Peter De Smidt
Member
I have a Bychrome 20x24" vacuum easel that I'd like to use with my horizontal enlarger. Since the vacuum unit sounds like a vacuum cleaner, I'm working with various duct options to minimize noise. Using 25ft of 1.5" inner dia. ribbed hose for sump pumps did not work out, as the
combo made a noise appropriate for a banshee. (The dog is still recovering from the trauma of the test run.) Plan 2 involves rigid 1.5" inner dia. PVC pipe. One side of the pipe attaches to the vacuum unit, and the other end attaches to a flexible ribbed plastic hose that goes into the easel proper. A test run showed this solution to be much quieter, and the suction was adequate to hold a large piece of construction paper on the easel. I noticed, though, that the easel vibrates when holding the paper, which can't be good for image sharpness. Does anyone have experience with a vacuum easel? Did you have vibration problems? If so, did you find a solution? I noticed that the seal between the hose that goes in the easel and the easel is not air tight, as I can hear a whistling sound from that connection. Perhaps this air leak causes vibration? I'll try to get a better seal and see if that helps, but I'm open to other suggestions. I realize that I could simply tape, tack, or use magnets to hold the paper on a flat surface, but I'd prefer to use the vacuum easel.
-Peter
www.desmidt.net
combo made a noise appropriate for a banshee. (The dog is still recovering from the trauma of the test run.) Plan 2 involves rigid 1.5" inner dia. PVC pipe. One side of the pipe attaches to the vacuum unit, and the other end attaches to a flexible ribbed plastic hose that goes into the easel proper. A test run showed this solution to be much quieter, and the suction was adequate to hold a large piece of construction paper on the easel. I noticed, though, that the easel vibrates when holding the paper, which can't be good for image sharpness. Does anyone have experience with a vacuum easel? Did you have vibration problems? If so, did you find a solution? I noticed that the seal between the hose that goes in the easel and the easel is not air tight, as I can hear a whistling sound from that connection. Perhaps this air leak causes vibration? I'll try to get a better seal and see if that helps, but I'm open to other suggestions. I realize that I could simply tape, tack, or use magnets to hold the paper on a flat surface, but I'd prefer to use the vacuum easel.
-Peter
www.desmidt.net