Vacuum easel......

[John Wiegerink]

I had been looking for a 16x20 4-blade easel for my darkroom and just couldn't find one at the right price. While I was checking the big auction sight I came across a 20x24 vacuum easel with pump. Yup, I bought it and it should arrive tomorrow. I have never used one and was wondering if there are any secrets I need to know. I'm going to mount the pump in my basement so as not to induce noise/vibration into the darkroom, but is there anything else I should do? JohnW

 

[Jeff L]

I don't know what you should do, but I remember the local newspaper had one back when I was in highschool. It was pretty cool.

 

[John Wiegerink]

How much noise did the one at the newspaper make?

 

[Wade D]

Vacuum pumps are quite noisy. There were vacuum pumps on the printing presses. Nu-Arc plate burner and Robertson process camera where I worked. The combined noise required hearing protection. One pump running shouldn't be so bad though.

 

[Steve Smith]

If the vacuum bed is well designed with no air leaks and the vacuum holes are either all covered by the paper or are masked off with tape then you shouldn't need much of a vacuum to hold the paper flat.

A small 12 volt vacuum cleaner for car use would work and possibly one of those little USB powered vacuum cleaners for cleaning computer keyboards might be enough too. I was given one of those a few years ago and thought it was a bit of a joke but I have an idea now!.......

However... you have the pump so only you can find out how noisy it is. Please let us know! If it is too noisy you can always replace it with something else.


Steve.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Steve,
That's why I'm thinking about mounting the pump/vacuum in the basement and running the hose up into my darkroom. If there's to much suction I can always make a slot regulator like a household vacuum has. JohnW

 

[Steve Smith]

That's why I'm thinking about mounting the pump/vacuum in the basement and running the hose up into my darkroom. If there's to much suction I can always make a slot regulator like a household vacuum has. JohnW

Another option may be to run it at a lower voltage. At work I often make test equipment. Some of this equipment needs a vacuum pump. In the past I have used domestic vacuum cleaners (Henry) which are rated at 230 volts but powered from a 110 volt transformer.

This reduces the vacuum, the noise and the heat it generates if left on for a long time - shouldn't be a problem for a vacuum easel though which will be off for a lot longer than it is on.


Steve.

 

[Rick A]

I have all the parts for an 18x24, I just dont have the space to use it right now. Its a converted vacuum back from a repro camera. I also have all the light box parts if anyone wants them, would make a beauty of a contact printer.

 

[Mike Wilde]

I use one for all sorts of pf printing when I want fully bled prints, like when I am printing RA-4. Particularly when printign from roll cut paper.
I have a vac platten that is about 18x22. I mask off the outside 2", and lay and low tack masking tape in place a 16x20 insert (old ep/2 expired paper) with a 5.2x7.2 hole in it, for positioning 5x7 by feel in the dark. these masks go all the way up to suit 12x18 when I want a large full frame enlargement from 35.

I use a small cannister vac mounted under the enlarger bench for the suction, and it's hose is friction fit into the inlet on the side of the platten. The hose comes up to baseboard elevation though a gap the width of the enlarger at the back of the dry desk.

I adapted a 1.5" pvc water piping 90 degree elbow, and this allows the hose to lie in a more conventient orientation. The friction fit lets me pull and reconnect the hose when I swing the easel from portrait to landscape.

I have a conventional light switch set into the dry desk adjacent to where the timer usually sits to allow me to start sucking just prior to exposing.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

I have a vacuum easel which is 90inches by 4 meters and another slightly smaller its quite surprising its not too loud when completely fired up.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Mike,
That's basically what I want to setup. I just thought this would solve most of my easel problems with one flip of the switch. I will end up with two vacuum easels as I already had an 11x14 for years, but never used it(no pump). I'll keep the 11x14 under my Saunders LPL 6x7 and the 20x24 under my Omega D3V and just switch the hose from one to the other. JohnW

 

[John Wiegerink]

Well, I got the Easel and pump and it looks just great! I haven't plugged it in yet (the wife is in bed), but will do that tomorrow. I'll take some pics also. Getting late! JohnW

 

[John Wiegerink]

I fired it up and she works fine, but even if the noise is bearable she's going in the basement anyway. I think it will be better all the way around. I'll just run solid PVC up to the enlarger table and then use the flex hose over to either of the two vacuum easels. I'll have to rewire the switch on the pump to allow it to go through the floor, but that should be rather simple. This setup is the cheapest answer to my 16x20 easel search and I get a 20x24 out of the deal to boot. The easel is in almost like new shape and can be wall mounted. The pump and the easel are made by ByChrome. It also has a carrying handle built right in. Pretty darn slick! I didn't get a chance to zap any pics as I'm now up to my cottage and won't be back for more then a week. JohnW

 

[RalphLambrecht]

John

Do me a favor and make the same print with and without the pump turned on. I would like to know if you think the vacuum makes any difference in print sharpness.

 

[Steve Smith]

and then use the flex hose over to either of the two vacuum easels.

I assume you have the proper flex hose with a spiral wire built in. Otherwise it may collapse under vacuum conditions.


Steve.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Ralph, I'll do that. I'm not home much during the summer so it might be a spell before I get it mounted in the basement and run some prints. I really doubt that I'll notice any difference and that's alright since I really bought it just to solve my 16x20" easel shortage problem. The pump, easel and hose cost me $76.00 + shipping so it was, I think anyway, a cheap solution.
Steve, it is the original factory spiral hose that came with the ByChrome pump so I should be all set. JohnW