Problem with Opemus IIa enlarger

[chaim]

Hello, I'm new to this list and recently returned to photography a couple of months ago. I inherited an Opemus IIa enlarger which had sat in someone's basement for many years. It's a nice piece of equipment but I've been getting bright spots and wavy lines on my prints. I don't get the same effect when I put the negative in another enlarger. I've cleaned the negatives with film cleaner and lint-free cloth, and cleaned up the glass negative carrier holders. No good. Today I completely disassembled the unit from the light source down to the lens and cleaned up everything I could reach. It was fairly gritty inside. Now I'm still getting the problem, as you may be able to see from the picture excerpt attached. Any suggestions appreciated.
Chaim Brown

 

[clogz]

Try adjusting the lamp and the condensors.

 

[TPPhotog]

Silly question but what's the lens like? Any signs of fungus?

 

[chaim]

Try adjusting the lamp and the condensors.

Thanks for your reply. The lamp is a simple 75watt incandesant. Are you suggesting to swap it with another 75watt bulb?
Other suggestion--I am still learning--where/what might be the condensors on this unit?
Thanks again--

 

[chaim]

to my untrained eye the lens looks clean, except at the upper lens surface there's a small area of distortion just at the very edge. The other factor I failed to mention in my original post is that the spots showing up on the prints move around from one print to the next, almost like there's dust that's floating around inside--but where, I can't guess.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[clogz]

The condensors are the big pieces of glass inside the enlarger. Check if they are put in the right way. Also the distance between lamp and negative holder may have to be adjusted. What sort of light bulb have you got now? There are special bulbs for enlargers; an ordinary bulb will not do.Handy website:www.meopta.cz
Regards
Hans

 

[Denis P.]

Based on the supplied photo, you've got dust problems. The lines and spots are actually small hairs (like lint) and dust particles. The guilty party is usually glass in the negative carrier.

 

[chaim]

thanks, I've cleaned the glass 3 or 4 different ways, can you suggest a preferred way of cleaning it?

 

[chaim]

thanks, I think I must need to get an enlarger bulb, the meopta website doesn't seem to list them, can you suggest any other sources? (currently there is a household incandenscent lamp 75w installed)
Chaim

 

[Denis P.]

chaim: I've cleaned the glass 3 or 4 different ways, can you suggest a preferred way of cleaning it?


Clean the glass on both sides (both pieces) with a lint-free cloth. Also vacuum the innards of the enlarger - both above and below the negative holder. The dust problem is difficult to solve... Also, handle the negatives with cotton gloves, perhaps wiping them softly before inserting into the neg. carrier.
I know I also have problems with dust :-(((
Denis

 

[clogz]

Enlarger bulbs can be bought at camera stores. Give Adorama or B&H a phone call.

 

[Nige]

an standard looking enlarger bulb is usually/sometimes called a 'Photocresenta'. It's main difference is any writing on the bulb surface will be on the side down near the base, rather than on the end like a normal bulb does. The 'color' temp might be a little different too but I'm not sure on that.

Your scan does look like it's junk close to the neg (sharp). Clean the neg holder surfaces and finish with a blower brush without the brush bit on the end (which is probably full of dust!) Hold on and angle so that the room light shows the surface rather than looking straight through. Once happy, check neg and place in neg holder.. insert into enlarger and print... check for dust spots on test print strips/prints to see how you went.

next step.. learn how to spot!