Want to Buy WTB: RA4 Tabletop Processor

jabe · Feb 10, 2021

Still on the hunt for a tabletop processor for RA4. Anyone out there have something? Willing to travel for pick up or pay shipping to Los Angeles.

Open to any make and model such as Durst Printo, Durst RCP-20, Thermaphot, Ilford CAP-40 converted to RA4 or anything else out there.

Thanks!

DREW WILEY · Feb 10, 2021

I have a 20 inch Thermaphot (Beseler rebranded) in very nice shape in storage that I've never personally used, since I prefer drums. It did have modest use by a former owner. SF Bay area. Drew Wiley

jabe · Feb 11, 2021

DREW WILEY said:
I have a 20 inch Thermaphot (Beseler rebranded) in very nice shape in storage that I've never personally used, since I prefer drums. It did have modest use by a former owner. SF Bay area. Drew Wiley

Thanks for the response Drew! I am very interested, just had a couple questions.

Which model is it exactly? I believe it was the ACP 505 that prints up to 20"? Can you let me know the price?

DREW WILEY · Feb 11, 2021

I have never tested it myself. It belonged to a friend in Virginia who had quite a successful studio going, but did do some RA4 printing in his home basement, where I saw his setup in operation when I visited him there earlier. He had two of these, but really needed just one. Then a neighbor of his happened to be headed to Calif with a UHaul trailer, and put it in there, and I picked it up in Sacramento with my own pickup truck. It looks clean and everything is present, including a manual and a record of maintenance and parts ordered. But you'd still have to know how to set it up and maintain it yourself. It will take up to 20 inch wide paper, but one thing I did not have room to keep was a special wooden table he built allowing 20 inch paper to be carefully aimed at the intake slot, or slid at the same height right into it. There isn't much margin for error, so 20" paper has to be fed in a straight line so the rollers engage properly if you're planning on 20X24 or 20X30 prints. Smaller 16X20 prints are much easier to feed. Logistics : it wouldn't be practical or cost-effective for me to ship, and I can't drive it myself down there at the moment; so someone would have to pick it up here. Think about what is going to be practical for you. I'm retired, but for at least a few more weeks am miserable with shoulder bursitis, and can't lift anything heavy. The unit is under plastic to keep clean and can be taken out the door sideways on a simple handtruck (which I have) and easily lifted into a truck or van bed, preferably by two people to avoid damage risk. Price : I paid $1000 for it; but go ahead and make me an offer if you need to. Say, $800 ? I want it to have a good home where it's needed, but also need a little more wiggle room in that shop space it's stored in. Drew

jabe · Feb 11, 2021

Thanks for the info Drew. I have a van and can make the drive up there to pick it up, thats not a problem. I mainly print 11x14 and occasionally larger so its nice to have the options.

After doing further research it looks like the ACP 502 and 505 are capable to 20" wide prints. Do you know which model it is?

If its the 502, do you have the drying unit?
If its the 505, it appears they made 2 versions - one that takes a water supply and one that doesn't.

I could make my way up there as early as next week, but let me know about the above and we can go from there.

DREW WILEY · Feb 11, 2021

It's an ACP-505, the deluxe version. The manual states dry to dry (infrared dryer). The dryer uses most of the wattage, so you probably need a 230V like an electric clothes dryer or electric range uses. The controls are probably 115V. My arm is simply too messed up at the moment to handle the main unit and check the plug or all the protruding hoses, though I seem to remember a water supply inlet and outlet on the housing exterior like that shown in the manual. Feed width capacity is 20 inches. I have both the official Thermaphot manual and the personal binder of the former user, who has a lot of useful diagrams and photos of maintenance and repair details. He used Beseler chemistry back then; but Kodak RA/RT style kits from Freestyle in LA under Arista or Silverprint labels are what you'd want today. Don't install it in a hot place. Ventilation is needed not only for chem fumes, but to prevent the heater overheating the machine itself. Bring lots of padding with you and some big cardboard boxes. The innards are easily removable for routine cleaning; but this also makes them easy to remove for sake of lightening the machine for carrying, which we will be doing. The manual is very good with respect to setup and use instructions, and Thermaphot is the one brand still in production with new replacements parts available if needed down the line.

