StraDi
Hi everyone,
As I’ve somehow got the urge to work with colour again in my spare time, I’d like to give it another go in my little home lab. On top of that, I recently managed to get my hands on a Durst Printo that still looks in great shape from a lab clearance sale, in exchange for a hand-printed print and a thank you. However, I’m missing a few small parts before I can get it fully up and running. Perhaps I’ll find a Printo user or two here who has a few bits to spare. Among other things, I’m missing:
- Drain hoses with taps
- A drip tray for the dryer
- 2 transfer or squeegee rollers (they’ve gone sticky)
- 1 Energy Therm
- possibly 2 tank covers with an opening for the Printo thermometer
If possible, I’d also be happy to take a complete tank module with hose, rack and Energy Therm.
Thanks in advance and best regards
Dirk
Bonderer
I used to have a Printo as well. It wasn’t made in Germany but in Italy. They really cut corners with the material for the squeegee rollers. I never had one where they didn’t stick. I once had two rollers reconditioned by Mr Kämmerl at Thermaphot; he has the machinery and the coating material, and he still does the work himself.
You should get in touch with him. I don’t have a Printo anymore, but I do have a Thermaphot, and the rollers on that one don’t start sticking.
StraDi
Yes, unfortunately that’s quite a problem with the Printo. The Energy Therm heating elements are another vexing issue. Nevertheless, I’d still give the machine a bit of a refurb and see what it’s capable of. I’ve already got my eye on a Thermaphot… unfortunately, Thermaphot no longer manufactures new machines. But there are apparently still a few refurbished ones available.
Best regards,
Dirk
jonny
Yes, that’s right, Mr Kämmerl still repairs ACPs and also sells units that he has refurbished himself. I can highly recommend both the units and the service.
It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny. Unfortunately, given the rough and tumble of the transport industry these days, the risk of damage during shipping is quite high (I had to learn this the hard way when I sent mine off for refurbishment), so it’s best to drop off or collect the units in person in Nuremberg! Fujimoto units are an alternative, but they’re rarely available in Germany and the availability of spare parts is unclear. I can’t help you with the Printo, but from what I’ve seen, parts are occasionally offered on eBay. You might get lucky there.
StraDi
Hello ...
... and first of all, thank you very much for the advice.
The Printo was, so to speak, a ‘takeaway’ for my own small, private darkroom. I’ve since got in touch with Foto Mayr, where they’ve been extremely helpful and friendly. They also have good contacts with Thermaphot.
I myself still have a large Colenta in my specialist lab... and I’m also quite familiar with the small machines from Thermaphot and Meteor Siegen (Meteofom). The Printo is new to me in terms of use; the modular design was certainly very interesting, at least back then.
I’ve now got most of the small parts together, even a set of Printo thermometers. Funnily enough, my Printo doesn’t have any openings for them in the cover. Other machines in the series seem to have this... probably as a retrofit in the later production process...
cu...
Dirk
Clemens
Hi Dirk,
You can use standard PVC hoses from the DIY store as drain hoses (the diameter of the connectors should be 10 mm, but it’s best to check the measurements again). I don’t have any chicken, but plugs will do the job. As for the rollers: if you can find a single rack to strip for parts, swap the top of the two black (rubber) rollers in each rack for a grey one (i.e. made of plastic), then that should sort out most of the sticking issue, and the squeezing action will still be just as good.
Unfortunately, all my Energy Therms are also knackered except for one, but as I only use the Printo for b/w now, it’s not such a big deal for me.
