Paterson FB print washer question

[haris]

Hello,

Question for printers who use Paterson FB print washer...

Recently (two days ago) I got Paterson Major FB print washer. Since instructions are mainly textual with low quality pictures, and since English is not my native language, I hope I assembled it properly

So, I put washer in function and print holding basket lean toward side where water inlet is, water mechanism push basket to other side, and basket again return toward water inlet side. And this moving is repeatedly performed without problems. So, I belive washer function properly.

Now questons:

1. Very low flow of water is needed for basket to work in described way. When stronger water flow is used, print basket lean toward side where water mechanism is, ans stay in that position, that is mechanism block and stop. When, again, I reduce water flow, mechanism restart, and basket start to move again. Is that normal? For example, I need stronger water flow when perform film washing in processing tanks than is needed for this print washer to work.

2. Water flow going out of washer through supplied outlet is also very low. Is that normal?

3. Small dirt, which was collected during transport, flow on top of water (when washer is full with water), when washer was first few times tested. I didn't saw that dirt to move when washer works, which suggested that water stay still. Even if water mechanism is working, and print basket moving to oposite sides of washer, water on top stay still. Is that normal, does water need to flow inside washer, and how strong?

In all above cases syphon opening is opened, like manual tells.

4. When try to empty washer, water slowly going out and then stops very quickly, and washer stay filled with water. No matter is syphon is opened or closed. I must tell that end of outlet is in level with washer bottom. Would lowering of end of outled make difference?

Please, if you can answer these question, or/and give me some tips of most efficient use of Paterson Major FB print washer. That is can you tell me how washer normally behave during working.

I am not saying washer is malfunctioning, maybe I wrongly use it because I wrongly read manual, as I said, English is not my native language.

Thank you, enjoy life,

Haris

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, Haris,

The motion of the print basket which you describe seems to be normal, as is the low water flow. I can't comment on your #3 above. It's been a long time since I've used my Paterson, but I don't recall any particular problem in emptying the washer; lowering the drain hose may help.

Konical

 

[brimc76]

I had problems with mine at first too but mostly because of water pressure as the pump from my well would take a while to kick in. I agree with Konical that if you lower the syphon hose the tank should drain properly. In the end I took the mechanism out of the top and connected my water line into the bottom. This way the water flows into the bottom of the tank and up through the paper, then drains out the top. You need a longer hose but that can be found and you will also lose the motion of the paper racks, but that wasn't as important to me.
A former photography teacher suggested this to me after he had been using his Paterson tank this way.

Brian

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Haris,

If it's oscillating, it's working perfectly. I always had a problem setting the water pressure right to get it to oscillate. Don't complain!

I always used to dump mine by tipping it up.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Alex Hawley]

I drain mine using a separate siphon hose that I made.

 

[craigclu]

When I tested mine some years back, I got better performance by slowing the water to a very slight trickle and not using the oscillating feature. I use a tong to carefully capture the print instead of stirring up the water by removing the whole print basket.

 

[eric]

I like the low trickle as well cause I'm in the garage (aka, darkroom) printing and the sound of faster h2o on the patersons drown out the hip-hop. I figure I just leave it in there longer.
I like the tong idea to pull the paper out. I haven't thought of that cause I've been using a Nova for a couple of years now and my tongs are just gathering dust.

 

[Maris]

My Paterson Major oscillates if the water flow is set just right. It stops and does not start again if the pressure drops slightly because someone turns a tap on elsewhere in the house. Lack of oscillation does not seem to affect washing efficiency if the flow rate is above 1 litre per minute.

The oscillator valve generates an awful snoring noise which I hate so I have fit the tap with a wind-up garden tap timer that shuts off automatically after 45 minutes. I can go away and not listen.

The syphon emptying system on my washer has never worked well. It always leaves a couple of inches of water in the tank. Tipping the washer over to empty it into the sink is not so hard but I have a lazier method. I don't empty the washer after a session. I just add swimming pool mould eliminator (benzalkonium chloride) so that the concentration is 10 times pool strength. The washer stays sweet and the benzalkonium does not hurt film or paper and it is present only at the beginning of the wash cycle. Costs about $0.10 per session.

 

[haris]

Thank you all.

Enjoy life,

Haris