Super Sized Vertical Washer for Silver Prints

[Carnie Bob]

Hello All - I am trying to build an oversized 6 slot vertical washer , I envision to be able to wash 12 - 32 x 44 silver prints two per slot back to back , so the inside dimensions need to be around 34 x 48 inches to give us room , each slot is about 1.5 inches .
my question is has anyone here ever done this and is familiar with plastic welding or other ideas to accomodate my needs.

I do know this is going to be expensive... and I do have someone that is helping me with this. Spoiler Alert I have made super sized print trays out of grey plastic that have served me well so I know this concept is not crazy

ideas

 

[Todd Barlow]

Fresh water tank for a RV by cutting one side and mounting in a 2x4 frame?

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[Carnie Bob]

wow I will pass this along to my friend Todd

 

[MattKing]

Wow.
My back of a virtual envelope calculations indicate that that would hold 130 US gallons, which means a weight of water ~ 1,300 pounds.

 

[Kino]

Wow.
My back of a virtual envelope calculations indicate that that would hold 130 US gallons, which means a weight of water ~ 1,300 pounds.

Yes, that was my first thought; this thing is going to require a welded steel support frame.

 

[MattKing]

Yes, that was my first thought; this thing is going to require a welded steel support frame.

That tank would be as heavy as the hearts of Toronto Maple Leafs fans 13 games into the season .

 

[Carnie Bob]

Hey Todd - I showed it to my guy and we plan to try this idea and to Kino's comment we will have to weld a support frames, we are going to
use wheels to move it around WHEN EMPTY , I have floor drains to get rid of the water. I saw a video of Clyde Butchers assistant using a vertical
washer, for us it will be a game changer as we will be able to use much less water and do more images a day, currently trying to horizontally wash a mural
is very challenging.

 

[Todd Barlow]

Hi Bob, that’s cool! Looking forward to seeking by how it comes together!
All the best
Todd

 

[miha]

Bob, sorry to divert a bit, but I need to ask: Is mural still the thing in the art circles?

 

[Carnie Bob]

Bob, sorry to divert a bit, but I need to ask: Is mural still the thing in the art circles?

Well it kind of depends on your particular art circle.. I know of galleries in my town that are still selling supersize C prints for over 30K and upwards, For me I am more into 30 x 40 alternative prints that
are pretty big for this type of print. I. just saw on my FB feed an image of a dude in china making a 50 x 8ft LED box for over sized alt prints. I have the luxury of having a collaboration with a
very large lab that can make supersize film for contact , my problem is my bricks and motar business cannot hold such sinks and exposing units or I think I would make a few super sized silvers or gum over palladiums.
The market is changing and all the young collectors are living in smaller spaces, (Toronto, New York) and do not have the wall space but lets say you have influence in Arizona or Florida there are still some big ass homes being
built to house these big prints. Banks and huge Corporations have big walls and are still collecting big pieces. We are seeing a lot of small prints and frames being purchased in my gallery space.

 

[gordrob]

Hi Bob
I was doing some research on the old Calumet Gravity Works print and film washers and came across a fellow in the Ukraine that makes these types of washers. His website shows some interesting print washers designs. I don't know how large he builds but is an interesting read.

Under Red Light is manufacturing darkroom equipment in Ukraine.

Under Red Light is manufacturing darkroom equipment in Ukraine. We talk to founder and designer Oleksandr Khytrykov.

silvergrainclassics.com

Gord

 

[eli griggs]

Be sure of your acrylics and plastics and avoid brittle materials.

You might want to consider silicon cutting board sheets, instead of ridged plastics, each with a weighted bottom of the sheet bar to keep a gravity held position and a second bar overlapping and spacing spaces at the top ends of the tank to lift and lower the barrier sheets, and keep the sheets/prints from being 'squeezed' to close together, as needed.

With good disk/paper cutters, you can make the current flow paths to your washer as you like it and you'll likely save enough dough by not buying acrylic or rigid plastic dividers.

IMO