Just when I thought my technique was down pat, I encountered multiple problems. First, I somehow managed to insert a sheet of film in a filmholder incorrectly despite my standard checks. Then after developing four sheets of film in a Beseler drum, I found I had somehow fogged two of them at one end of the drum. After some experimentation, I tracked this down to the baffle at the spout where chemicals are poured in and out at one end. The is a small opening there to allow air out as you pour chemical in. Apparently, if the light hits it just right, you light up one end of the inside of the drum like a Christmas tree. For some reason I had never encountered this before. I've now fashioned a cap to put over the end of the spout, and I think that will deal with that problem.
Be that as it may, I am getting tired of fiddling with drums which seem to constantly need attention of one sort or another. Two that I've had have developed fine cracks which I've had to cover with tape. Also, checking at e-bay I found few Beseler or Unicolor drums on sale. So I am looking at alternatives. The obvious solution is a Jobo CPE processing system, but that is pretty expensive. It would be worth it if I intended to do my own color processing, but right now I would rather have a lab do that. I could just get an appropriate Jobo drum---which one?---and perhaps I could use it with my old Beseler motorized base.
Any advice about any of this?
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