Paterson Fiber paper washer circulation

[ericdan]

I have one of the Paterson Auto Print washers.
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/paterson-auto-print-washers-for-fibre-based-papers/

the water intake and the water outlet are on the same side on top. I know the basket holding the prints moves around by water pressure but isn’t all the fixer accumulating on the bottom?
Is this really exchanging the water as it’s supposed to?

 

[MattKing]

To me, it looks like the outlet is connected to a hose that siphons water from the bottom.

 

[ericdan]

I can assure you that both in and out are next to each other on the top.
https://images.app.goo.gl/ah7ppVM8HZHUznWYA

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have one of the Paterson Auto Print washers.
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/paterson-auto-print-washers-for-fibre-based-papers/

the water intake and the water outlet are on the same side on top. I know the basket holding the prints moves around by water pressure but isn’t all the fixer accumulating on the bottom?
Is this really exchanging the water as it’s supposed to?

Fa

I have one of the Paterson Auto Print washers.
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/paterson-auto-print-washers-for-fibre-based-papers/

the water intake and the water outlet are on the same side on top. I know the basket holding the prints moves around by water pressure but isn’t all the fixer accumulating on the bottom?
Is this really exchanging the water as it’s supposed to?

Fixer being heavier than water is a bit of a myth. Fixer being heavier than water is a bit of a myth. As soon as fixer and freshwater come in contact they mix rapidly As soon as fixer and freshwater come in contact they mix rapidly the specific density difference between fixer and water is no influence on print washing.

 

[MattKing]

To me, it looks like the outlet is connected to a hose that siphons water from the bottom.

I can assure you that both in and out are next to each other on the top.
https://images.app.goo.gl/ah7ppVM8HZHUznWYA

But is the output hose not connected to the top of a drain channel which feeds from the bottom?

 

[ericdan]

The output hose is connected to a drain pipe that sticks out to the surface of the water, not the bottom. It does exactly the opposite. The output hose is connected to a pipe that basically sets the water level in the tank.
You fill it up and the level keeps rising until it’s as high as the outlet pipe. Once the level gets to that it drains to the output hose.

 

[MattKing]

The link to the Paterson website shows a slightly different washer (with a different arrangement for the hoses) than the picture on the B&H website - which one do you have?

 

[ericdan]

The one on B&H

 

[jimjm]

I have an older version of the Paterson Major Auto Print Washer linked in your first post, and the output does pull from the water at the bottom of the tank. The Standard version linked in your second post appears to be a different design, as far as the water circulation goes.
As Ralph noted, fixer mixes with the input source water and won't necessarily just sink to the bottom, especially if the circulation flow in the tank is efficient. I would think sufficient agitation and exchange of water across the paper are most important.
I believe there are some tests of the efficacy of print washing methods online, as far as measurements of residual fixer.

 

[NB23]

I love this washer. Super compact. I own Two, on top of other print washers.

I Put this washer inside a tub abd I don’t bother using its hose. I rather put my own hose inside the washer and fill it with water. I let the water overflow the washer.
Super efficient!

For 5x7 or rc prints I don’t use the tray. I Just dump the prints inside and let the water do its thing.

 

[Dali]

I Put this washer inside a tub abd I don’t bother using its hose. I rather put my own hose inside the washer and fill it with water. I let the water overflow the washer.
Super efficient!

I do more or less the same.

This is my second washer and they are built the same way: The water output is on the top. It is a bit touchy to adjust the water flow to get the prints swinging but it is IMO a good way to echange water on prints surface and get them washed.

 

[markbau]

I have one of the Paterson Auto Print washers.
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/paterson-auto-print-washers-for-fibre-based-papers/

the water intake and the water outlet are on the same side on top. I know the basket holding the prints moves around by water pressure but isn’t all the fixer accumulating on the bottom?
Is this really exchanging the water as it’s supposed to?

Damn Fred Picker for spreading the "fixer is heavier than water" nonsense so he could sell more of his print washers. Read the landmark article "Mysteries of the Vortex"

 

[MattKing]

Even if the outlet pulls water from adjacent to the input, it may be the case that the design of the washer imparts enough turbulence, flow and mixing of the water to ensure that any fixer that has diffused out of the paper's emulsion will be washed away.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

My Paterson print washers all pull outlet water from the bottom of the tank, albeit on the same side as the inlet/agitator valve.

I've always suspected that the opposite side of the washer might not get as much circulation. Therefore, I've modified my Paterson washers by adding a trickle pipe that trickles water into the washer from above. It is simply a length of plastic hose with small holes drilled all along it's length in the part that is over the washer. I just clamp it to the top of the washer with two plastic spring clamps; it attaches to a separate water source that the inlet. I position the trickle pipe where I think it will do the most good depending on the number of prints I have in the washer. It increases my water usage marginally; I keep the agitation inlet at the minimum needed to keep the basket agitating.

Best,

Doremus

 

[awty]

I made a L shaped pipe using 1/2" pex, pipe, drilled small holes in the bottom pipe, connected to a tap. Pipe fits in neatly to one side. Water comes in the bottom and overflows out the top, like it should. Agitator never worked properly.

 

[Randy Stewart]

The ducting was easier to follow when they made the body of the washer out of clear plastic.The water flows in at the top. The outlet hose connects at the top, but the water flowing out of the tank is ducted up from the bottom. That said, the water pressure driven rack "rocker" is very sensitive to water pressure. You set the right water input pressure or it either jams or fails to cycles. The design it cheap; the plastic fitting to which one of my hoses mounts snapped off;my brass replacement worked great, At the new asking prices these days, the Paterson tanks are junk.