Newbie Q about Fortespeed, among other things

[batterytypehah!]

I recently lucked into a couple of free enlargers (full story: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111353) and I'm beginning to get my act together to start printing. My wife will be away for a couple of weeks and that will be a perfect time to set up a darkroom in our only bathroom.

I think I have a reasonable idea of the process; I'm mostly going by Horenstein's "Black and White Photography" (2nd ed. is all my town library had), but of course it's obsolete as far as availability of materials is concerned.

As I mentioned in the other thread, this whole thing has to happen on a shoestring. Timing by ticking clock (or my wife's metronome if you guys won't tell her 😉), flashlight with a red lens for a safelight, etc.

So, I'm shopping for cheap papers and came across Fortespeed from Freestyle. RC, grade 3, glossy, 18x24cm, 50 sheets @ $11.95. Both enlargers came without filters, anyway, so single grade would be OK with me for now. The size is less than ideal, but cut in half it's close enough to 5x7 to work with my simple 4-in-1 easel. I'd have to improvise an easel for using a full sheet. I also realize it's not a good fit for contact printing a whole roll.

Anything else fundamental that I'm overlooking? Anybody have experience with this stuff? Recommended (cheap) developer?

Current runner-up is Ultrafine's Elite VC at $16 for 100 sheets of 5x7. Price difference is marginal but I'd be locked into 5x7 only. Comes in 8x10 but only as 25 or 100 sheet boxes.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Oh, and so y'all don't have to look this up in the other thread, the available enlargers are a Beseler 23C (currently not functional, needs a new lamp socket) and a Lentar L35. The latter is a compact, condenser type unit that looks a lot like a Fujimoto/Lucky. Not expecting too much from its equally no-name lens, but 5x7 from a 35mm neg should be easy enough. In fact the easel still had a decades-old color print in it that is nice and sharp, though I can't be sure it was done on this set-up.

 

[Roger Hicks]

You may be making life difficult by using a single slightly hard grade of paper from a defunct manufacturer. Under-lens filter holders ain't difficult and fresh VC paper is likely to make printing MUCH easier. Go for the Elite VC.

Cheers,

R.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Thanks, Roger! Makes sense.

Just giving this a bump to see if anybody comes to Fortespeed's defense.

Also, while I'm at it, what's better suited for color negatives? I suppose the orange mask works very roughly like a #2 filter on VC paper? (Before anybody asks, no, I don't print digitally at all. Don't even have an inkjet printer.)