Weekdays work best for me because there will be one less car in the driveway to relocate. (Street parking is scarce due to remodeling activity across the street). I'm very close to the freeway, so easy to get to. I can move certain things out of the way in advance. once we settle on a specific date, but not the heavier machine itself. Personal e-mail : wileyphoto@yahoo.com.

I'm now omitting location details because this is still on public the forum. E-mail me.

jabe · Feb 12, 2021

Thank you Drew! I appreciate all the info. Give me a couple days to get back to you. I did a lot of research on this machine but missed the fact that the dryer needs 230V.
I need to see if I will be able to get that wiring done where I plan to keep the processor.
I'll get back to you ASAP.

jabe · Feb 13, 2021

Hi Drew,

I currently rent and spoke to my landlord about adding the proper electrical to my darkroom. I currently use a garage/shed that I converted over. Unfortunately he won't do it or allow me to have someone do it. Not sure why but can't argue with him i guess. Its really unfortunate as I want to buy this machine.

I will be moving in a couple months, if I don't end up finding something that takes 110v in the meantime, I will reach back out and hopefully I'll land somewhere that has the proper electrical for this as I really want to have dry to dry printing.

Jack

ChristopherCoy · Feb 13, 2021

jabe said:
Hi Drew,

I currently rent and spoke to my landlord about adding the proper electrical to my darkroom. I currently use a garage/shed that I converted over. Unfortunately he won't do it or allow me to have someone do it. Not sure why but can't argue with him i guess. Its really unfortunate as I want to buy this machine.

I will be moving in a couple months, if I don't end up finding something that takes 110v in the meantime, I will reach back out and hopefully I'll land somewhere that has the proper electrical for this as I really want to have dry to dry printing.

Jack

Do you have a washer and dryer? Dryers usually use 220v, perhaps you can plug it in there without any modifications to existing wiring?

jabe · Feb 13, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Do you have a washer and dryer? Dryers usually use 220v, perhaps you can plug it in there without any modifications to existing wiring?

I thought about this but the washer/dryer is located on a different part of the property and would need a new lead ran to the garage which my landlord will not accommodate. Quite frustrating.

Lazar92 · Jun 9, 2021

Hello Drew,
I have ACP 505 as well but I don;t have one crucial part to make it work. Could you please measure this rack for me? I need it to place pump in proper position in the machine. Let me know please so I will write you which dimensions I need. Thank you very much

damnfr · Dec 29, 2021

DREW WILEY said:
I have never tested it myself. It belonged to a friend in Virginia who had quite a successful studio going, but did do some RA4 printing in his home basement, where I saw his setup in operation when I visited him there earlier. He had two of these, but really needed just one. Then a neighbor of his happened to be headed to Calif with a UHaul trailer, and put it in there, and I picked it up in Sacramento with my own pickup truck. It looks clean and everything is present, including a manual and a record of maintenance and parts ordered. But you'd still have to know how to set it up and maintain it yourself. It will take up to 20 inch wide paper, but one thing I did not have room to keep was a special wooden table he built allowing 20 inch paper to be carefully aimed at the intake slot, or slid at the same height right into it. There isn't much margin for error, so 20" paper has to be fed in a straight line so the rollers engage properly if you're planning on 20X24 or 20X30 prints. Smaller 16X20 prints are much easier to feed. Logistics : it wouldn't be practical or cost-effective for me to ship, and I can't drive it myself down there at the moment; so someone would have to pick it up here. Think about what is going to be practical for you. I'm retired, but for at least a few more weeks am miserable with shoulder bursitis, and can't lift anything heavy. The unit is under plastic to keep clean and can be taken out the door sideways on a simple handtruck (which I have) and easily lifted into a truck or van bed, preferably by two people to avoid damage risk. Price : I paid $1000 for it; but go ahead and make me an offer if you need to. Say, $800 ? I want it to have a good home where it's needed, but also need a little more wiggle room in that shop space it's stored in. Drew

Hi Drew is this still available?

DREW WILEY · Dec 29, 2021

Sorry, someone already bought it and picked it up.

Want to Buy WTB: RA4 Tabletop Processor

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