hours I am not conscious of the marks, nor has anyone else who looks at the prints ever mentioned seeing any marks

That echoes my experience. If the marks are visible at all, they are the tiniest of indentations at the very edge of the paper. Certainly not what I would characterize as 'holes' and they'll never be visible once the print is mounted/framed. But, again, the clips aren't even necessary to use with the print washer.

john_s · Nov 22, 2021

The downside of the Nova clips is their price. I lashed out and bought a few but I don't have enough for every print in the pipeline so I use dental clips in the washer.

lantau · Nov 30, 2021

I can see the tiny holes quite clearly. But don't you guys trim your prints a little?

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2021

My 16"x20" washer has a plastic rod with a rubber tip to help remove prints. Sometimes I use my fingers.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 30, 2021

ericdan said:
I have a Paterson auto print washer that recently broke. The basket inside that moves around agitation the prints broke.
I’ve been looking at the Nova as a replacement but wants to check here what people think about it. I mostly print 5x7 fiber paper. will it be difficult getting the small prints out of the unit?
The other option would be versalab print washer.
Thanks!

I had one and liked it

Nova Washmaster Eco any good?

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