Versalab Print Washer

[Bruce Osgood]

I've not had these problems with mine. I run it to where bubbles rise. My Residual Hypo Test solution indicate the prints are clear in about 1/2 hour washing.

 

[David Brown]

But my print washer from them does not work as intended. I know others who have one and say theirs are fine. Go figure!

Thomas: sorry your washer didn't work out. As others have said, mine is fine.

FYI, I once asked the maker about how to set the flow rate and he said it will sing when it is right.

When you get the flow rate correct, the siphon tube will draw air in through the little hole at the top of the tube, just before it exits the washer. When it's right, the bubbles do indeed, "sing" ...

 

[rbultman]

Perhaps an instructional video is in order...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

When you get the flow rate correct, the siphon tube will draw air in through the little hole at the top of the tube, just before it exits the washer. When it's right, the bubbles do indeed, "sing" ...

Yes, they really do. That Versalab bubbling is a major attraction for me in my darkroom. It's very calming and soothing. An audio indicator that says it's finally OK to slow down and relax and take my time at something I have been looking forward to doing. I anticipate that almost as eagerly as I do the smell of an acid fixer, which is another darkroom behavioral marker for me.



Ken

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I had to ditch my water hungry my 16x20 tumbling washer for a used Kostiner 16x20 print washer due to the drought. I've never used an archival print washer before. The drought is so bad here that I'm thinking about using the drain water for watering my plants. I don't want to use RC paper to save water because I just don't like the look.

 

[David Brown]

Perhaps an instructional video is in order...

I was thinking of that while writing my post above. However, making a good video is a lot of work (I've done it).

This device is not complicated: there are no moving parts. If the assembly instructions are followed so that the washer is put together correctly, then it is a matter of regulating the water flow - and this has to be done by trial and error - until the siphon starts and stabilizes. The siphon is working when the water level in the tank remains constant, and the little bubbles in the siphon break hole murmurs or sings. Seriously, this is the summary instructions from the Versalab website:

"Turn the water supply up high to fill the tank. As the water nears the flanged area at the top of the tank, reduce the water flow rate until the siphon break hole murmurs continuously. The washer is ready for use."

A bit more detail is in the printed instructions that come with the unit, but it's really not hard.

Dead Link Removed

BTW: the Kodak tray siphon that Thomas uses is also effective. I use both.

Also, I think his problem was with the prints sticking, and not the flow rate.

 

[David Brown]

The drought is so bad here that I'm thinking about using the drain water for watering my plants. I don't want to use RC paper to save water because I just don't like the look.

Re-cycling wash water is a good idea even without a drought. All of mine goes on plants.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Thanks for the tip

Re-cycling wash water is a good idea even without a drought. All of mine goes on plants.

Here in California, homes with green lawns may be a thing of the past. Some eco-friendly homes recycle "gray" water. In Japan, they use hand washing water to flush toilets.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg0scQFbwII

Now that's smart!

 

[amellice]

I've never used archival washer before and that's why I don't print FB because I don't have the time or energy to keep refilling trays and I like Versalab washer considering the positive reviews I see here, I've a question though, any consideration when you wash 11x14 print in 16x20 washer? I want to invest in one washer only and although I don't print 16x20 now but I know that I'll later.

Thanks

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Some archival 16x20 print washers will wash (2) 11x14 prints per slot assuming that each slot is at least 22" wide.

 

[Peter Schrager]

no offense but the versalab is your basic tub o wash baloney. spend your money if you want. if you want something that will last AND save water invest in an eco-wash B+H and Freestyle sells them...I've also had a zone VI washer and none compare; not even close
best, peter

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

no offense but the versalab is your basic tub o wash baloney.

Interesting take, Peter.

Given that print washing is nothing more than a slow natural reverse diffusion (slowly leaching stuff out of pieces of paper, instead of into them), any basic tub o water will do just fine. Provided that water is changed frequently enough to keep the concentration of the leached-out "stuff" lower outside the paper than inside.

Do that, and entropy and the Second Law will handle the rest.

The Versalab tubs themselves are well made, easy to clean, and virtually indestructible. And relatively inexpensive. The only workflow constraint is that the compartments are not isolated. So the minimum unit of wash is a single load of prints all started at the same time. For small volume usage, this is usually not a problem.

In the past I have inserted control sheets (unexposed and identically processed test sheets of paper) into Versalab wash batches, then measured residual hypo using the Kodak HT-2 protocol. Results showed very faint staining in the center, with even less in the four corners, after an hour in my water (Northwest Washington State). Overnight soaks reduced that to near invisibility, albeit with additional risk of emulsion separation (Kentmere Bromide was tested, a known long-soak issue with that paper).

Temperature (68F/20C) and flow rates (½- to ¼-gal/min, depending on line pressure) were tightly controlled by a Hass Intellifaucet K250. These performance levels are within the K250 design envelope. And staying within that envelope, the wash process does appear to be repeatable.

So I'm curious. What other behaviors of the Versalab unit might cause you to label it as "baloney?"

Ken

 

[Saganich]

I also used this for many years. I also had consistency issues with flow rates that would cause the occasional overflow. I didn't try shortening the the siphon but I did install a 1/2 inch valve on the bottom with hose that I used to help adjust the flow and was used to dump the entire contents in under a minute.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Ken to be honest with you I approach working in the darkroom to be enjoyable yet efficient. I never kept the Veralab long enough to make a particular dislike about which mechanism I didn't like. I thought it was cheap (which it was) and it went together clumsy.
all I can say is that when I go in to make prints I want the least hassle and the most bang for the buck. my Zone VI worked great for about 20 years(a water waster) but then I moved and bought an Eco-washer. I now own two and it is a great investment in time and water saved.
have a great day everyone!!
best,peter

 

[Tom Taylor]

I've never used archival washer before and that's why I don't print FB because I don't have the time or energy to keep refilling trays and I like Versalab washer considering the positive reviews I see here, I've a question though, any consideration when you wash 11x14 print in 16x20 washer? I want to invest in one washer only and although I don't print 16x20 now but I know that I'll later.

Thanks

Amellice,

One thing to consider: The 11x14 Versalab is an exact fit for my kitchen sink where the filter for the faucet easily unscrews and the Versalab water connector threads in. When finished, the washer drains in the sink and I only have to lift the empty washer out. It it were the 16x20 I'd have to put it in the bathtub and remove the shower head with a wrench. I have a 20x24 Gravity Works washer to handle 16x20 and 20x24 size prints.

The Versalab is a great washer.

Thomas

 

[amellice]

Amellice,

One thing to consider: The 11x14 Versalab is an exact fit for my kitchen sink where the filter for the faucet easily unscrews and the Versalab water connector threads in. When finished, the washer drains in the sink and I only have to lift the empty washer out. It it were the 16x20 I'd have to put it in the bathtub and remove the shower head with a wrench. I have a 20x24 Gravity Works washer to handle 16x20 and 20x24 size prints.

The Versalab is a great washer.

Thomas

Thanks Tom, that's okay for me, I'd buy the 16x20 and put it beside the sink on the kitchen counter, that way I can connect the Versalab takein with the faucet and the drain back to the sink