Nuarc 26 1k questions

[Brian Bullen]

Hello everyone, hope you're having a great day! I'm thinking of buying a Nuarc platemaker and I was wondering what kinds of questions I should ask the seller. Is the 26 1k just a standard piece of equipment that is ready to go for Pt/Pd printing? Or are there any optional accessories that are necessary that may not come with every unit? The seller assures me it's in great shape and works well. I will get a look on Sunday but wanted to be certain that I'm buying what I need. Thanks

 

[sanking]

Hello everyone, hope you're having a great day! I'm thinking of buying a Nuarc platemaker and I was wondering what kinds of questions I should ask the seller. Is the 26 1k just a standard piece of equipment that is ready to go for Pt/Pd printing? Or are there any optional accessories that are necessary that may not come with every unit? The seller assures me it's in great shape and works well. I will get a look on Sunday but wanted to be certain that I'm buying what I need. Thanks

The only optional equipment that sometimes comes with the 261K is a stand. Other than that if the seller says that it is in great shape and works well, then that is that.

When you look at, just make sure that it turns on, that the vacuum pump works, and that the integrator is working. If they are all working just be very careful in trasnporting it to your house, especially with the glass underneath the bulb and over the easel. The glass underneath the bulb is tempered to withstand the high heat from the lamp and will cost a fair amount to replace if you break it. The piece of glass that covers the vacuum easel is just a plain piece of float glass.

Sandy

 

[Jorge]

Hello everyone, hope you're having a great day! I'm thinking of buying a Nuarc platemaker and I was wondering what kinds of questions I should ask the seller. Is the 26 1k just a standard piece of equipment that is ready to go for Pt/Pd printing? Or are there any optional accessories that are necessary that may not come with every unit? The seller assures me it's in great shape and works well. I will get a look on Sunday but wanted to be certain that I'm buying what I need. Thanks

Make sure the light integrator is working and that the vacuum pump draws a vacuum, if both things work then you are good to go.....

 

[Donsta]

I just bought one a couple of months ago - it's a great unit and really will help to get your workflow sorted out. Beware shipping these things - they are quite heavy and have some expensive parts on them to replace. The big sheet of glass on the vacuum frame is almost certain to get broken, but very cheap to replace. Customer service from Nuarc is first class - they have a tech based in Florida who specializes in these units and is very helpful.

 

[Brian Bullen]

Sandy and Jorge, thank you both very much! Do either of you know if it is ok to transport the unit laying flat on its back? I have a station wagon I can borrow but I'm thinking that renting a truck might be safer. Sandy is the tempered glass beneath the bulb attached somehow or is it held in place by gravity on some sort of frame?

 

[sanking]

Sandy and Jorge, thank you both very much! Do either of you know if it is ok to transport the unit laying flat on its back? I have a station wagon I can borrow but I'm thinking that renting a truck might be safer. Sandy is the tempered glass beneath the bulb attached somehow or is it held in place by gravity on some sort of frame?

I am pretty sure you could transport it with the unit on its back if you remove the glass first. You may be able to get away with taping the glass in place if you don't have to far to travel and/if the road is not bumpy. The tempered glass piece is held in place by a frame with screws.

However, if you can borrow a truck so much the better as that would be the best way to transport it.

However, as others have said, it is a very good unit for printing alterntive processes. My printing times for well-exposed negatives are in the 225 unit range, where one unit is approximately one second.

BTW, the integrator is adjustable so that you can make one unit equal just about whatever you want it to equal, but it makes sense to make to make a unit a second. However, you could calibrate it so that one unit equals 10 seconds, or whatever you will. If you have any questions about this after you get the unit post another message here.


Sandy

 

[Brian Bullen]

Sandy, thanks again for all the detailed info. I will be sure to remove the glass before transporting. Luckily I don't have too far to go. As far as Minnesota roads go I'd like to find one that isn't bumpy.

Donsta, thanks. Does the tech in florida carry copies of the manual? I don't think the seller has one?

 

[Jorge]

Sandy and Jorge, thank you both very much! Do either of you know if it is ok to transport the unit laying flat on its back? I have a station wagon I can borrow but I'm thinking that renting a truck might be safer. Sandy is the tempered glass beneath the bulb attached somehow or is it held in place by gravity on some sort of frame?

It is very easy to take it apart and I would recommend you do it instead of trying to transport it on its side. I put mine in a very small car when I moved to Mexico so it is possible.

 

[Brian Bullen]

Jorge, do you mean you took the upper portion where the light is off from the glass and vacuum portion. I was planning to take the stand off but If the Nuarc comes apart easily into sections this would be ideal.

