Old Seal drymount press

[norm123]

Hi all
Some months ago, I bought an old Seal drymount press for $50. It works because there is heat...but I don't know what is the intensity. The rheostat is just a button with no indication of temperature, and turn and turn and turn in each direction...No stop at all. I'm looking to find someone in Montreal area to fix it. There is no model number. There is an indication of 1200 Watt on a small piece of metal. I can put a 16 x 20 inches board in it and there is a rubber rag and 2 pieces of of board who are removable. The inside of the upper part is a bit rough on some spots. Any way, I'll try with some secondary pictures to see what happens. I need advices.

Regards

 

[norm123]

I am almost sure that is the model 200. See the link.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Seal-Inc-C...minating-Press-Burke-James-J269-/202213441421

 

[norm123]

Maybe the model 150 who is smaller.

 

[norm123]

There is no ON/OFF switch. I plug the wire and the green light is turn on. What's about the red one?

 

[jeffreyg]

I have a model 210 that looks similar but it has a toggle off/on switch and a dial for temperature. The green light goes off when the dialed temp is reached and the red light blinks when you are at the dialed temp. The one you are showing says model 150. You might try using a metal cooking thermometer and marking the dial at the temp that is correct for the mounting tissue you are using. Someone may have rewired it and left off the switch. You could install a switch or plugin and unplug to turn it on and off. Some people plug them into timer switches in case they forget to turn it off when they have finished.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[norm123]

I have a model 210 that looks similar but it has a toggle off/on switch and a dial for temperature. The green light goes off when the dialed temp is reached and the red light blinks when you are at the dialed temp. The one you are showing says model 150. You might try using a metal cooking thermometer and marking the dial at the temp that is correct for the mounting tissue you are using. Someone may have rewired it and left off the switch. You could install a switch or plugin and unplug to turn it on and off. Some people plug them into timer switches in case they forget to turn it off when they have finished.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Thank you for your info and suggestion about metal cooking thermometer

 

[eddie]

There used to be strips of paper you could place in the press which would indicate temperature by a color change. Haven’t seen them in years but, I’d guess they’re still available.

 

[choiliefan]

I have a similar model 120.
Do you feel any resistance as you turn the rheostat?
You'll notice the press in your first link has a screw head next to the dial which limits the arc of the rheostat.

 

[norm123]

Do you feel any resistance as you turn the rheostat?

Any resistance

 

[David Brown]

Some people plug them into timer switches in case they forget to turn it off when they have finished.

I would be very careful here. These presses pull a lot of amps and a darkroom timer or similar may not be rated that high. Perhaps a timer for an electric heater heater would work. Or, just turn the thing off ...

 

[Roger Thoms]

There used to be strips of paper you could place in the press which would indicate temperature by a color change. Haven’t seen them in years but, I’d guess they’re still available.

The strips aren’t available anymore, actually contacted Bienfang a few years back when I was looking for some, was told they no longer made them. I just did some trial and error tests with old work prints till I got the temperature dialed in. I’m thinking that an infrared thermometer might be a better way to go.

Roger

 

[silveror0]

I bought the Commercial 200 new when they were still in production; it's still functioning as new. Yours doesn't look quite the same as mine and is probably a 150 (shown here). My platen measures 18x23 inches and looks very close to the one shown here. It uses 1600 watts. When it's turned on the green light goes ON; when the platen reaches the temperature setting (via the thermostat) the green light goes OFF. Then when the press is closed and latched the red light blinks and continues to blink until unlatched.I don't know what to suggest about the thermostat setting with a switch; perhaps an electrician can help install a switch after removing the cover.

The markings on the platen are likely due to someone trying to scrape off residue from dry mounting tissue. I wouldn't let that surface contact your print when mounting. My mounting method is to place the print between two pieces of 4-ply mount board in the press, so the print never comes into contact with the platen. These mount boards are first dried out by pre-heating, prior to mounting; place them in the press for 45 seconds w/o latching the press, then open the press briefly to let the moisture escape and repeat for 30 seconds. Let the boards cool before the mounting procedure.

 

[ic-racer]

I restored a Seal press and documented it in this thread. May be of interest.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/rebuilding-seal-200-press.68914/

 

[norm123]

Hi all
I'm thinking that I'm blind...like my wife said to me sometimes. There is a scale for temperature with the rheostat who is in place too. The rheostat's button is missing and the guy before just put a cylindrical piece of rubber who don't grip enough the metal piece of the rheostat. So, I removed this piece of rubber and I can turn the rheostat who stop at the beginning (170 F) and at the end (320 F). I putted a meat thermometer between the plates, I adjusted the rheostat at the minimum. The green light turn off when it's hot enough but the red one doesn't turn on, doesn't blink. My thermometer indicate 205 F. I think I can do something with that. I'll try to mount a fiber print with MT5 on a foam bord and I'll see. Probably, the rheostat would be replaced in a ideal world. Thank you all for advices and comments.

 

[eddie]

Did you completely close the press to check if the red light works? It will only work when the handle is locked down.

 

[norm123]

Did you completely close the press to check if the red light works? It will only work when the handle is locked down.

OK I'll do it. I'm not sure it was did.

 

[juan]

I stuck the sensor from a meat thermometer in between two pieces of mat board in mine. That allowed me to test and adjust the temperature

 

[norm123]

I stuck the sensor from a meat thermometer in between two pieces of mat board in mine. That allowed me to test and adjust the temperature

It's what I did.

 

[norm123]

OK
One of my bulb is burned but it blinks when put in the red socket and the press is closed after the temperature is reach.. I'll try to find an electrical shop to save my thermostat, install a ON/OFF switch. I have one in mind.

Thank you all for advices.

 

[norm123]

I found an electrical shop with a good technician. It's already fixed. He repaired the thermostat, change bulb, putted a switch and calibrated it with a meat thermometer for $ USD 90.00. BTW there is no model for this press, I mean number...it's just a Seal 1200 watts. I'm ready!!

 

[Stephen Prunier]

Awesome to hear. Sounds like money well spent.

 

[lauffray]

Out of curiosity, did you find your press here in town?