Zone VI Archival Print Washer 16"x20" - need plans / photos

Hi everyone, I'd like to acquire a 16x20 Zone VI print washer but I live in Australia. They occasionally come up on ebay but many sellers won't ship to Australia and when they do, the shipping cost alone is likely to be US$400+. So US$700-$800 or more all in to Australia, which is a lot for a second hand washer. I therefore thought I might as well get one made here.

I'm just not sure about the design... I've never owned one so can't get my head around it. I've reviewed numerous photos online. There appear to be two vertical chambers, one at either end of the main washing chamber. The input flow seems to come in through the top of one of these. I think there are a series of holes in this chamber which allow the water to flow into the main chamber… just not sure where these are exactly, or how water gets into the outflow chamber.

Any drawings, measurements, or videos of one of these washers filling / in operation / emptying would be much appreciated!

Thank you so much!

The Zone VI is not as good a design as Fred Picker's sales copy would have you believe.

The Nova washers are more effective, and had input from Ilford in their design. The reality is that once you have enough agitation to get a good wash, the claims about fixer sinking become nonsense.

In essence, the washer is not that complicated, the best dividers are effectively prismatic diffusion material, and you need an input manifold that is effectively a box with the main inlet at one end and a small hole drilled to feed water into the bottom of each 'cell' defined by the dividers. At the top, you have one internal end wall a little lower and the water overflows/ waterfalls into an outlet channel and down the drain without mixing into other cells. 'In sink' washers don't have the containment area and just overflow directly into a sink. That's about the extent of it. Most of the complexity involves making something that can withstand 70+kg of water.

I had a Summitek 16x20 washer sent to me in Australia maybe 20 years ago and, yes, I can confirm that it's an expensive exercise. Then I had a new set of dividers made in a textured surface made up because the smooth ones were awkward. If you would like details of the unit I can measure and photograph it for you.

Lachlan Young said:

The Zone VI is not as good a design as Fred Picker's sales copy would have you believe.

The Nova washers are more effective, and had input from Ilford in their design. The reality is that once you have enough agitation to get a good wash, the claims about fixer sinking become nonsense.

In essence, the washer is not that complicated, the best dividers are effectively prismatic diffusion material, and you need an input manifold that is effectively a box with the main inlet at one end and a small hole drilled to feed water into the bottom of each 'cell' defined by the dividers. At the top, you have one internal end wall a little lower and the water overflows/ waterfalls into an outlet channel and down the drain without mixing into other cells. 'In sink' washers don't have the containment area and just overflow directly into a sink. That's about the extent of it. Most of the complexity involves making something that can withstand 70+kg of water.

Click to expand...

another vote for the Nova∑asher. theyare a simple but effective design based on Ilford's diffusion was method. a look at a good picture of them should give you sufficient info to copy the design.