Re: DIY light source for 10X10" enlarger.

jjs wrote:
> To date I've considered enlarger light sources to be engineering well
beyond 
> my feeble capability, but I have used and examined only condenser
enlargers 
> such as the Leitz IIa and Omega condenser enlarger, but my task now is
to 
> make a diffusion thpe for the 10x10 enlarger.
> 
> I want something with No built-in filtration. No fancy color mixing for
VC 
> papers. No electronics. No side-lit mixing chambers. Just a straight
forward 
> light source and a diffusing layer. I question cold light, mercury
va****, 
> tubes, whatever they are because I just don't plain understand 'em.
> 
> I can blunder head-first into this project, but this group has some
smart 
> people with impressive experience, so I'll put my blunder idea forward.
> 
> First, I am limited to ~110V AC power although converting to DC is an 
> option. How about a simple array of 'white' LEDs at the top, pointing
down 
> over the typical sheet of plastic translucent material found in home
supply 
> places?  Or should it be fine ground glass? I am not concerned about the

> variability of LEDs over time unless they change during the time it
takes to 
> get an 8X10 negative-to-print just right - maybe a day or two. The power
for 
> the light will be run through a robust power-conditioner once set aside
for 
> a big minicomputer. Batteries not included.
> 
> So far so good? Corrections would be most welcome. OR just let me
blunder 
> and if it goes badly I'll post pictures of the catastrophe.
> 
> 
Forget florescent lamps unless you run then continuous and use a 
shutter; even then they can vary intensity quite a bit. Tubes have a 
warm up vs output curve of 30 minutes or so, CF type take at least 5 min 
to come up close to full output. An integrator would allow use.

If I was making a quick light box for an 8x10 enlarger, I would use 
multiple bulbs (4 or 6) (prob small qz halogen to distribute the light 
more evenly and then 2 white plex diffusers spaced 1-2" apart between 
the bulb and the neg.
gr