Vivitar VI enlarger fabricate neg carrier?

hammy · Dec 28, 2006

Hello.

I have a Vivitar VI enlarger. First off: Does Anyone have any info on this enlarger? It's sitting in storage right now but I'm setting my darkroom back up again. I've used it a few times for 35mm and it was really great and easy to work with.

According to this the enlarger can do 6x6. But I only have a 35mm carrier. Can I just fabricate a carrier out of some stiff cardboard or something? Or even cut up my metal 35mm carrier ? Drastic, I know. But the carriers are impossible to find.

Konical · Dec 29, 2006

Good Morning, Hammy,

I don't know the particular configuration of carriers for the Vivitar enlarger, but, if they're just flat pieces of metal, you can probably substitute just about anything sturdy enough to hold the negatives flat. Cardboard works in a pinch; tempered Masonite is a more permanent solution and can be drilled and cut with common wood-working tools.

Konical

hammy · Dec 29, 2006

Thanks Konical.

The carrier really just is two hinged pieces of metal that slide in the carrier slot. I might need to use something heavier than cardboard though.
Is there any reason not to use glass over the cardboard carrier to hold the 120 negative down flat?

bdial · Dec 29, 2006

If you really want to go the cardboard route, foam core or double weight mat board would probably be better than corregated. You can still cut either without anything more than an xacto or a razor knife.
If you have some woodworking tools, or know someone that has some, then Masonite, or phenolic board would be better still. Aluminum would be best, but is somewhat more difficult to obtain, and form.

One reason to avoid glass, is that it is at least two additional surfaces that need to be clean, not to mention newton rings.

Konical · Dec 29, 2006

Good Evening,

I agree that glass just adds complications. I have no trouble keeping negatives flat in standard glassless carriers.

Konical

srs5694 · Dec 29, 2006

FWIW, I recently fabricated a pair of negative carrier inserts for a Philips PCS130 enlarger using several layers of discarded photo paper (from color test prints). I used six layers for both top and bottom, glued together in a tiered arrangement to get the appropriate thickness to work with the Philips negative carrier. Three pieces were sized to fit the opening in the negative carrier with a large hole in the center and three smaller pieces had a hole to fit the 126 negative format I wanted to print. The result works reasonably well, although not as well as my original-equipment metal 35mm inserts. For my purpose (reprinting old family photos, mostly to 4x4-inch size), I'm happy with my jury-rigged solution.

That said, I don't know anything about the Vivitar VI enlarger or its negative carrier. My solution might not work for it, particularly if you need to fabricate an entire negative carrier and not just inserts for a specific film format.

hammy · Dec 30, 2006

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm going to see what I can fabricate up.

Thanks again.

Ben Hopson · Dec 30, 2006

I have a Vivitar VI that I bought new in the 70's and it did come with a 6X6 film carrier. All the carriers for mine, the condenser model, are made of hinged plastic. If you have the 35mm carrier you can model the 6X6 after it as they are almost identical in design except for film size. The carriers have a raised circular area on the outside to position them in the enlarger housing.

Ben

raucousimages · Dec 30, 2006

Keep checking ebay, parts for the VI come up now and then and damaged or partial enlargers with holders can be had cheep.

troym · Jul 27, 2007

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to add this note for future reference.

I have a Vivitar VI enlarger and did a fair bit of research before buying it. I found some sources (don't remember where) claiming that negative carriers for the Saunders/LPL 6700 series enlargers will also fit the Vivitar VI.

I've been able to find Vivitar VI carriers on that certain auction site that shall remain nameless, so I haven't confirmed whether this information is accurate. But it's worth a try, since the Saunders negative carriers are usually easier to come by.

srs5694 · Jul 27, 2007

troym said:
I've been able to find Vivitar VI carriers on that certain auction site that shall remain nameless,

I'm not trying to pick on you specifically, but I've seen this before -- why must eBay (presumably you do mean eBay) remain nameless? We're not talking about Lord Voldemort here!

troym · Jul 27, 2007

srs5694 said:
We're not talking about Lord Voldemort here!

Well, Voldermort is a fictional villain, so he can't harm me. *B*y, on the other hand, is all too real . . . .

srs5694 · Jul 27, 2007

troym said:
Well, Voldermort is a fictional villain, so he can't harm me. *B*y, on the other hand, is all too real . . . .

Yeah, but I have yet to hear a story of eBay suing somebody, sending mafia goons after them, or otherwise causing them harm because they used the word "eBay" in a forum post. To quote another fictional character (whose author may have been quoting somebody real), "if you cannot say what you mean, you can never mean what you say." So, in all seriousness, why obfuscate matters by referring to "that certain auction site that shall remain nameless"?

troym · Jul 28, 2007

So much for my attempt at light humor.

sakisser · Nov 28, 2018

troym said:
...
I have a Vivitar VI enlarger and did a fair bit of research before buying it. I found some sources (don't remember where) claiming that negative carriers for the Saunders/LPL 6700 series enlargers will also fit the Vivitar VI.
...

Could you confirm (even if after all these years) whether the Saunders/LPL 6700 series negative carriers are suitable for a Vivitar VI? I'm considering buying one right now!

M Carter · Nov 28, 2018

As others have said, a 35mm carrier can be a template for a 6x6 in most enlargers. You could also haunt a 3D printing forum and get someone to make you a sketchup model for one - I made a glass carrier for a Beseler 67 and figured out Sketchup and had a part made for $15. Kinda felt like I was in the future...

Vivitar VI enlarger fabricate neg carrier?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency