I'm desperately in need of a processor to round out my workflow. Ideally tabletop, but anything that will fit in my studio will do. Shipping isn't an issue - I'm willing to travel if need be.
Want to Buy WTB: Color Print Processor
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I've two Paterson colour print drums for sale if you fancy a trip to the UK 
See if you can find a Nova slot processor, they are brilliant, it's what many of us use.
Ian
See if you can find a Nova slot processor, they are brilliant, it's what many of us use.
Ian
There's a Fujimoto CP-51 20" on eBay if money is no object. I'm happy with my CP-32 14" that I got on the cheap, but they don't come along often. Ironically I turned down a complete CP-51 with W/D unit two years ago for $100 as long as I could arrange interstate shipping - biggest mistake/pass-up I ever made!
The Nova is a good alternative.
I've seen that one! Definitely way outside of what I'm able to spend right now unfortunately. A CP-31/32 seems like the perfect setup. I've considered the nova - but I feel like I may as well do it with trays or drums as I already have, as the nova isn't a daylight processor.
Shipping from Europe OK?
Fine with me so long as I can afford it! What do you have?
How many prints a day do you want to make? Do you want a unit that operates in daylight? There's no technical support for roller transport processors today. 8x10 prints can be placed in film hangers and developed in deep tanks. But this requires quite an investment. I have used Jobo 3005 film tanks to process color / black and white prints.
If you can work in the dark the old Kodak Rapid color processor works great. But these require a steep learning curve. I still use mine model 11 and model 16k . You can turn out a print every 3 to 5 minutes.
This was cutting edge technology in 1964. Perfectly repeatable 1 shot, absolutely repeatable temperature and agitation. Work in TOTAL DARKNESS
If you can work in the dark the old Kodak Rapid color processor works great. But these require a steep learning curve. I still use mine model 11 and model 16k . You can turn out a print every 3 to 5 minutes.
This was cutting edge technology in 1964. Perfectly repeatable 1 shot, absolutely repeatable temperature and agitation. Work in TOTAL DARKNESS
PS the Kodak processors are like learning to load SS reels, maybe more so. But once you conquer it you can count yourself in a very exclusive club. The alternative is to buy a half dozen Beseler or Unicolor tubes. These work great for RA4, must be DRY to use
PPS, the video is from 2015. These things are a bit like running a steam engine. 
I love playing around with mine.
I love playing around with mine.
I'm still in the steep learning phase of RA-4 and use tubes (ilfachrome/Cibachrome). They work well with two exceptions: drying between runs. I can get by with three tubes for given prints I'm working on. Probably 1/2 dozen would be better, but they are not so common on ebay. Also, I've been having some trouble with bleach staining on the edges of my prints. Incomplete cleaning of the end caps?
As I haven't found any 16x20 tubes, I bought a Heath canoe. It worked great, though it isn't practical when needing to pour out used developer in the dark. I would HATE to maintain an automated print processor, but then I'm not cranking out prints on a daily basis.
MattKing
Moderator
Four sets of Cibachrome tubes work s well - I rinse and disassemble the caps each time and air dry them.
I've been using tubes/drums (though I've never dried them between uses, and have never ran into any issues because of that). My main issue with the drums however, is that they all leak. All of them. I have no clue how, even the new looking ones! I have almost 10 at this point, some unicolor, some Cibrachrome, some Beseler (?). They all leak out of one side or the other on the motor base. I'm just tired of it - I would really like to invest in a processor that I can simply put paper through. I have a friend who has a Fujimoto CP31 that is exactly what I want, however he's moving in January. My lab has a nice Colex, but $18/hour for a color darkroom isn't that practical for me ll the time.
I would really just like to be able to process paper in daylight, and not have blix spewing all over my workspace.
Sounds like a great goal!
BTW, if you have an interest in selling your Cibachrome tubes, please PM me, I might be interested, especially if you have larger sizes.
The tubes work great. At one time I had more than a dozen 8x10 and 11 X14 Ilford tubes, Doran/Premier tubes were identical, Adorama had Doran under their name as well. I would crank out Cibachrome prints, saved and replenished the chemistry as it was expensive.
I have the Jobo curse now, I picked that stuff up when it was cheap. Still use the Kodak processors for RA4. You do the wash last thing on the machine, so it's ready to go, no drying tubes. Just pre-wet the print in a tray of water, turn on the spinning drum, with water in the tray. Then slap the print on with the net, dump the water, add developer and away you go. No pre heating chemistry as the second it hits that massive drum with 40 plus pounds of tempered water inside it's at temperature. Originally designed to process fiber base color paper, that's been gone since the early 70's.
I use Thomas safelights with the DUC color filter, after your eyes adjust, takes 10 minutes, you can see well enough to negotiate simple tasks. The Kodak #13 filters are pretty much worthless and will fog paper given the chance.
It's always that way ... never quite there!
The good news is that I'm so slow evaluating prints that three is enough, which is good because tubes are pretty hard to find. That thing is crazy! I'm either cursed or more likely blessed by not having enough room for that or any other processor!
Count yourself lucky!!It's always that way ... never quite there!
That thing is crazy! I'm either cursed or more likely blessed by not having enough room for that or any other processor!
MattKing
Moderator
The reason that four works, is because that gives enough time for the air drying.It's always that way ... never quite there!
So if you have three, add a hair dryer and a few seconds of use after each rinse, and you may still be there.
I got you Matt. I'll remember the hair dryer when I get faster. By the time I look a the image, consider the color balance, scratch my head, walk around, use my Kodak flip cards some more, repeat, etc. the first set of tube/ends is dry.
Not sure how large you hope to print but it looks like Dunning Photo Equipment has both a rebuilt 16" and a 20" Kreonite RA4 processor for sale on their website right now. I could measure mine if you need exact measurements but I want to say my 16" is maybe 30" wide, 24" tall and 42" (maybe a little longer) long - pretty compact.
Great machines. Easy to work on, simple to understand, parts available. The folks at Dunning are very helpful over the phone - honest, with tons of new and used parts on hand. If I were looking for another processor I would certainly check with them.
Great machines. Easy to work on, simple to understand, parts available. The folks at Dunning are very helpful over the phone - honest, with tons of new and used parts on hand. If I were looking for another processor I would certainly check with them.
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