Kaiser 60 - DIY repair...

[varchs]

Hello there!
I am very excited as a friend of mine just gave me as a gift his KEISER 60!
This enlarger is capable of projecting from 35mm to 6x6 negatives.
However, it had an accident while he moved to a new working place, and there are some parts broken...
I would like to ask you some questions...
a. As its lamp is broken, is it necessary to use the Opal lamp? or it is ok to work with whatever white lamp of the same watts?
b. One of the condenser's glasses is broken as well... :-(
I have contacted Kaiser and they do not support it anymore as the machine is 30yo...
I am thinking of getting one of the newest condenser glasses and trim it at an optics lab in order to fit to the mount (the old glass is 9.2cm and the contemporary spare part is almost 10cm in diameter), it seems that there is no problem in theory...

there are also some plates dented... but I have already managed to repair them somehow...

So this is it, I just wanted to share my enthusiasm with the rest of the RFF fellows!
;-)

 

[JRminox]

I would try to find one in a surplus house like Surplusshed www.surplusshed.com or http://www.bmius.com/c-80-lenses.aspx or a new one at Edmunds Optics www.edmundoptics.com/‎

 

[varchs]

I will research on these we sites! thank you!
But as my local optic has a CNC machine which is linked to a scanner,
we are able to scan the above pictured glass and then CNC trim 4mm around the new glass...
It seems that it works as the total height of the new condenser assembly is 5cm as is in mine...
I hope I will be ready for the winter decisive challenge... ;-)

 

[sevo]

At the going rate of enlargers, I would not bother - getting hold of matching parts or having them made will cost you magnitudes more than another (even better) enlarger.

 

[varchs]

This is most probably true!!! ;-)

 

[ath]

varchs, a Kaiser 60 was my first enlarger. It's quite limited and I suggest to get a better enlarger like the newer Kaiser (System V) or newer Dunco / Durst. Try to get a package where everything is included. If you need something later best case it's expensive worst case no longer available.

I like the 6x7 LPL's. Today they go unter the Jobo label in Europe but before that they were available as Kindermann 707 color.
You can use the color filtering for bw contrast control.

Spare parts are available (Jobo) but expensive.

 

[varchs]

It feels to me the same, but after some research,
I have found the condenser lens (10cm) for about 40€
"and my optic offered to trim them in his CNC for a box of pastries ;-) "
a opal lamp for about 10€
...and the Kaiser60 is up and running...
and a red lamp for 12€

more or less 100€ with the chemicals in order to be able to print during christmas days!

However, you all seem right that a newer system offers more, and they are getting cheaper and cheaper...
...for example there is no timer on the Kaiser... I have to use a watch and switch on/off manually...
How much do you suggest to invest in an affordable enlarger???
Is there any other place to search for used enlargers except evilbay???

 

[ath]

I bought my Kindermann 707 color for 56€ - pickup only in Germany.

What I found limiting about the Kaiser 60 was:
- negative holders (do you have all you need?)
- filter drawer for contrast control
- height adjustmant is inconvenient and hard
- max. print size is rather small

And don't focus under the red light of the built-in red filter - focus will be off!

Personally I would not invest 100€ in that enlarger.

 

[varchs]

Oh!!! This is such a bargain...!
...p.m. sent...

 

[varchs]

It is official!!!
Sevo and Ath persuaded me to look for a newer enlarger!!!
My RFF want to buy ad

 

[varchs]

Hello RFF friend again!
I have done some research in the -bay and I am in a trouble...
Most of the auctions or sales requires a pickup... :-(
Sellers are afraid of damaging during shipping... :-(

 

[varchs]

Finally after a lot of research... there is no convenient option for me...
I have managed to restore the head and at the moment a friend of mine is arranging the pole's details...
So far I have spent 40 euros... But the enlarger has new condenser 's lenses and new lamp...
It seems that I am quite close!
I'll post images ASAP it is ready and functional!

 

[varchs]

My darkroom is set!
Tomorrow is the big day! I will print after almost 10 years...
I got some 20x25cm glossy papers and ilford multicontrast developer...
I have studied the ilford PDF about printing my first b&w...
So I am going with a #2 filter and we will see...
The only thing I am still missing is an automatic timer, but I will try to manage time with the switch... :-(


I invited my wife to have a valentine's print night at the darkroom.

I will post images of the prints!

 

[varchs]

My darkroom is finally up and running...
Some issues so far...:
A. The film carrier even if it is very versatile it is not at all convenient...
B. I did not place the frame centered and I have some fall off at the left of all my images... I should have fixed that...
C. So far there is no way to expose the edge frames of each 6 frames row... But I have already some ideas on fixing this issue...and also the A. Issue.

In general it was a great valentine's night printing with my wife and having a glass of wine.
I can wait till tomorrow to examine the prints on daylight and dry...
🙂


Darkroom Valentine's Night by vp_varchs, on Flickr

 

[varchs]

My first prints

My first prints

you can see the fall off from the wrong negative placement... :-(
...please make your comments...

Study01

M+F

Study02