Developing mats for ULF film for Jobo 3063

[Scott Davis]

My mat is still in use (film is washing in the darkroom) but I've made a home-grown developing mat to hold ULF films, like the Jobo mats that are now out of production. I ordered some vinyl sheets from TAP plastics and cut one to size (I soup 14x17), with a bit of extra margin. Then I added some small corners and edge stabilizers to make sure the sheet of film stayed centered on the mat. It worked beautifully and I now have ridge-free pyro-developed ULF sheets. I'll post some photos of it later.

[Greg Blank]

Sounds good, bring um on Scott!

My mat is still in use (film is washing in the darkroom) but I've made a home-grown developing mat to hold ULF films, like the Jobo mats that are now out of production. I ordered some vinyl sheets from TAP plastics and cut one to size (I soup 14x17), with a bit of extra margin. Then I added some small corners and edge stabilizers to make sure the sheet of film stayed centered on the mat. It worked beautifully and I now have ridge-free pyro-developed ULF sheets. I'll post some photos of it later.

[dng88]

Great, any picture of the setup?

[Scott Davis]

When I get the thing dry, I'll photograph it with a sheet of film on it to demonstrate.

[Don7x17]

Scott - I have Jobo USA inserts (that's what Jobo USA called them)- two for 7x17 (enables pairs of 7x17 to be developed) and two for 12x20 (single sheet). They are a vacuum formed clear plastic - fairly thick, and I was told that they were built solely by Jobo USA in the upper midwest..

The vacuum forming process gave small round raised plateaus where plastic pins were inserted. This design allowed the film to ride about 3/8 inch above the clear sheet while the drum was rotated with solution . When the solution is drained and you remove the insert, you'll find the film is sitting on the insert surface.
The inserts are tight fitting into the 3063 drum, with the ends meeting at an exact fit when inserted. The vacuum forming process also gave them a natural curl - they normally sit curved when removed from the drum, and I find that I need to weight them on 4 corners to be able to easily insert the film into the insert prior to putting into the 3063.

Hope this helps.

The inserts weren't cheap when sold by Jobo USA - about $250.00 each.

Its easy to build your own inserts with clear plastic sheeting and plastic snaps from a sewing store. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your mats

[numnutz]

Sorry for hassling. Is there any news on the picture(s) of your device

- I would like to try to make one for my own use, to develop more than one 8 x 10 sheet at a time in my ATL 1000.

or

can anyone point me in the direction of one on the net

Thanks in advance

nn

[Lachlan 717]

My mat is still in use (film is washing in the darkroom) but I've made a home-grown developing mat to hold ULF films, like the Jobo mats that are now out of production. I ordered some vinyl sheets from TAP plastics and cut one to size (I soup 14x17), with a bit of extra margin. Then I added some small corners and edge stabilizers to make sure the sheet of film stayed centered on the mat. It worked beautifully and I now have ridge-free pyro-developed ULF sheets. I'll post some photos of it later.

Scott,

Any photos of this yet?

Thanks.

Scott - I have Jobo USA inserts (that's what Jobo USA called them)- two for 7x17 (enables pairs of 7x17 to be developed) and two for 12x20 (single sheet). They are a vacuum formed clear plastic - fairly thick, and I was told that they were built solely by Jobo USA in the upper midwest..

The vacuum forming process gave small round raised plateaus where plastic pins were inserted. This design allowed the film to ride about 3/8 inch above the clear sheet while the drum was rotated with solution . When the solution is drained and you remove the insert, you'll find the film is sitting on the insert surface.
The inserts are tight fitting into the 3063 drum, with the ends meeting at an exact fit when inserted. The vacuum forming process also gave them a natural curl - they normally sit curved when removed from the drum, and I find that I need to weight them on 4 corners to be able to easily insert the film into the insert prior to putting into the 3063.

Hope this helps.

The inserts weren't cheap when sold by Jobo USA - about $250.00 each.

Its easy to build your own inserts with clear plastic sheeting and plastic snaps from a sewing store. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your mats

Don,

Any chance that you could post some photos of these inserts?

Thanks.

[civich]

Will someone please submit a picture of this legendary developing mat. I've not even heard of it much less seen one.
-Chris

[Oren Grad]

FWIW, here's a picture from an old Jobo USA catalog.

[Lachlan 717]

FWIW, here's a picture from an old Jobo USA catalog.

Thanks, Oren.

I was wondering how a tub made from bubble wrap, bubbles in/flat side in, would go. Seems that the bubbles would hold the film up nicely, allowing chemicals to circulate easily, and not allowing scratching the of the film.