what to look for when buying used enlarger?

[goforbokeh]

I have an opportunity to buy a used Omega D2 enlarger for $60.

It is the baseboard, column, variable condensing head and some lens that doesn't attach to the bellows.

What should I look for during my appointment time to inspect the enlarger?

I have never owned an enlarger but I want to setup a bw print darkroom for 11x14 fiber paper.

I shoot a little 4x5, a lot of 6x7 (especially now that I am switching to 6x7 from 35mm), but mostly 35mm.

And it's only bw. Tri-X in 120 and 35mm. Ilford HP4 for 4x5.

Any guidance on how to inspect an enlarger is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[sepiareverb]

It should feel sturdy, cams should run smoothly for focus, replaceable (?- unsure on omegas but some cost there), gears for raising and lowering the head should run smoothly. I'd avoid rust unless it seems minor, as rust will wreak havoc should you get into any toning of the prints. Don't rule a paint job out as a fix for this, but offer accordingly.

 

[mbisc]

Omega D2s are built like tanks -- if the enlarger seems fine, grab it for $60. You will probably need to keep an eye out on FleaBay for supplies (negative holders, lens holders etc.), but if you are patient you can get that pretty cheaply.

 

[pesphoto]

I have a D2 and love it. $60 is a good price for one. check the bellows. The older ones can kinda crumble and develop pinholes. Tiny tiny ones wont really do any harm, but something to look for. If you can, bring a small flashlight with you and shine it thru from the inside and look for holes. THough you can get replacement ones if need be.
HEre is a cool OMega enlarger site with a forum as well. THe owner of the site is very knowledgable and sells replacement parts as well as whole enlargers.

http://www.classic-enlargers.com/

 

[JTK]

If it doesn't come with 35mm and 120 condenser sets, or isn't the variable condenser version (D2V), you may run into a lot of delay and expense setting it up for 35 or 120. The basic D2 (without the "V") is a 4X5 enlarger that, with those accessories, becomes a superb 35 and 120 enlarger. If you have to buy those accessories it might take a long time and cost a lot more.

 

[goforbokeh]

wow! thank you all for replying so quickly with so much guidance.
ii'll bring a flashlight to check the bellows for sure.

hopefully the enlarger has the three-lens turret mount i've been reading about to print 4x5, 6x7 and 35mm.

Jay Abend wrote about the Omega D2 in 1999 on Shutterbug.

http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/film_processing/1099sb_long/

Should I really expect to the variable condensing head to get really hot and smell?

 

[pesphoto]

Well, it gets hot but it doesnt bother me. Just think if you get hungry during a marathon printing session you can cook an egg on it........😀

 

[JTK]

The turret version is rare.

The variable condenser setup doesn't increase heat significantly, if at all (as I remember). I used mine (and my Dursts') with Osram lamps that were a lot brighter, therefore hotter, than standard enlarging lamps. I imagine a smoker's enlarger would stink, whereas my old Omega probably emits euphoria.

 

[Chris101]

I just repaired a bunch of Bessler 45's from the darkrooms here at my college. The lever that opens the film door had become loose, and became more and more difficult to operate. So any kind of lever where there is repeated stress is important to look at, and make sure that it is not becoming worn out.

 

[pesphoto]

oh, when there looking at it plug it in ...make sure it works before dishing out 60 clams

 

[goforbokeh]

Thank you all again for the help. I would not have thought to smell the variable contrast head. I'll make sure to turn it on and leave it on until it gets as hot as it can during my appointment.

Thanks!

 

[pesphoto]

remember to let us know how you make out.

 

[cosmonot]

Just remember that these enlargers are pretty much worthless scrap until someone looks even vaguely interested in purchasing them. I need more than two hands full of fingers to count the number of Beseler and Omega enlargers I've seen in piles on the ground at flea markets in the last couple months.

If everything works smoothly on this $60 Omega, then take stock of what accessories come with it. Lenses, lens boards/cones, timers, negative carriers, etc all add to the cost of getting the darkroom up and running. If you're still going to be searching for lots of little pieces of gear after buying this enlarger, I think you'd be better off waiting for someone selling off (or giving away) a more complete setup.

 

[goforbokeh]

thank you to everyone for sharing your knowledge.
i checked out the enlarger and bought it even though it's not complete because it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up.

it turns on and warms up. after about 20 minutes it was warm to the touch with no stink.

there's no lens board or lens mount or whatever you call it. i just see a large square surface with threads where it looks like a lens should go. on two sides is a silver strip of metal held in place by a thumb screw. it looks like springs to me.

here is a photo looking up from the baseboard to what is there (or not there) on the bellows:








there's some rust on random screws and the bolts on the mount to the baseboard but not on the twin I beams so I think it shouldn't be too much of a problem to go to a friendly local hardware store with the rusty screw and find replacements.

i didn't get neg carriers which is bummer but they told me it's not too hard to locate them new or used.

at least i got the big thing out of the way by getting the baseboard, frame, bellows and variable condenser head.

but now i have to look for the thing to mount lenses to the bellows and some lenses.

again thank you to everyone for your help.

 

[goforbokeh]

thank you to JTK for the heads up warning about the D2 being only a 4x5 condenser head without the other parts.

i would have been really bummed to find that out later versus before making the deal.

 

[goforbokeh]

thanks for the warning about watching for rust.

what's the best way to address minor rust?

just live with it?

is there some magical chemical that converts rust to something that isn't rust?

or should I use the light sanding attachment for my Dremel to take off the rust. there's one attachment that claims its for rust removal and won't harm the surface underneath.

for rusty screws and bolts, I figure I can remove them and go to the knowledgable local hardware store and ask them for help in finding replacement screws/bolts.

It should feel sturdy, cams should run smoothly for focus, replaceable (?- unsure on omegas but some cost there), gears for raising and lowering the head should run smoothly. I'd avoid rust unless it seems minor, as rust will wreak havoc should you get into any toning of the prints. Don't rule a paint job out as a fix for this, but offer accordingly.

 

[goforbokeh]

i checked the lever that raises and lowers the condenser head so that you can put in and take out the neg carriers.

it seems solid and working correctly.

but i'm a bit paranoid about the counterbalance (?). i see two thin metal strips on the back of the twin I beams that rollup into two semi-circle things at the very top. they seem to work smoothly but they are wrinkled here and there from being rolled up. i guess if i was rolled up for 40 years, i'd be wrinkled too.

does that mean i don't need to replace them. at least not yet?

I just repaired a bunch of Bessler 45's from the darkrooms here at my college. The lever that opens the film door had become loose, and became more and more difficult to operate. So any kind of lever where there is repeated stress is important to look at, and make sure that it is not becoming worn out.

 

[goforbokeh]

sorry for the flurry of posts. i'm really excited to have the enlarger even though it's just sitting in the middle of the living room! ha!

so i looked at it a lot closer now and see that it came with the conversion kit with a lens that i'm just supposed to slide in three different spots for LF, MF and 35mm.

that's a really clever and smart setup.

so even though it's not labeled D2V, it appears that it was converted to one.

specifically my enlarger has this thing seen on this ebay auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Omega-DV-Conver...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

is it okay to link to an ebay auction just to show what something looks like?

If it doesn't come with 35mm and 120 condenser sets, or isn't the variable condenser version (D2V), you may run into a lot of delay and expense setting it up for 35 or 120. The basic D2 (without the "V") is a 4X5 enlarger that, with those accessories, becomes a superb 35 and 120 enlarger. If you have to buy those accessories it might take a long time and cost a lot more.

 

[goforbokeh]

you are so right about these enlargers being pretty much worthless until someone shows up with interest.

it's like right now.

what's the deal with bottles of spotone selling for $30 on ebay?

i bought brand new bottle of marshall's neutral for $5 and have to say it looks purple compared to my bottle of spotone that i bought awhile ago for $4.

i'm sticking with spotone.

Just remember that these enlargers are pretty much worthless scrap until someone looks even vaguely interested in purchasing them. I need more than two hands full of fingers to count the number of Beseler and Omega enlargers I've seen in piles on the ground at flea markets in the last couple months.

If everything works smoothly on this $60 Omega, then take stock of what accessories come with it. Lenses, lens boards/cones, timers, negative carriers, etc all add to the cost of getting the darkroom up and running. If you're still going to be searching for lots of little pieces of gear after buying this enlarger, I think you'd be better off waiting for someone selling off (or giving away) a more complete setup.

 

[spyder2000]

From what you posted, your enlarger has a lensboard for lenses from 50mm to 80mm and a retaining ring to mount them. You also have the variable condensing unit, so you can move the condenser in there to concentrate the light for the format you are printing. The "wrinkled" straps that go into the semicircular things at the top are the counterbalances. The semicircular thins you described are the springs. If you mess with those be very careful. Much of the enlarger chassis is aluminum. The hardware is not. Replace that as you can or need to.

You need negative carriers for the D2 which are very common on the bay. You can make negative carriers out of mat board but since you won't be able to center them like Simmon did, set your variable condenser to a larger format. All you lose is some exposure time (you gain that actually).

I would spend some time cleaning all the condensers carefully as dust comes into focus at the darndest times. Also make sure you have a genuine enlarger lamp in it as regular ones have the wattage and such printed on the bottom. That can come into focus as well.

Great enlargers.