Print Washer

[Donald Qualls]

I've considered some kind of deep tank with simple separators and a Kodak tray siphon but I'm not sure how effective the siphon would be in a deep vertical tank.

These work on the principle of the Pythagoras cup, or "greedy cup" (and similar to a "dribble glass", except those depend on tipping the start the siphon) -- the siphon's upper end defines the maximum water level, and the intake defines the lower. A length of small plastic pipe, a couple elbows, and a compatible bulkhead union (to go through a drilled hole in the bottom of the tank) will let you build such a siphon for $10-$15 in parts (including a can of pipe cement).

The downside of a siphon style washer in a deep tank is the large amount of water required for each cycle, against the low flow needed to ensure the siphon can empty the tank while working against the inflow; your prints will spend relatively a lot of time mostly uncovered. For a deep tank, I'd prefer an overflow style, where water is introduced from below, flows upward past the prints, and then overflows into the sink or a drain hose. In a tank with dividers, this doesn't even require drilling the tank; just leave the slot nearest one tank wall vacant (with a higher divider than the rest) and run the water in there; it'll flow down, under the bottoms of the dividers, then back up and pool at the top. A very slight tilt will control where it overflows. Overflow can wash well with even lower flow rate than a siphon, in a vertical tank, and doesn't have the potential for prints to slump in their slots and contact the dividers, picking up scratches or textures or getting stuck.

 

[Rmaydana]

These work on the principle of the Pythagoras cup, or "greedy cup" (and similar to a "dribble glass", except those depend on tipping the start the siphon) -- the siphon's upper end defines the maximum water level, and the intake defines the lower. A length of small plastic pipe, a couple elbows, and a compatible bulkhead union (to go through a drilled hole in the bottom of the tank) will let you build such a siphon for $10-$15 in parts (including a can of pipe cement).

The downside of a siphon style washer in a deep tank is the large amount of water required for each cycle, against the low flow needed to ensure the siphon can empty the tank while working against the inflow; your prints will spend relatively a lot of time mostly uncovered. For a deep tank, I'd prefer an overflow style, where water is introduced from below, flows upward past the prints, and then overflows into the sink or a drain hose. In a tank with dividers, this doesn't even require drilling the tank; just leave the slot nearest one tank wall vacant (with a higher divider than the rest) and run the water in there; it'll flow down, under the bottoms of the dividers, then back up and pool at the top. A very slight tilt will control where it overflows. Overflow can wash well with even lower flow rate than a siphon, in a vertical tank, and doesn't have the potential for prints to slump in their slots and contact the dividers, picking up scratches or textures or getting stuck.

The principle of siphon, is clear that the amount of sharpness of each cycle is related to the amount of water in the container and the time it takes to fill, for each cycle. I built a small siphon to empty a tray, 60cmx50cmx15cm , as it becomes heavy, the vacuum I do by siphon ... very interesting, every search leads me to new challenges (not having retail materials)
I also made with economic materials a washer by revalse, I didn't think about adding a fish pump to generate the water flow, a shaking while I order the room at the end of the day... I have read that to the pumps you can add a potentiometer to suffice the flow.
the dividing plates can be added drawings on the surface, they generate a flow of water by the surface allowing that the leaf does not stick... subject pending to execute.

 

[Rmaydana]

10 lbs would last me a very, very, very long time.
Amazon.ca would charge me $83 CDN for 2 pounds.

even that is not easily achieved in paraguay... the market is very small

 

[Rmaydana]

Has anyone ever attempted to contact Alastair to see if he'd be willing to make his drawings available for others to work from?

I'd love to have a 6-sheet 11x14 washer based on his design. That would be enough for many of my printing sessions and would use less water than my Versalab. I've considered some kind of deep tank with simple separators and a Kodak tray siphon but I'm not sure how effective the siphon would be in a deep vertical tank.

Who's Alastair, anyway?
leaves me intrigued to see the drawings on the washing machine.
I'm on the same thing no more than six 11x14 sheets.
For me it's ideal to do no more than that per session
in what is to use siphon, is an option,,, as another post says. .the amount of water is a lot for a 6 sheets session.
we will keep watching and see if anyone has or contacts Alastair.

 

[MattKing]

Who's Alastair, anyway?

Alastair Inglis, of print washer and pin registered system fame.
A photographer and manufacturer in my area who very recently retired and closed his business.
I know several people who knew him well - he has been active here in the photographic community for a very long time - but I don't know him personally.

