What the heck is a Magnapex 1000?

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Marc Lizer

Marc Lizer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
Posts
1,545
Loc
North Hollywood, CA
So we got this press from down the street.

It is made by Seal. It is called a Magnapex 1000. It fits a 48 x 96. The listed serial number is 399. And pulls 25 inches.

It is a Dry-Mount (heat) and vacuum press. But I have never seen these before.

Do any Grumblers have one of these presses or have you heard of them before?

Any advice about it?
 
Marc, I think I've seen those at the trade shows 10 years or more ago (could be 20 years.) I think that was just the supersize version of what is now called the Vacuseal Press. I remember wondering why anyone would need a press that big, but I sometimes run into items too big for my 4466. I'll just send 'em to you now. :D

Call Seal/Hunt/Bienfang or email them. They are three of the nicest people I've run into.

(Shouldn't this thread be somewhere else? I don't know where - just somewhere else.)
 
That's odd. I also thought the thread should be somewhere else too. I'm working on that. But the other moderators may do something about it too.

As for the press, I think it is 10+ years old. The graphics company (meaning: a printer) down street just has no need for it anymore. They used to use it a lot, but they have a different product focus now, and have just been moving it around until they finally ran out of space (they have 25,000 sqft), and put it out in the parking lot.

They asked if we want it before the elements ruin it.

A little horse trading (a 1,000.00 credit memo on future framing) , and they brought it down the street on their truck for us.

200.00 later for an electrician and it was up and running. After a week of testing it out, it is a far step better than what we had.

The size thing is a big difference. Jobs have been getting larger and larger, and we have been farming it out. Or just hand mounting, that sometimes does not take.

Also, we never had heat before. We are still experimenting with that.

I found this web site with a picture of one. http://www.grigraphics.com/lamination.htm

And search engines come up with
http://www.photomall.com/gedkrm2.htm and http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/capabilities/pubs/exhibits.html so there is little info about them out there.

I was just wondering if any other grumblers had come across them before?

Ron can't be the only one can he? :eek:
 
Gee Marc- Of all people, I thought you would have already had one!

A Magnapex was the workhorse of the mounting industry, sold by Seal, though not to the average picture framer because they were extremely expensive and their capacity was larger then most framers ever needed. They were used primarily by photo finishing labs and exhibit/printing companies. As you already know, they are built like a tank. If memory serves me right, they were over 8K about 20 years ago, plus shipping and the necessity for an electrician to hook them up because they draw so much juice. They were one of the first commercially produced vacuum presses, though the original bladder use was kind of a silicone-y material that was prone to punctures. Other than a heater element or controller going out, bladder leaks were also a cause of down time.

I knew one framer in San Diego who had one that I used to take my oversized work to before I bought my large press. Another was owned by a company called, Giant Photo, who specialized in oversized blow ups for exhibit work. A third is owned by a company called, Map World who specializes in Mounted and Laminated Maps. One of the benefits of ownership was (is) the ability to purchase supplies directly from Seal (now Hunt)because most distributors didn't carry the oversized tissues and release paper needed.

How many pumps did it come with? I run tandem pumps on my presses because it cuts down on the "draw" time to achieve vacuum. I also use the older style "rotery" pumps, which although are noiser, are more efficient.

Now that you have heat, you will find a whole host of techniques possible that you have not tried before, including lamination, which can be a very cool thing. I expect that there will be a bunch of stuff forthcoming in your future columns.

You got a DEAL! Or should I say, STEAL!
 
WOW! My type of deal. WOW! I've always wanted one. WOW! I would have taken the wife's Mustang Convertible from the garage and keep it for future use. WOW!!!!!!!!!

framer
 
We currently have a Magnapex 1000 for sale on our used equipment list. Any Manapex would be 15 years old or older. It is a good press and the first vacuum press made to do 4ft x 8ft. The one we have is in good condition and the asking price for it is $3500 CAN$ or $2200 US$, so you got a very good deal on it. A new Hunt/Seal 4 x 8 press would cost $8500 US$

The only problem we have run into with Magnapex machines is making sure the press is absolutely level. Also over time the gasket seal around the edge deteriorates and will affect the maxinum vacuum you can get. The maximum the machine will get up to is 28 inches and it will work satisfactory at as low as 22.

I recommend that you use the large 40" x 60" coated two sides release boards that you can get from any Hunt/Bienfang distributor. They last much longer than the single or two sided release paper.

Alan Sturgess
 
That's my dream machine, wish I had the room.
I settled for a 44x66.

I was reffered by a local framer once to a guy in Monroe, CT who did dry mounting in retirement.
When I visited his home, he had a beautiful dry mount shop set up with a filtered air compressor and vacuum system for dust removal in a positive pressure room with Hepa filters and a monster Seal press.

Turns out he was one of the engineers for Seal who worked on some of the first presses.They let him keep the prototype.
 
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