I have a Beseler 23c. How do I make sure it's aligned?

-- Joseph Lacy (jmlacy@flash.net), June 15, 2000

Answers

See 'Aligning a Beseler 67C Enlarger' below. You need a tool, which you can either make or buy.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), June 15, 2000.

Scratch parallel lines in some darkened film. I use the edges of a steel ruler to ensure parrallel lines. Scratch the lines toward the very edges of the neg, so you have a square scratched. Put into enlarger. Each intersecting line should be sharp when focused. If one side or corner out of focus adjust the head with spacing washers, or retighten baseboard nuts, so is nice and parallel to easel. This is an easy check. David Strachan

-- David Strachan (strachan@cww.octec.org.au), June 16, 2000.

Joseph: Apply a small carpenters' bubble level or angle-finder to the baseboard, lens barrel, and the protruding tabs of the negative carrier. Orient the level across and front to back. I predict the negative plane and baseboard will be plenty parallel. The lens board can tilt side to side, and may slip out of level. It's about the only adjustment you can make easily, if at all. This will verify what a good test negative will show on the easel.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols@iopener.net), June 17, 2000.