Hi,
I have an Omega B600 with a condensor head. The question I have is this:
My condensor has what appears to be a water spot right at the low point of the convex area on the top lens and one smaller one directly under it on the bottom lens. My theory is that the enlarger (which I bought a few months ago) has sat around for a long time - it looks brand new once I got it dusted off. I believe that humidity and condensation have gathered over the years and dried with dust and such, on the low spot of the lens, and some of it dripped down onto the bottom lens - thus forming the two water rings/spots.
Now, the condensor appears to be very simple - two metal pieces holding the two convex lenses bolted to a circular piece that sits in the bottom half of the head over thelens (as I am sure most of you know). It appears to be held together by four screws - two holding the brackets together around the lenses, and two that hold those to the top plate.
There is no way I can get at the water spots without disassembly. My question is this:
Should I do this at home, by myself? It looks simple enough - there does not appear to be any facility for adjustment that I could mess up during re-assembly, but... looks can be decieving, so this post is my "measure twice..." component before I "cut once" and have an out of alignment enlarger.
I would really appreciate your input on this as under certain levels of enlargement, the water marks seem to show on the prints (they are about the size of a dime on the top lens, and smaller on the bottom one, where I assume the excess condensation dripped down). Thanks in advance,
Peter.
I have an Omega B600 with a condensor head. The question I have is this:
My condensor has what appears to be a water spot right at the low point of the convex area on the top lens and one smaller one directly under it on the bottom lens. My theory is that the enlarger (which I bought a few months ago) has sat around for a long time - it looks brand new once I got it dusted off. I believe that humidity and condensation have gathered over the years and dried with dust and such, on the low spot of the lens, and some of it dripped down onto the bottom lens - thus forming the two water rings/spots.
Now, the condensor appears to be very simple - two metal pieces holding the two convex lenses bolted to a circular piece that sits in the bottom half of the head over thelens (as I am sure most of you know). It appears to be held together by four screws - two holding the brackets together around the lenses, and two that hold those to the top plate.
There is no way I can get at the water spots without disassembly. My question is this:
Should I do this at home, by myself? It looks simple enough - there does not appear to be any facility for adjustment that I could mess up during re-assembly, but... looks can be decieving, so this post is my "measure twice..." component before I "cut once" and have an out of alignment enlarger.
I would really appreciate your input on this as under certain levels of enlargement, the water marks seem to show on the prints (they are about the size of a dime on the top lens, and smaller on the bottom one, where I assume the excess condensation dripped down). Thanks in advance,
Peter.
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