 

[lee]

I moved one of these earlier in the Summer and we removed the glass and put the glass in the interior of the truck and the unit was laid on its back and placed in the bed of my truck. Later it was picked up by another person and we removed the stand and set the unit in the back of his Monterro and he delivered it the rest of the way to the owner. It arrived safe and sound and is currently being used to expose negs to pt/pd.

lee\c

 

[Brian Bullen]

Lee, how many people did it take to put it in your truck? It's good to know that it survived the trip on it's back.

 

[lee]

hi Brian,

Just me and the guy that was selling it. We were able to move it from the showroom out the door down some steps and in to the back of the truck. maybe about 60 feet all told we had to carry it.

lee\c

 

[Donsta]

Brian

It is a very simple procedure to separate the base from the light unit - a couple of screws. Each piece weighs around 50 pounds, so they are both easily manageable by one person. It helps to have a second person around when you re-assemble it (placing the light unit back onto the frame stanchions).

 

[Brian Bullen]

Donsta, excellent to know, the seller told me the whole unit weighs around 150 lbs. I don't feel as nervous about lifting it with just myself and another person now. I'll be sure to bring some tools for the job. I'm so excited i can barely wait until tomorrow to pick it up.

 

[lee]

take all the glass off and the vacuum pad will come off too and the vacuum hose can be disconnected from the tube from the pump to the pad pretty simply. Leave the bulb in place and dont touch it with your bare hands. Its life will be shortened dramatically.

good luck

lee\c

 

[sanking]

take all the glass off and the vacuum pad will come off too and the vacuum hose can be disconnected from the tube from the pump to the pad pretty simply. Leave the bulb in place and dont touch it with your bare hands. Its life will be shortened dramatically.

good luck

lee\c

Well, if I had a truck I would just leave the unit intact except for removing the glass. If you set it upright in the back of the truck and tie it down so it won't topple over it should travel well. I can not see any good reason to disassemble the top from the bottom, assuming you have a friend to help you move it.

BTW, I don't think the unit weighs anywhere near 150 lbs. I just picked my unit up and moved it about ten feet by myself last weekend and there is no way I could have done with 150 lbs. I am guessing it really weighs more like 65-75 lbs, not counting the stand of course.

However you decide to move it, good luck.

Sandy

 

[lee]

Sandy is right about the weight it is more bulky than heavy. We decided to lay it on its back because I had to drive about 75 miles and I did not want to take a chance with being on the freeways and all. The one I had to move was on a stand. neater package laying on its back

lee\c

 

[Donsta]

I think the total weight of my unit, including stand and packaging materials (maybe 10lbs) was about 127 pounds... So about 75 for just the unit sounds about right. BTW, I would consider removing the lamp bulb - it can easily get shaken out. Use cotton gloves or be sure to clean it with alcohol before re-installing if you have touched it with you fingers. To go 75 miles, I'd remove the glass for the vacuum frame and the glass from below the lamp as well as the bulb. Provided you tie it down, it should be just fine like that...

 

[sanking]

I think the total weight of my unit, including stand and packaging materials (maybe 10lbs) was about 127 pounds... So about 75 for just the unit sounds about right. BTW, I would consider removing the lamp bulb - it can easily get shaken out. Use cotton gloves or be sure to clean it with alcohol before re-installing if you have touched it with you fingers. To go 75 miles, I'd remove the glass for the vacuum frame and the glass from below the lamp as well as the bulb. Provided you tie it down, it should be just fine like that...

I think it would indeed be a good idea to remove the lamp, taking the precautions mentioned above. When I bought my unit the lamp was DOA, apparently a victim of travel.

BTW, if the seller does not provide extra fuses and an extra lamp it would be a good idea to buy spares so you won't have a printing session interrupted by a blown fuse or lamp. And it happens! There are two fuses, and they go into slots on the left top side of the unit. You can order these directly form NuArc.

As for the bulb, I recommend the USHIO metal halide lampt for the NuArc 26-1K. It is less expensive than the replacement bulb NuArc sells for the unit, but has about the same spectral power distribution curve and actually reaches full output faster than the mercury vapor lamp sold by NuArc. USHIO makes two of these lamps, the one you want for Pt./Pd. printing is the MHL-1000/1. NuArc may not recommend the USHIO lamp, at least they did not when I spoke to them about it a couple of years ago, but lots of people use it and by all accounts it works as well or better than the mercury vapor lamp.

