dazedgonebye
07-19-2007, 12:22 AM
Some time ago I put together a simple UV exposure box for printing cyanotypes.
I wanted to keep things cheap and simple.
What I came up with is a large plastic utility box and three 18inch UV tubes.
Here you see the tubes mounted on handi-board.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/304674598_d4ca7f324d.jpg
The lights are suspended at an adjustable hight above the bottom of the plastic box by chains and hooks.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/304674618_5c82fae04e.jpg
I can hold the lights up out of the box using the all chains on one side.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/304675552_b18dcb8983.jpg
Lights, chemicals and print frames all fit in the box for storage when not in use.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/304674559_c1b56dc6f3.jpg
I confess I made one miscalculation...the box is about 3/4 of an inch too small at the bottom to accomodate my 11x14 print frame. So, I've put smaller plastic storage boxes (used to store chemicals and materials) at the bottom of the box to raise the frame to a point where the box is wide enough to handle it. An ever so slightly larger box would have been better.
I suspend the lights about 9 inches above the print frame. The light is even enough for 11x14 prints.
Total cost of the project was $85, the majority of which was taken up by the fixtures and tubes.
I wanted to keep things cheap and simple.
What I came up with is a large plastic utility box and three 18inch UV tubes.
Here you see the tubes mounted on handi-board.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/304674598_d4ca7f324d.jpg
The lights are suspended at an adjustable hight above the bottom of the plastic box by chains and hooks.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/304674618_5c82fae04e.jpg
I can hold the lights up out of the box using the all chains on one side.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/304675552_b18dcb8983.jpg
Lights, chemicals and print frames all fit in the box for storage when not in use.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/304674559_c1b56dc6f3.jpg
I confess I made one miscalculation...the box is about 3/4 of an inch too small at the bottom to accomodate my 11x14 print frame. So, I've put smaller plastic storage boxes (used to store chemicals and materials) at the bottom of the box to raise the frame to a point where the box is wide enough to handle it. An ever so slightly larger box would have been better.
I suspend the lights about 9 inches above the print frame. The light is even enough for 11x14 prints.
Total cost of the project was $85, the majority of which was taken up by the fixtures and tubes.