UV Sources

Hexavalent · Nov 12, 2010

holmburgers said:
Ian,

You're referring to something like this..... http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...27X-_-100653098&locStoreNum=2207&marketID=129

Right?

If so, what kind of configuration do you use them in, and how many? Do they require ballast, or are they just "plug and play"?

Also, found this for LED's -> http://www.instructables.com/id/UV-LED-Exposure-Box/

Those home depot items will do.No ballast required, plug-n-play in a regular lamp fixture - I used two angle-poise lamps aimed about a foot distant for exposure. 10-15 minutes for carbon on glass (high pigment tissue).

Beware the cheap UV leds on ebay etc., they are often low-output, mismatched, or lots of duds in a batch.

holmburgers · Nov 12, 2010

Awesome... for someone just starting out, a couple of those seems like an easy way to give it a go.

LED's would be cool, but I'm not much of an electrician myself

gmikol · Nov 12, 2010

I asked about UV LED's over on the B&S Carbon board quite some time ago, and it received a lukewarm response. The general consensus is that the output is fairly low, you'd need a lot of them for a large print, and the peak output is typically around 400-420nm for the cheapest LED's. There are some ~360nm LED's out there but they're waaaaay expensive.

I may try it, still, but it's pretty low on my priority list.

--Greg

jon.oman · Nov 12, 2010

Sometimes you can get lucky on EBay:

I picked it up today. I had to drive 246 miles one way, but I paid $203.50 for it!

Vaughn · Nov 12, 2010

Plus another 75 bucks in gas -- (20MPG @ $3/gal) -- still a sweet deal!

jon.oman · Nov 12, 2010

Actually, my cost of gas ran closer to $85.00. But shipping can run up to about $220.00 (an actual quote for another seller), so I thought that was not bad.

As you said, 'a sweet deal'!

Sowers · Nov 12, 2010

I just recently completed my super-shoddy UV box made from a large plastic storage bin with 6 CFL blacklights from Home Despot mounted to the bottom (which becomes the top when it's sitting over my printing frame). It's cumbersome and stupid looking but gives me even exposure at 10 minutes for Kallitypes. Only cost about $40 to make and 90% of that was the bulbs.

alexhill · Nov 13, 2010

Hey Sowers, welcome to Apug. Got a photograph of that beast?

AshenLight · Nov 13, 2010

Not having any mechanical ability at all, I opted to buy a used NuArc 26-1ks on that big auction site. I ended up paying 700 with shipping for a unit in excellent shape. I use it for Pt/Pt, ziatype, cyanotype and occasionally carbon.

Ash

Sowers · Nov 14, 2010

Thanks, Alex. I just finished posting my construction adventure, with pictures, to my blog at http://photo-reactive.blogspot.com/

karl burke · Nov 14, 2010

Edwards unit plans provided by Ken Sinclair - thanks Ken.

iannotti · Dec 4, 2010

is this very generous off still available? I am in cleveland.

UV Sources

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