Some Color Printing with Durst RCP-20 issues .... any tips?

[aca]

Hi there,

It's been almost a year since I acquired the RCP-20 and used the machine for the 5th time yesterday. To summarize my previous sessions:
- Session 1; made a workable print within 3 test strips -> happy as a ....
- Session 2: start with the same settings as session 1 but it took me 8 test strips and a bit clueless to get a so-so print
- Session 3: went ok, took me 6 test strips to get a decent print, but then I notice a horizontal scratch on the print
- session 4: was all about the horizontal scratch (emulsion side down did the trick) .......but chemicals were exhausted

Now on to yesterday's session .........after 6 months I got the Durst out of her hiding place. I notice some "crystals" on the blix rollers so I did a "for me" proper cleaning. I put on a radiostation and made some fresh RA-4 tetenal chemie.

Mistake nr 2, I made 3L developer instead of the 2.5L (1;4 ratio). I was listening to the radio too closely.
I set the temp of the Machine to 38/39 degrees so the developer would react better (dilution is not as advised)

Started with my last color setting 100Y 85M ........and got Blue ......with some extra tests got "lucky" after 8 tests

So it was time to do a full print ............... but then I notice these (2 differents prints):



then I cleaned the rolls again and but still on the 3rd print a "chemical stains".

Now for my 4th attempt, I looked closely in the blix bath and I removed 3 little "floating" dust ......and made a print now with emulsion side up and ...........this one work ok (made another 3 prints)

Besides a note-2-myself for further reference and maybe for others not to panic when blue or getting stains, my general question:
What causes the chemical stains and how do you prevent them??? Any tips on how to keep the rollers as clean as possible?

Need to update my working flow for color printing
Thanks for reading
Stay safe, stay healthy and keep it analog

 

[glbeas]

Got to be careful not to overfill, it’ll make the carryover worse.

 

[aca]

Got to be careful not to overfill, it’ll make the carryover worse.

Thanks, valid point will take it into account

 

[koraks]

after 6 months I got the Durst out of her hiding place. I notice some "crystals" on the blix rollers

Oops...NEVER store the machine without thoroughly rinsing (and preferably air-drying it) first.

I'd start by properly (not for you, but objectively) cleaning the machine.

 

[mshchem]

Are you using a stop bath?
Emulsion towards the rollers?

 

[aca]

Oops...NEVER store the machine without thoroughly rinsing (and preferably air-drying it) first.

I'd start by properly (not for you, but objectively) cleaning the machine.

Tx and yes, I have cleaned up the rollers and will use the machine hopefully in the coming week again.

i really thought I had cleaned the rolls good 6 months ago

btw: any suggestion what to use for cleaning the rolls? I read about toilet bowl cleaner (= bleek in the Netherlands, but would a mixture of soda+vinegar do the same?)

 

[aca]

Are you using a stop bath?
Emulsion towards the rollers?

I use tetenal chems: Dev, Blix and as a stop bath a mixture of "vinegar + water"

 

[mshchem]

I use tetenal chems: Dev, Blix and as a stop bath a mixture of "vinegar + water"

That should work.

 

[mtjade2007]

RCP-20 needs to be modified for RA-4 chemicals. Is yours already modified? My question is how long is its development bath now, 30 seconds, 45 seconds or else? And what temperature is it set to? I have a RCP-20 sitting in my garage. I had it modified to 45 seconds for the developer bath. I have not done anything with it after the modification. But I am tempted to do it in the future. I had done it with EP-200 process only before.

 

[aca]

RCP-20 needs to be modified for RA-4 chemicals. Is yours already modified? My question is how long is its development bath now, 30 seconds, 45 seconds or else? And what temperature is it set to? I have a RCP-20 sitting in my garage. I had it modified to 45 seconds for the developer bath. I have not done anything with it after the modification. But I am tempted to do it in the future. I had done it with EP-200 process only before.

Yes, I am aware of the modification. In fact, I bought this RCP-20 already modified by the previous owner.

btw: I have however another RCP that I need to check out. It's the RCP-40 and weighs a lot more than the 20. I hope to do some 40x60cm prints in the future.

 

[mshchem]

Did you get satisfactory prints from the Durst processor??

 

[aca]

Did you get satisfactory prints from the Durst processor??

Yes I did (for my style and for my current project)