..as i was making negs in a copy camera today ( a NuArc18 x 22 bed-- the kind
you can get knocked silly in the head by the focusing screen if you aren't
careful....!), i thought of a possible solution for your flickering problem:
a) fluorescent lights like to be on more than not-- they use less energy
in the long run (compared to incandescents) when on for long periods of time,
provided they don't get switched on/off frequently. they also 'even'
themselves out as far as light output, color temp & soforth.
b) the copy camera i was using has a shutter fitted on the backside of the
lens, in the bellows--a relatively simple solenoid type-- that is hooked up
to the timer/focus switch.
sooo...with this in mind:
if you kept your fluorescent lights on while you were printing (provided you
have a light baffle, maybe hooked up to an outtake fan like an 8x10 H&K
enlarger has), and had your timer set up to the shutter, you could have an
even, ready supply of light on demand for your negative and paper to bask in.
i live in chicago, so there's lotsa photo labs and photo supply places around
that are itching to get rid of these huge behemoths of the conventional age,
and parts like a shutter solenoid could be fabricated if you couldn't find
one... NuArc is still in business, they are at www.nuarc.com. they have a
used equiptment listing on their site, and they also have an 800 #--
1-800-962-8883. i don't know where you are at, but they have a parts
warehouse in NJ and CA, not to mention chicago...
good luck!
joel
