Big 5"x 7" Photo Enlarger ( DIY Project)

First I'd check ebay or craigslist or one of the other on-line sales/auctions sites to see if someone is selling the one I want.

As for the design, I don't have one to offer, but if it were me I'd copy the design of a metal one, making whatever adjustments are needed for film size and thickness of the wood vs the metal or plastic. I'd use poplar since it is a stable, dry wood that is easy to work with and not too expensive. I'd sand and seal all of the surfaces, and use a good primer. I'd paint some of the surfaces flat black and other surfaces gloss black, depending on how the light hits the surface, since I'd want to minimize stray light hitting the photo paper.

I'd use a black metal can as a chimney for the lamp, to make sure there is no stray light and so that the heat is properly vented.

You probably already thought of these things, but perhaps some of this helps. Good luck.

I have a great Durst 5x7 enlarger (floor model - professional) with a whole set of condensers and a spare head with 3 lenses that mount in a turret and two enlarger bulbs. Of course it also has the multitilt baseboard. I am looking to sell this puppy and maybe we can strike a deal that would make the cost of shipping less onerous. It is heavy as it is built like a tank. If interested drop me a line and I can send more details including pictures. Focus is a critical issue and shouldn't be trifled with. I have been making fine prints for over 30 years. I have recently gone over to the light side and gone digital.

Hello Michael.

I'm not familiar with the multiple condenser side of this, but I do know that a cold light may have it's own condenser built in. Can you enlighten me a bit about the multiple condensers? Is the light source ok and can replacements (new ones) be found?

THanks

There are 3 different sets of condensers which are used for different negative sizes. This is a condenser enlarger that could likely be adapted for a cold light head. The condensers and supplied bulbs would not be used in cold light head operation. The size of the cold light head used would be determined by the size of negative. In the condenser system, the light source offered is one of the best. The bulbs are available from Durst.

Michael: this enl. cannot be laid down to project horizontal can it? (at least it isn't designed to do that?) But could it be done?

Can you go ahead and make me a price offer - don't include shipping just yet.

If that looks good to me, I will contact you and then could you send some pics?

Thanks

M. Ray

The Head can be rotated to project horizonatally - part of the design. It is ultrasturdy so there is no vibration. Of course it helps if the enlarger was used on a solid floor such as cement. A more complete description is as follows: Durst Laborator 138 Color Enlarger comes with heavy duty floor stand, moveable baseboard, set of 6 Latico condenser lenses (85, 130, 160, 200 and 2 x 240), two Laborator 138 enlarger heads, Durst filter assembly with 5 yellow and 5 magenta filters, negative carrier housing with Lapfe 66 (6x6) and 5x7 negative holders, new Thorn 300 watt enlarger bulb (opale E 27 p3/16) plus an additional bulb of a different make. Also comes with 3 enlarger lenses which include 2 Schneider componon lenses in lens boards sized for this enlarger (f5.6 210mm and f5.6 105mm) and 1 Rodenstock Rodagon lens (f5.6 80mm). Ask $850 USD. New was $12,000 (not including lenses).

That seems to be pretty complete description. Thanks. Have you thought about how many boxes this would ship in? Possibly estimated shipping cost? Maybe later at some point you can shoot a few pix? malcolmray@mtaonline.net

Packing & Shipping (by ground) is about $1100. Pics will be sent shortly.

Is this going to be a B&W enlarger? If so, consider building a light box with a number of modern CFLs and thermocol for internally reflecting and diffusing the light. You will need to use a higher grade of paper of course.

If you are improvising, use the 5 x 7 camera as the enlarger, you will get better results with a specialist enlarger lens. My father used a home built enlarger based around a 1/4 plate camera for many years for professional work.

An option is to use a horizontal enlarger mounted on the end of a bench and projecting on the wall, this is especially useful if you are doing really big enlargements that are too large to fit under a normal enlarger.

An alternative approach is to use a wall mounted enlarger, this has the merit that the column can be supported top and bottom for greater rigidity.

That's exactly what I was going to say. Ansel Adams did that with an 8x10 for a while. You can also modify a Besslar 4x5 twin beam enlarger to accept 5x7 film. A kit was sold for years to convert it to 8x10 so I'm guessing you could do 5x7. The gentleman from Vancouver with the Durst would be a wonderful person to buy from. I don't know the logistics but it would be great if you could get a pickup truck over to him & buy it. There are lots of lenses on eBay now. Good luck & Please let us know how it works out.

I think that Mr. Easton's Durst 5 x 7 multi condenser enlarger would probably work well for you. If a diffusion enlarger is needed, then replace the condenser with a diffusion glass and a cold light light source. I prefer a condenser enlarger for sharpness and contrast, but if a softer image is desired, then go for the cold light.