I've been wanting to set up or acquire a copy stand for years, I even had a old enlarger frame that I thought I could convert, but gave it away a few years back. After a relative passed away and left a large quantity of family photos, prints, and negatives, I decided to try again. For 3 months, I've look for used copy stands, but they were too expensive to just do a experiment.
Finally, I found a old and cheap Beseler 23CII enlarger that had good gears, lock, and raised and lowered smoothly, so I spent a few hours last Saturday taking everything off and trying to decide the best way to convert it. I was trying to make use of some parts of the enlarging head, but soon decided that was futile, so I removed everything but the frame. Then, I rigged up a temporary camera mount (I will need something better for a permanent mount). I did not want to drill any new holes, but ended up slightly enlarging two holes so a 1/4 screw would slide thru.
The enlarger uses a torsion spring to offset the very heavy weight of the head, and I had to add 10 pounds of weight to simulate the weight of the head so it would raise and lower smoothly. I mounted a Arca swiss clamp to hold the camera and lens, then stopped for the night.
I've yet to test it, and need some good lighting that does not take up much space. I'll use my large lights to test it, but I don't have a practical way to do that permanently, I might buy a roll around stand so I could roll it into place under my fixed lights, that might be a good option. I have one cart that I use like that now.
Its winter here and very cold in my workshop, so building a permanent adapter that will adjust the camera angle to be parallel to the board will be a makor project requiring me to heat the shop and spend a few hours. I'll have to drill holes in the enlarger, so I did not want to do that until I proved it will work. Right now, I can just re-assemble the enlarger, it works fine.
I'll try to go out and test it today, and also take some photos.
I'd be happy to hear any ideas.
Finally, I found a old and cheap Beseler 23CII enlarger that had good gears, lock, and raised and lowered smoothly, so I spent a few hours last Saturday taking everything off and trying to decide the best way to convert it. I was trying to make use of some parts of the enlarging head, but soon decided that was futile, so I removed everything but the frame. Then, I rigged up a temporary camera mount (I will need something better for a permanent mount). I did not want to drill any new holes, but ended up slightly enlarging two holes so a 1/4 screw would slide thru.
The enlarger uses a torsion spring to offset the very heavy weight of the head, and I had to add 10 pounds of weight to simulate the weight of the head so it would raise and lower smoothly. I mounted a Arca swiss clamp to hold the camera and lens, then stopped for the night.
I've yet to test it, and need some good lighting that does not take up much space. I'll use my large lights to test it, but I don't have a practical way to do that permanently, I might buy a roll around stand so I could roll it into place under my fixed lights, that might be a good option. I have one cart that I use like that now.
Its winter here and very cold in my workshop, so building a permanent adapter that will adjust the camera angle to be parallel to the board will be a makor project requiring me to heat the shop and spend a few hours. I'll have to drill holes in the enlarger, so I did not want to do that until I proved it will work. Right now, I can just re-assemble the enlarger, it works fine.
I'll try to go out and test it today, and also take some photos.
I'd be happy to hear any ideas.