jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Whatever you use to hold the enlarger -- cart, whatever -- I'd suggest you not buy it until you know the size of the enlarger's baseboard.
Sturdiness isn't actually a super-big issue with modern enlarging equipment, because you'll be turning the enlarger on and off via an external timer. As long as you wait long enough for the vibrations to die down from paper insertion, focusing, etc., the actual operation of exposure isn't going to introduce any more vibration and you won't have to worry about it. Also, the sturdier your enlarger, the less vibration is a problem: the only thing that can affect sharpness is movement of the head relative to the baseboard, so if the thing is really rigid, you could set it on top of a RUNNING washing machine without any effect. (It's hard to find an enlarger that's actually THAT rigid, but I do know from USAF acquaintances that it's possible to make good enlargements on a jet in flight.)
For chemistry, I like Ethol LPD liquid. The great advantage of this for the occasional printer is that it comes as a liquid concentrate (so you don't have to mix and store stock solutions that can oxidize). It also lasts a long time in a tray or slot processor and can be used at varying dilutions.
Stephanie, I'm sending you a brief PM on some other stuff that might be specific to your situation.
Sturdiness isn't actually a super-big issue with modern enlarging equipment, because you'll be turning the enlarger on and off via an external timer. As long as you wait long enough for the vibrations to die down from paper insertion, focusing, etc., the actual operation of exposure isn't going to introduce any more vibration and you won't have to worry about it. Also, the sturdier your enlarger, the less vibration is a problem: the only thing that can affect sharpness is movement of the head relative to the baseboard, so if the thing is really rigid, you could set it on top of a RUNNING washing machine without any effect. (It's hard to find an enlarger that's actually THAT rigid, but I do know from USAF acquaintances that it's possible to make good enlargements on a jet in flight.)
For chemistry, I like Ethol LPD liquid. The great advantage of this for the occasional printer is that it comes as a liquid concentrate (so you don't have to mix and store stock solutions that can oxidize). It also lasts a long time in a tray or slot processor and can be used at varying dilutions.
Stephanie, I'm sending you a brief PM on some other stuff that might be specific to your situation.
