I got my beseler 23C for about 100 bucks shipped. A new 16x20 easel costs about 300 bucks, a used one half that. What gives? How can I get an enlarger for roughly half of what a piece of metal with rule marks on it? Someone explain this please.
They are much cheaper used. Dirt cheap, in fact, if not free. I wouldn't buy one new unless I was making my living selling the prints I made on it.
They are much cheaper used. Dirt cheap, in fact, if not free. I wouldn't buy one new unless I was making my living selling the prints I made on it.
show me where they are free haha. Every single one on ebay and craigslist ive seen has been $100+
show me where they are free haha. Every single one on ebay and craigslist ive seen has been $100+
$100 is not a bad asking price for a 16x20 high-quality four-bladed easel in good shape. (They are, after all, over $300 when new!) Also, an asking price is just that: an asking price.
My 11x14 four-bladed easel and my 11x14 two-bladed easel were both free, via Craigslist, and neither of them were advertised for free (and one of them was not advertised at all). They turn up. Be patient. Keep your eyes peeled.
In the meantime, double sided tape and/or weighted matboard works with fiber paper, and RC paper doesn't need an easel.
Id love to make one myself. What can I use to get sharp borders?
If only all photo gear opportunities had the convenience of good timing! Guaranteed, within 24 hours of spending 150 bones on an easel, your neighbor will come over with a never-used 16X20 that was in the attic when he moved in, and he wants to know if you have any idea what it is for . . .maybe some sorta camera thing? Here, you want it?
Years ago, in order to make big enlargements with my Durst, I rotated the head 90 deg and projected on the wall.
In order to hold my paper, I made an easel consisting of 1/4" masonite as a
base, rimmed with 1/2" 1/4-round (round side to the outside. I then filled
the easel with heated hectograph fluid. It turns into a tacky gel when cool
and holds down paper very flat. The gel can be pulled out occasionally
(couple of times a year,) heated, strained to get out lint, paper dust,
etc, and poured right back in.
This was a very good solution for me as it was easy it worked beautifully.
Hectograph fluid is no longer available but if you Google hectograph, many
"home made" recipes will show up.
Gelatin
From a reasonably good grocers' shop or supermarket (look in the baking section)
Water
From the tap is just fine...
Sugar
Just your average White Death
Glycerol
AKA Glycerine. From a Pharmacist, Drugstore, or Friendly Chemist.
Preparing the 'bed'
[This recipe uses gelatin, which can be produced from non-animal sources, but which usually isn't. Somewhere we have an equivalent recipe that uses carrageenin gel or agar agar, but you will have to work these ones out for yourself by trial and error, as we're not so practised with these ones]
In a large saucepan dissolve 100g gelatin in 375ml water then begin to warm it gently while adding 385g of sugar. When it has dissolved, add 715g glycerol and slowly bring the mixture to the boil. Stir gently for one minute while boiling to avert the wrath of the Foam Ghods.
Remove the mixture from the heat and pour it slowly into your tray (care! this mixture boils at a higher temperature than water -- for the purposes of rug rats and house apes, treat it as molten fat).
Make sure that the tray is on a flat surface where it can be left for a few hours until the gel sets.
While the gel is cooling, the Foam Ghods can be further appeased by using tissue paper to remove bubbles, foam and 'bits' from the surface.
show me where they are free haha. Every single one on ebay and craigslist ive seen has been $100+
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