Tech Notes

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Washing

There is much said about the final wash. Depending on who you talk to 5 minutes to 1 hour. The bottom line is this has no gelatin, fix or other stuff that wants to hold onto the paper. I think 30 minutes is more than enough. I have designed my own washer. Most commercial tray washers shoot the water around too fast and it can abrase the paper. Remember the paper and emulsion are very delicate at this stage. Try putting a print in one of the archival free standing washers and you'll see why I don't do that. I have designed the following and it works very well.

supplies:
a: about a two inch long ½ inch cpvc pipe for inlet hose
b: ½ inch cpvc pipe about 1 ½ inch shorter than length tray
c/d: ½ inch cpvc pipe about 1 ½ inch shorter than width of tray
e/f: ½ inch cpvc pipe shorter than depth of tray
additional: 4 -1/2 inch cpvc 90 degree elbows, 2- ½ inch cpvc tee, 1- ½ inch cpvc cap
along b drill holes (about 1/4 inch holes???)about every 4 inches facing up
along c, d, e, f, drill holes about every 1 inch facing toward
discharge all holes are only through one wall of plastic pipe.

to assemble unit: "b" is connected to "d" with a tee (so you gotta cut "d" in the middle
"d" and "c" are connected to "e" and "f" with 90 degree elbows.
"a" is connected to "c' with a tee (so you gotta cut c in the middle)
"b" gets a cap
then drill holes in bottom edge of tray so that water flow is what you want. Holes are at opposite end of tray than water inlet. I use a gaffer tape flap over the holes in "c" to keep the water from shooting out of those top holes onto the print surface. "B" goes along long bottom end of tray.