Your thoughts on Nova monochrome and ecowash system?

[Puma]

I'm looking to make a new darkroom and I want it to be minimalist and elegant so as to not take up an large area so I'm considering the Nova monochrome and ecowash system to tidy things up.

Is this system as easy and hassle free as it looks?

Messy?

Should I buy extra clips? (Largest I do is 11x14 b&w fiber prints).

What can I expect to pay for shipping and taxes to deliver it to middle America (USA)?

 

[Alan9940]

The Nova Monochrome certainly is a tidy, compact unit that, once loaded with chemistry, is ready to go when you are. My only real issue with it is that the temp of the chemistry is whatever the ambient temp of the room. Not so good during most of the year here in the desert Southwest.

 

[Puma]

The Nova Monochrome certainly is a tidy, compact unit that, once loaded with chemistry, is ready to go when you are. My only real issue with it is that the temp of the chemistry is whatever the ambient temp of the room. Not so good during most of the year here in the desert Southwest.

Thanks for your reply. My darkroom is air conditioned and faces East so that helps a little. I used to have a teeny tiny little darkroom/bathroom setup in an apartment. I covered the door opening with thick black plastic. Basically the safelight and my body heat turned it into an oven. I kinda know how you feel.

 

[dante]

It's a better product for 8x10 RC than in the larger size or for fiber. The problem with fiber is that you almost continuously have to agitate it to prevent the honeycomb pattern from manifesting itself on your paper. Might be minimalist but not relaxing. I would definitely recommend having at least 3 clips. Delivered to the US from the UK, I think it's around $320 total.

 

[charlemagne]

I think the Nova processors are wonderful. Less bad gasses flying around and more economic use of chemistry. It also takes up very little space and is not messy at all. It is quite heavy once you've filled it up.

I have been printing fb paper in a 12x16" heated three-slot Nova without problems. I don't have to switch on the heater in the summer, because then the ambient temperature is adequate.
In the developer slot I only agitate 2/3/4 times per minute, but I have never experienced a honeycomb pattern.
I use one clip for 8x10", two clips for 12x16" prints.

So if you have little space I think it is really worth the money.

No experience with the ecowash, but I am looking into it (I also have to consider wash aid and toning). You might want to do a quick rinse between fixer and ecowash, don't you think?

 

[Sim2]

Hi there, if I can chime in with my experience of the Ecowash – I have one and have used it for a number of years, with one caveat.
It is well made though a heavy item, even without water and mine show no signs of fatigue i.e. the walls haven't bowed outwards due to the water weight/pressure nor any leaks developed in the 'cemented' joints. Mine is outside the dark area of the darkroom and during the English 'summer' the removable plastic inserts would expand bow due to the direct sunlight – to the extent that they would not be moveable at all! Solved by shielding the unit from direct sunlight. The smaller sixth slot is good for a seperate quick wash or for hca prior to transfering to the main unit. The 'quick dump' facility is great for emptying the unit quickly to refresh the rinse water.
My one caveat though involves the 'quick dump' facility – the dagger blade that is raised to enable the quick dump doesn't seem to make a watertight seal within the unit when lowered, at least in my unit. Water will continually escape from the unit by this route, no mess as it escapes via the unit's drainage system but it still escapes! Fill the unit up, close the inlet valves and the unit will slowly empty itself by this route. So a 'soak' in a full unit without water being added is a shortlived affair. *other units may differ in this regard!*

 

[bdial]

I use a 12x16 Nova quad. The Nova processors are ideal for a minimalist space. As stated, it minimizes your space and chemistry use. It's also very quick to set up, take the floating lids off and you're ready to print.
I've only seen the waffle pattern if you don't agitate the print at all, otherwise if you agitate, especially in the first 30 - 45 seconds you're fine.
Extra clips are nice to have, extras help if you want to start a new print while the current one is finishing up. It's also helpful to support large fiber prints with two instead of just one.

Take a look at how Roger & Frances Hicks mounted a Nova into the counter in their darkroom, this is something I've considered doing with mine to make lifting and agitating the print more convenient. There is a pic and discussion near the bottom of this page;
http://rogerandfrances.com/darkroom.html

 

[tezzasmall]

I'm considering the Nova monochrome...'

Is this system as easy and hassle free as it looks?

Messy?

Should I buy extra clips? (Largest I do is 11x14 b&w fiber prints).

+ 1 for the Nova units. But unless your darkroom is a steady 20C / 68F all the time you want to print, I would look at spending a little more on a unit with thermostats built in. I've used my 12 x 16 for years now and the temperature control really comes in useful in the darker, colder months, as my darkroom is unheated in an outbuilding at the end of the garden.

Easy and hassle free? = Just about. I can't think of any problems when compared to trays. I, like others could list a lot of positives for getting one though, but for me especially is the 'just turn on, warm up and work' ability of it. And chemicals can last for months rather than 2 days most compared to trays. But for me it is the ability to leave it set up and then able to do 10 minutes to 10 hours work with it, as and when once the chemicals are the right temperature.

As for extra clips, well some will say you only need one or two, as all that needs to be done is to dunk wash and then shake them dry, which is probably okay if you've got water plumbed in as well. Well, I haven't, so I have bought a few more clips secondhand off of ebay over the years, which in turn enables me to spend a while in the darkroom before retreating to the house sporadically.

But all in all, a great idea and product although a bit expensive purchase, but well worth it in the end.

Terry S

 

[spijker]

Another +1 for the heated Nova 16x12 Quad. Well worth the money. I got one from an ebay seller in the US so shipping wasn't too expensive. I turn the heater on about an hour before I expect to get started. No waffle patterns for me. I cover the unit with cling foil after use to reduce oxidization and smell. It works well with both RC and FB paper.

I recently purchased the older model of the 5-slot 16x12 washer, without the quick dump feature, from ebay UK. Shipping cost was very reasonable. The washer works well although I'm looking into replacing the dividers by acrylic sheets that are textured on both sides and a bit higher so that they're flush with the outer wall.

Menno