Under The Red Light Print Washers

[thefizz]

Has anyone used one of these print washers and if so, what do you think of them?

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

 

[mshchem]

The brass connections for water supply is a improvement over most designs.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The brass connections for water supply is a improvement over most designs.

That avoids the hose problems that are the suspected print washer leading problem. Based on my experience with the slip on connections, I would buy these print washers regardless of costs, if I was in the market for print washers.

 

[logan2z]

I've been thinking about replacing my current print washer with another and came across Under the Red Light washers. Just curious if anyone has bought one since this thread was started and could share their experience with the product, ordering process and shipping to the US.

Thanks in advance.

 

[thefizz]

I got one after all and I’m very happy with it so far. Well built and very well packed.

 

[logan2z]

I got one after all and I’m very happy with it so far. Well built and very well packed.

Good to hear. Which configuration did you order?

 

[Jason Watts]

I have had one for a couple of years now. I had them build me one that would wash up to 11x14 prints and that also comes with negative holders allowing me to wash a variety of formats from 4x5 through to 8x10 / 7x11. I've been very happy with it. Quality build and good customer service.

 

[thefizz]

I got the

Good to hear. Which configuration did you order?

I got a 10 slot 10x12 inch washer including the air diffuser adaptor which produces lots of bubbles to create friction around the print while using less water. I haven't tested the washing efficiency yet to compare running the washer with and without the air diffuser but will post my findings when done. I have noticed that the friction is less in the outer slots than in the center, so moving prints between slots during the wash may be required. Of course this would be less of an issue with washers containing less than 10 slots.

The slots are wide enough so I can wash two prints back to back in each, allowing me wash 20 at a time.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

The brass connections for water supply is a improvement over most designs.

I had the same thought !

 

[mshchem]

I got the


I got a 10 slot 10x12 inch washer including the air diffuser adaptor which produces lots of bubbles to create friction around the print while using less water. I haven't tested the washing efficiency yet to compare running the washer with and without the air diffuser but will post my findings when done. I have noticed that the friction is less in the outer slots than in the center, so moving prints between slots during the wash may be required. Of course this would be less of an issue with washers containing less than 10 slots.

The slots are wide enough so I can wash two prints back to back in each, allowing me wash 20 at a time.

Will be looking for your update.

 

[Hassasin]

So what is the latest science on print washing.

feed from top drain from bottom, or

feed from bottom drain from bottom, or

feed from top drain from top,

cascade or not to cascade ?

 

[Imaginaut]

I'm not convinced that the drain feed location or orientation makes any substantive difference in print washing - washing is a diffusion/exchange process, and as long as there aren't significant locations of poor exchange in the washer and the water temperature is adequate, I suspect the drain location makes no difference whatsoever. Cascade washers seem potentially useful for long printing days, but I can't imagine there's any difference in the actual efficacy of the wash.

Martin Reed's "Mysteries of the Vortex" is the most useful wash resource I am personally aware of.

Mysteries Of The Vortex (Part One) - Film and Darkroom User

Mysteries Of The Vortex (Part One) Articles

www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk

I can offer no feedback on Under Red Light washers specifically, but I think the options are more or less limited to them or Versalab for a new washer. The Under Red Light washers are certainly nicer looking, for what that's worth.

 

[Hassasin]

@Imaginaut Thanks for the link, interesting read. When I posted the question Fred Picker came to mind and how he argued superiority of Zone VI washers. All I know they worked, but probably no better than any other type of vertical washers.

 

[Milpool]

I'm not convinced that the drain feed location or orientation makes any substantive difference in print washing - washing is a diffusion/exchange process, and as long as there aren't significant locations of poor exchange in the washer and the water temperature is adequate, I suspect the drain location makes no difference whatsoever. Cascade washers seem potentially useful for long printing days, but I can't imagine there's any difference in the actual efficacy of the wash.

Martin Reed's "Mysteries of the Vortex" is the most useful wash resource I am personally aware of.

Mysteries Of The Vortex (Part One) - Film and Darkroom User

Mysteries Of The Vortex (Part One) Articles

www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk

I can offer no feedback on Under Red Light washers specifically, but I think the options are more or less limited to them or Versalab for a new washer. The Under Red Light washers are certainly nicer looking, for what that's worth.

Yes Mysteries of the Vortex is a very good reference.

I think Kienzle makes washers:

print washer

Deville made some interesting washers but unfortunately they closed up shop recently. I recall seeing one independent comparison test of several washers from the 1990s in which the Deville and Kostiner were best but it obviously wasn’t exhaustive.

 

[logan2z]

I can offer no feedback on Under Red Light washers specifically, but I think the options are more or less limited to them or Versalab for a new washer. The Under Red Light washers are certainly nicer looking, for what that's worth.

Nova still makes the Washmaster Eco:

Nova Washmaster ECO Archival Print Washer for photographic paper - The Imaging Warehouse | Nova Darkroom & Digital Inkjet Supplies

I currently own it but have been looking for an alternative.

 

[AERO]

As a matter of interest. I have photos of my two daughters taken when they were 10 and 11 yrs old and printed on Agfa paper..As far as I remember they were washed in a wahing up bowl under ordinary slow running cold water for round 30 mins.
The photos are as good today as they were then (from an archive point of view).
The girls are now aged 66 and 65. As regards water.. in those days we had plenty = we lived in Wales.. (very large reservoirs) - -when it rained it rained

 

[Hassasin]

As a matter of interest. I have photos of my two daughters taken when they were 10 and 11 yrs old and printed on Agfa paper..As far as I remember they were washed in a wahing up bowl under ordinary slow running cold water for round 30 mins.
The photos are as good today as they were then (from an archive point of view).
The girls are now aged 66 and 65. As regards water.. in those days we had plenty = we lived in Wales.. (very large reservoirs) - -when it rained it rained

The print washers in vertical design have two significant advantages: space saving foot print and easy permanent setup for feed and drain that can remain in place once installed. Everything else is a makeshift.

 

[AERO]

The print washers in vertical design have two significant advantages: space saving foot print and easy permanent setup for feed and drain that can remain in place once installed. Everything else is a makeshift.

Quite.....but in those days such luxuries were not universally available. Even the newspaper I worked on earlier ..used to sling the prints into a large kitchen sink and washed them that way! and after publication were put into ordinary brown envelopes and into the library for future use....

PS. I forgot to mention ..
It was develop...quick rinse into the fixer and ( I used i plain hypo crystals..no fancy additives.)

......as regards my own photos in those days..I never though I would live to reach 92......

 

[Peter Schrager]

I have an ECO-Wash made in Japan..gotten through Freestyle and not sure they are still available

 

[Ardpatrick]

Quite.....but in those days such luxuries were not universally available. Even the newspaper I worked on earlier ..used to sling the prints into a large kitchen sink and washed them that way! and after publication were put into ordinary brown envelopes and into the library for future use....

PS. I forgot to mention ..
It was develop...quick rinse into the fixer and ( I used i plain hypo crystals..no fancy additives.)

......as regards my own photos in those days..I never though I would live to reach 92......

92?

Bravo.