 

[Rmaydana]

Alastair Inglis, of print washer and pin registered system fame.
A photographer and manufacturer in my area who very recently retired and closed his business.
I know several people who knew him well - he has been active here in the photographic community for a very long time - but I don't know him personally.

I'm watching on the internet and your products are well remembered, hopefully you can share your drawings
each step has its costs, advantages and disadvantages
to make one, it's low cost and I claim my low trade for the work with the acrylic
that an acrylic workshop does, the cost is high (materials and third party labor) with the imperfections for not understanding what it is used for
to get a market like nova, (there is a German one ) both 6 or 5 sheets are acceptable cost between 400 usd
in my case it adds up to the shipping value for South America, a long way.
for the moment i spend it reading how to work the acrylic and checking if it is more economical to buy the plate in amazon and cut it here
what to do locally, locally it's over 400 usd.
another alternative is to buy from usa, the sheets already cut and assemble them at home, i only need the drawings, it is an option to give you more time to feed, in usa there are more sophtions just look for the commercial place that makes the cuts in 8mm acrylic
At the moment, I'm still washing my copies in a pvc order bin. it works great, with a 3/8" pvc siphon, I'm very aware that it's not the best, it's what's on hand.
It can be done, it's a matter of time and dedication.

 

[MattKing]

I'm watching on the internet and your products are well remembered, hopefully you can share your drawings

I'm not Alastair - I just know of him due to his involvement in our local photographic community.

 

[Rmaydana]

Alastair Inglis, of print washer and pin registered system fame.
A photographer and manufacturer in my area who very recently retired and closed his business.
I know several people who knew him well - he has been active here in the photographic community for a very long time - but I don't know him personally.

Alastair Inglis, of print washer and pin registered system fame.
A photographer and manufacturer in my area who very recently retired and closed his business.
I know several people who knew him well - he has been active here in the photographic community for a very long time - but I don't know him personally.

I'm not Alastair - I just know of him due to his involvement in our local photographic community.

Yes, I know I'm not talking to Alastair... my Spanish expressions are not suitable for the translator. I'll pay attention before I upload an answer... my apologies.

 

[MattKing]

Yes, I know I'm not talking to Alastair... my Spanish expressions are not suitable for the translator. I'll pay attention before I upload an answer... my apologies.

No apologies are required. I wish I could communicate in Spanish - you do very well in English.

 

[esearing]

If you wish to make your own larger than 8x10 you can use plastic garden trellis [XXXXX] from the home improvement stores as dividers. They come in 4'x8' sheets and can be cut and drilled with hand tools. Then go to the hardware section and find threaded aluminum or stainless rods and use nuts or plastic spacers so you get ||_|_|_|_||. Drop into a cheap storage bin. No need for fancy pump mechanisms. Water in , water out, change water every few minutes. Fluid dynamics implies you can not displace water in a tank without intervention, water will take the path of least resistance, meaning it will go from inlet to outlet with minimal exchange along the way. In large Fish ponds we drain 10-20% of the water then replace it to get fluid exchange. For water disruption in ponds we use air to force the heavier solids to the bottom and to oxygenate, but not sure you want bubbles while washing prints.

You can also use the trellis divider assembly for a drying rack when done.vertical or horizontal.

 

[Rmaydana]

If you wish to make your own larger than 8x10 you can use plastic garden trellis [XXXXX] from the home improvement stores as dividers. They come in 4'x8' sheets and can be cut and drilled with hand tools. Then go to the hardware section and find threaded aluminum or stainless rods and use nuts or plastic spacers so you get ||_|_|_|_||. Drop into a cheap storage bin. No need for fancy pump mechanisms. Water in , water out, change water every few minutes. Fluid dynamics implies you can not displace water in a tank without intervention, water will take the path of least resistance, meaning it will go from inlet to outlet with minimal exchange along the way. In large Fish ponds we drain 10-20% of the water then replace it to get fluid exchange. For water disruption in ponds we use air to force the heavier solids to the bottom and to oxygenate, but not sure you want bubbles while washing prints.

You can also use the trellis divider assembly for a drying rack when done.vertical or horizontal.

If I have to fix the divisions with the tools or materials I have in my neighborhood..
in any case, amazon products reach Paraguay without any problem.

thank you for your contribution.

Greetings.