Can anyone make any recommendations on an inexpensive UV light box? Im not really wanting to spend much since Im still learning to like contact printing but at the same...
David M. replied:
A large mercury vapor or metal halide lamp (400 - 1000 w) can be bought online for <$50. You will also need a warehouse type luminare and ballast. Worked great up to about 8-10. Alternatively, for about the same cash outlay you can get a vacuum frame with integrated light source on ebay. eg. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NuArc-26-1K-8LC-Mercury-Image-Exposure-Lithographic-Vacuum-System-Platemaker-/111425250381?ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123). These are pennies on the dollar from what they cost new -- the hard part is that unless you find one local, the freight shipping is much more than the unit itself!
Ken T. replied:
Make yourself a contact frame of the size of your largest neg. in my case A3. Go to your local electrical wholesale store and buy a ceramic bulb holder and a U V bulb . Adjust the distance of the bulb to cover your neg right to the corners. If you are not up to DIY electrics pay to have it done. I have a bulb shaped like a mushroom with an internal reflector. The cable is fireproof it has some form of ceramic powder inside. Bought on the advice of local electric store. I expose inside a large cupboard with venting to exterior. Warning do not look at any UV light for any length of time it can damage your eyes!!!!!!!!!!
Where can I get an enclosure? I live in Mississippi. Those of you that don’t live here probably don’t know this, but we don’t have access to the pet supplies like...
Gamatee replied:
Uuuh Amazon. Ebay. Most sites have it all.
man5000000 replied:
Diycages.com
salzberrysteakroger replied:
I'd recommend actually building one yourself. I'm in the process of building one myself right now(will hopefully post the finished product in about a week) and it's been a lot easier/cheaper than I expected. If you look around the sub you'll find some useful tutorials and diagrams on how to. It'll be way cheaper and probably better than if you were to go buy one
Happyfeet65 replied:
Zen Habitats, you’ll be waiting forever to get your tank, but they even have 4 x2 x4 tanks now. And they aren’t over priced, at least imo.
LavenderFleurs replied:
[https://www.zenhabitats.com/](https://www.zenhabitats.com/) I have two and could not be more pleased.