Sandy

 

[Brian Bullen]

I think it would indeed be a good idea to remove the lamp, taking the precautions mentioned above. When I bought my unit the lamp was DOA, apparently a victim of travel.

BTW, if the seller does not provide extra fuses and an extra lamp it would be a good idea to buy spares so you won't have a printing session interrupted by a blown fuse or lamp. And it happens! There are two fuses, and they go into slots on the left top side of the unit. You can order these directly form NuArc.

As for the bulb, I recommend the USHIO metal halide lampt for the NuArc 26-1K. It is less expensive than the replacement bulb NuArc sells for the unit, but has about the same spectral power distribution curve and actually reaches full output faster than the mercury vapor lamp sold by NuArc. USHIO makes two of these lamps, the one you want for Pt./Pd. printing is the MHL-1000/1. NuArc may not recommend the USHIO lamp, at least they did not when I spoke to them about it a couple of years ago, but lots of people use it and by all accounts it works as well or better than the mercury vapor lamp.

Sandy

Sandy, I'm glad you and Don mentioned taking the lamp out. I originally was planning to leave it in but upon hearing about the problems that might occur it seems wise to remove it.
Thanks for the suggestion on the type of lamp to purchase, do you have any specialty retailers in mind that supply the MHL-1000/1 or is this a lamp that can be found easily at a place like Home Depot? As far as fuses go, do these need to be special ordered from Nuarc? Do you think Nuarc doesn't recommend the MHL-1000 because it might blow the fuses more often?

 

[sanking]

Sandy, I'm glad you and Don mentioned taking the lamp out. I originally was planning to leave it in but upon hearing about the problems that might occur it seems wise to remove it.
Thanks for the suggestion on the type of lamp to purchase, do you have any specialty retailers in mind that supply the MHL-1000/1 or is this a lamp that can be found easily at a place like Home Depot? As far as fuses go, do these need to be special ordered from Nuarc? Do you think Nuarc doesn't recommend the MHL-1000 because it might blow the fuses more often?

You will not find this lamp available locally, unless there is a well-stocked graphic arts store in your city.

Here is a link for the 1000 watt metal halide bulb for the NuArc. http://www.bulbdirect.com/catalog.asp?prodid=413421&showprevnext=1 Cost is $55.

You buy the fuses directly from NuArc.

NuArc sells replacement lamps so why would they recommend somethiong else? Actually, when I spoke to one the technicians there a couple of yeas ago they did not appear to be aware of the USHIO, or of the fact that a metal halide lamp could be used in the 26-1k mercury vapor units. But I have used the USHIO for over two years without blowing a fuse, so it is obvious to me that it works fine.

Sandy

 

[Brian Bullen]

First of all I'd like to thank everyone for all their suggestions and help with my questions about moving the Nuarc. You all saved me a lot of time, effort, and expense as well. I'm sure I would have broken something valuable if not for your recommendations.

Sandy thanks for the link to the bulb supplier. From the looks of the bulb that came with it I think a new one is in order. It's blackened and hard to see through.

The unit is in excellent condition and everything looked great. It was very easy to take apart from the stand, the tempered glass and bulb came right out with no problems. It was pretty light for two guys to carry, and by the way without the stand it fit easily into the back of my 95 VW Golf. The best part about it is that I only paid $100 and she was happy to get rid of the thing.
Thanks again everyone.

 

[sanking]

First of all I'd like to thank everyone for all their suggestions and help with my questions about moving the Nuarc. You all saved me a lot of time, effort, and expense as well. I'm sure I would have broken something valuable if not for your recommendations.

Sandy thanks for the link to the bulb supplier. From the looks of the bulb that came with it I think a new one is in order. It's blackened and hard to see through.

The unit is in excellent condition and everything looked great. It was very easy to take apart from the stand, the tempered glass and bulb came right out with no problems. It was pretty light for two guys to carry, and by the way without the stand it fit easily into the back of my 95 VW Golf. The best part about it is that I only paid $100 and she was happy to get rid of the thing.
Thanks again everyone.

Wow, what a deal you got!! I paid $400 for my unit and though it was a great deal.

Sandy

 

[Brian Bullen]

It is a great deal, i just got lucky really, right place at the right time. She was so happy to have it out of her way and didn't really know what it was for. Now I just need a densitometer at that price. Every UV densitometer I've seen are going for $300 to $400. Patience pays off though.

 

[photomc]

Great Deal! He**....spent more than that building my UV box...stay at it, you can find a densitometer if you can just wait em out. Congratulations on a very nice unit.