(Place to buy)Omega D-5 parts

[greg zinselmeier]

Hello,

Could anyone please guide me to the place ( besides Ebay, Craigslist) or person who would have a 4.5 inch "arm" for the Omega D-5 Enlarger. This arm holds the bracket, that holds the head. I need a newish one.

thanks for your time and consideration.

 

[Paul Howell]

KHB see if this link works http://store.khbphotografix.com/Omega-Enlarger-Parts/

 

[Pieter12]

KHB has a couple, I guess there are different sizes. I don't know if you can get just the arms. The whole lifting assembly: http://store.khbphotografix.com/Lifting-Lever-Kit-for-Omega-D-Condenser-Head-3-offset-Used.html

 

[greg zinselmeier]

ya, thanks Pieter12, I appreciate your suggestion. I looked into the Canadian comapny as well. The price for this part, is sold as whole arm assembly, which is 226.00 canandian dollors. I find that price to be a bit high. I can have a custom piece machined for 50-100 USD.

 

[Paul Howell]

Over the decades I've had a couple of parts for my D3 machined, frankly next time I need a part will buy another D3 for parts.

 

[ic-racer]

I have had some good success with JB Weld. I repaired my Seal Press by using JB Weld to hold in place some new bushings. Although, as you see, the metal arms are not split, as in your case.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

thanks Ic Racer! great idea!!

 

[AgX]

As IC-racer indicated, in your case it looks as if the leg on the right side is completely fractured and on the right side, not visible in that photo, is cracked.

Not the best situation for a repair by cementing. But of course one could try. In case of failure though a additional step before welding must be taken by filing or turning off the residual cement from the bushing.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

thanks everybody for your suggestions/ I think I may luck out on a local source. I'll be buying another enlarger for parts. But LESS THAN $225 CA, the Canadian company wants for the entire arm apperatus.How can it be, that I can buy a whole Omega enlarger less than the price of one part from an Omega enlarger? I mean, even on ebay there are enlargers for 200-300 USD, ???? I dont understand why KHB -this Canadian Company prices are so high??? I can have this piece machines out for about 50-100 USD??? I dont understand the used parts resalers strategy with pricing? If I can afford 60 USD an hour machining cost, or buy a whole enlarger for even 500 USD, what is the incentive for KHB to keep there prices so high? Riddle me that joker??? how do these people make money selling parts.

 

[MattKing]

I expect that if KHB could access fully in spec parts at much, much lower prices, they would sell them to you at lower prices.
People who buy from KHB pay closer to original OEM prices because they want that level of quality and reliability.
Prior to when Omega discontinued production (2014?) KHB was often a much better deal than buying from Omega.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

nice point Matt, . ... I was in a moment of befuddlement??? IDK, with my last post, I MAY have demonstrated my frustration with Photography's "existential crisis", rather than the objective truth, which you seemed to have cleared up on. I do appreciate lucidity when im at my witts end. ( smiley face!!!

 

[Pieter12]

It's supply and demand. It also costs to locate and disassemble a parts enlarger then clean, inspect, repair, inventory, store and list the parts for resale. It's a business for KHB, not a hobby.

 

[mshchem]

Kevin has helped me out a couple times. Sound advice. Inventory is expensive.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Ya, but I can custom pieces made cheaper with a machinist, or buy another for parts. So how do they make money when there are cheaper options, and in some cases, brand new custom work? Would you buy a used beat up lens for twice the price of a brand new lens? Custom machining is cheaper! Bottom line. It make take longer, but you get quality, and price. Vs. ?

 

[MattKing]

Used stuff from KHB is first class, fully restored and warrantied.
They also fabricate a few things that are not easily found in usable form on the used marketplace.
They are factory authorized repairers for a number of current items, including the new LPL enlargers and accessories they both distribute and sell directly.
If they supply it, it will fit properly and will stand up to the type of use that enlargers like the D5 were designed for.
There may be custom machining options out there where the machinists have the necessary knowledge about the stresses that there creations will endure, but I expect that they will be more expensive than KHB.
If you are able to locate a machinist able to make replacement parts of sufficient quality and charge you less, no one will complain if you use them. I know any time I've tried to find someone similar to do that, they didn't have the necessary knowledge to do it properly, or they were expensive.

 

[eddie]

They also fabricate a few things that are not easily found in usable form on the used marketplace.

Years ago, the plastic lever which allowed insertion and removal of LPL 4x5 negative carriers, on my 4550XLG stripped. KHB made a metal replacement at the time (not sure they still do). It was a vast improvement over the original part. They do quality work.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

ya, I understand what ya all sayin" i'm not dissin' Kevin, AFAIK, he, like all of us, . . . is very passionate about keeping photography alive. keeping old machines working is a part of it. the issue is "marketplace". People are either giving it( film related equipment) away for next to nothing, while brick and mortor ( film photography related) Companies, are having to compete with people giving it away. Kevin has a very respectable business and provides quality pieces, and from what I hear EXCELLENT customer service. TRUE. But to run that business at "breaking even or dare I say "make a profit" he has to sell quite a bit higher, to pay overhead and salary. Due to scarcity of demand from end user/demand of "used" parts, and difficulties finding used parts, PRICES will climb to point where people can not afford due higher demand with no new production of parts, or all the existing parts are "already" being used. Currently, I see custom machining as on par as far as price is concerned, whem say, 10 year ago, people would say you are crazy to pay custom machining rates for THAT piece!! go buy it off ebay for 10 bucks! things are not 10 bucks anymore! thats all im sayin. spare parts are getting expensive.

 

[Pieter12]

Looking at your original post with the photo of the broken part, would it be possible to weld the parts back together? I am not a metallurgist so I don't know what can be done with what I assume to be aluminum, but you might want to check in with a metal working shop (auto body shop?) and see if they can arc-weld the parts back together. I don't think the arm is part of a precision assembly so that may be OK. On the other hand, I could be totally wrong.

I just took a look at my D5 and it looks like a very simple part to make from a piece of aluminum bar like they sell at Home Depot. Just (gradually) drill a couple of holes in the ends, it wouldn't have to taper like the original, JB Weld the sleeve into one end. Might be worth a try.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

right on Pieter 12, I order some flat bar stock from Mcmaster Carr, A Tap . and set screws. should be good to go very quickly. It;s not hard to do at all. I'll send pic's when im done. cheers.

 

[bambiwallace]

Hello,

Could anyone please guide me to the place ( besides Ebay, Craigslist) or person who would have a 4.5 inch "arm" for the Omega D-5 Enlarger. This arm holds the bracket, that holds the head. I need a newish one.

thanks for your time and consideration. View attachment 272497

I have the piece that is 5 1/4" long. you are welcome to have it if you still need it.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

its all taken care off. thanks everybody

 

[Almond Butterscotch]

I have the piece that is 5 1/4" long. you are welcome to have it if you still need it.

Over a year late, but if this offer still stands, please let me know!

its all taken care off. thanks everybody

Hey Greg- I'm in a similar spot as you were last year and I think I'm going to go the way Pieter12 said with some stock aluminum to replace my arms. I've got a question if you don't mind (since you had some hands-on experience with this recently). How'd you manage to separate the flat bar from the bit with the set screws? I can tell on mine that it's two separate parts, but it looks more like it was welded than friction fit

 

[Pieter12]

Maybe a gear-puller of some type?

 

[ic-racer]

Make a new on out of aluminum can be a good solution. I made a new Graflok latch for my 4x5 camera when the existing one broke.

 

[Almond Butterscotch]

Make a new on out of aluminum can be a good solution. I made a new Graflok latch for my 4x5 camera when the existing one broke.

That certainly seems to be the path I'm going to end up going down. The arm will be (should be?) easy enough to fabricate. At this point, I think the hardest part is going to be figuring out how to remove the bearing/shaft collar without damaging it, as that's not a part I can easily make, since it would require both a thread tapper and a lathe (the latter of which I don't have or have access to).