Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    537

    Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Could you suggest a product that will make my film more scratch proof/archival and that I could incorporate in the jobo 3010 workflow and is also compatible with scanning?

  2. #2
    Roger Cole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Suburbs of Atlanta
    Posts
    1,553

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Don't know about scanning but I always used Kodak Rapid Fixer with full hardner added in my Jobo with no problems at all.

    I always use hardner for film. The added wash time isn't much and the risk of soft emulsion much higher than with paper. Whether it's strictly necessary I don't really care. It comes with the fixer, it won't hurt, it might help, so I use it (for film.)

  3. #3
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    I am afraid I had the opposite results from Roger (8x10 in 3005 drum, so that may account for the difference).

    Using hardener, I got some strange deposits on the back of the film -- minerals of some kind. No problem after leaving Part B out of the Rapid Fix.

    Modern films have an incorperated hardener (but not perhaps some of the Eastern European brands). Give the film a couple of days to completely harden on their own before scanning.

    YMMD

    Vaughn

  4. #4
    Roger Cole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Suburbs of Atlanta
    Posts
    1,553

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vaughn View Post
    I am afraid I had the opposite results from Roger (8x10 in 3005 drum, so that may account for the difference).

    Using hardener, I got some strange deposits on the back of the film -- minerals of some kind. No problem after leaving Part B out of the Rapid Fix.

    Modern films have an incorperated hardener (but not perhaps some of the Eastern European brands). Give the film a couple of days to completely harden on their own before scanning.

    YMMD

    Vaughn
    Sorry, I should have noted the number in the OP and not just the title. My results are with 4x5 in 2521 tanks and 2509n reels. That could indeed be very different with 8x10 (or other sizes) in expert type drums.

    If that's the difference, you can also make a separate hardening bath from the part B and just do that in a tray.

  5. #5
    David de Gruyl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    278

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    If your fixer does not have a hardener in it: Sprint Systems Alum Converter.

    I am not sure whether that can only be used during fixing. I vaguely recall (you really want to check this) that the hardener can be used earlier in the process, but that it increases fixing time.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    435

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    I stopped using harderner over 50 years ago. No film is scatch proff. I see no reason why chemically you can't use hardener in a drum, just be sure to wash the drum carefully before using developer again.

    Lynn

  7. #7
    Roger Cole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Suburbs of Atlanta
    Posts
    1,553

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lynn Jones View Post
    I stopped using harderner over 50 years ago. No film is scatch proff. I see no reason why chemically you can't use hardener in a drum, just be sure to wash the drum carefully before using developer again.

    Lynn
    You should do that anyway if you use fixer in it.

  8. #8
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    My only theory (perhaps hypothesis is a better word) about why I was getting mineral deposits on the back of my 8x10 negs in a 3005 drum is that perhaps there was some sort of hardening of the anti-halation layer before it was completely removed. I am not familiar enough with the chemical make-up of the layer and how it is applied to the back of the film (what sort of binder, etc may be used to hold it there).

    Re-fixing in a tray helped a little, but still would not completely remove the deposits

    All I know is that keeping everything else the same, the problem went away when I stopped using hardener in the fix...no more problems these past couple years.

    I feel that there is no reason to add any sort of hardener -- the incorperated hardener in the emulsion, and just time itself, is sufficient for me.

    I think I wash the drum enough -- that has been constant, also.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,952

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Well howdy neighbor.

    You should do that anyway if you use fixer in it.
    Why? I use Kodak rapid fix and I've not used hardener in decades for any format.

    Don Bryant

  10. #10
    Roger Cole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Suburbs of Atlanta
    Posts
    1,553

    Re: Film hardener compatible with rotary processing?

    Quote Originally Posted by D. Bryant View Post
    Well howdy neighbor.



    Why? I use Kodak rapid fix and I've not used hardener in decades for any format.

    Don Bryant
    You don't wash the drum out after using fixer before pouring in developer for the next batch of film?

    That's what my reply was referring to, the comment about washing the drum carefully after using hardener. I wasn't saying "you should do that anyway" with regard to using a hardening fix. I'm aware that many people don't. That's generally fine I've just personally never had problems from using hardening fix with film so I've continued to use it.

Similar Threads

  1. Rotary Processing Rodinal
    By ic-racer in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 6-Jan-2018, 11:02
  2. I'm a film testing moron- wadda ya think?
    By timbo10ca in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 22-May-2007, 17:50
  3. film processing 101 in a digital world
    By Bob McCarthy in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 5-Jul-2006, 17:04
  4. silliest question ever: how to load sheet film
    By David Haardt in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 7-Jun-2001, 17:55
  5. Black &White reversal processing
    By David Carney in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 5-Jul-2000, 16:27

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •