Anybody using X-ray film in the UK?

[Pete Watkins]

Just thinking about using some x-ray film and I would like to know if anybody in the UK is trying this stuff. Got a few questions about where to obtain the film, your preferences (blue or green sensitive?). Do you strip one side on double sided film? Preferred developers, to agitate or not to agitate. I did try some a couple of years ago but I had problems with the high contrast, I'm thinking of having another try.
Any advice appreciated,
Thanks,
Pete.

[DKirk]

Only place I've seen is ebay occasionally, it's something I'd like to try out once I've build the 8x10 (gutted I just missed out on the MPP 10x8 monorail in Mr Cad, £199!!).

[DKirk]

That wasn't really helpful of me, but a bit of digging http://www.ortho-care.co.uk/acatalog/X_Ray_Films.html http://www.asomerville.ltd.uk/xray-film.html looks tempting, and not too pricey even with the MP's bonus fund tax, err I mean VAT. . . 'cos our politicians of all parties never try to diddle the taxpayer. . .

[Rod_B]

Hi Pete,

I bought some recently from Chicago Medical Supply LLC, via Ebay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AGFA-X-Ray-Film-100-Green-Blue-Duplicating-8x10x12-Medical-Podiatry-Xray-BELGIUM-/130773799713?var=430097098290). After much searching around, it seemed these were the only company that would ship to the UK, at a sensible price anyway. The one I bought is labelled as "SG Regular Green X-Ray Film 8x10 Agfa - 100". It's also labelled with "Made in Belgium, Finished in USA". The boxes I bought are well within their use-by date, August 2014. Chicago Medical Supply LLC also have their own website http://www.chimedsupply.com/.

I paid $41.99 per box (100 sheets) and $50 shipping for two boxes, a total of $133.98 and they seemed very good to deal with. Unfortunately I also had to pay Tax/VAT on it, but I can't remember how much that was.

I can't give any comments on how good it is as I've not got around to using it yet!

Kindest regards,

Rod.

[Pete Watkins]

Thanks for your help so far.
D just because Mr. Cad say they have stuff it dosen't have to mean that it actually exists or that it does what they say it does. I was actually stupid enough to let them rip me off twice (years in between, I thought that they might have got better). Now they've moved to the West End, they wanna do something about there reputation not there address!
Rod, I'll keep looking over here, there must be somewhere.
Pete

[Andrew O'Neill]

Just thinking about using some x-ray film and I would like to know if anybody in the UK is trying this stuff. Got a few questions about where to obtain the film, your preferences (blue or green sensitive?). Do you strip one side on double sided film? Preferred developers, to agitate or not to agitate. I did try some a couple of years ago but I had problems with the high contrast, I'm thinking of having another try.
Any advice appreciated,
Thanks,
Pete.


Pete, how about this place? http://www.asomerville.ltd.uk/xray-film.html

Since I started using the green sensitive stuff, that is what I prefer. I don't bother stripping as I contact print. How will you be printing?
I prefer pyrocat-hd (10ml of each stock solution to 1000ml water). Flat-bottomed tray, agitation 5sec every minute (constant for first minute). 21C. If you do not have any flat-bottomed trays, place in a sheet of plexi.
I usually expose the film through a yellow #8, #12 wratten or #11 green filters. Looks tonally better, in my opinion.
Beware of reciprocity... I have data posted in the original xray thread started a few years ago...

andrew

[Pete Watkins]

Andrew,
Many thanks and as I'll be contact printing it's great news that I could get away with stripping. I have yellow and green filters so I'll give them a try. I tried Pyrocat some years ago and when it was good it was brilliant but a lot of the time it was totally unpredictable. I'll start with my regular D76H at 1-1 and work around that.
Best wishes,
Pete.

[Carl J]

Hi Andrew,

Quick dumb/basic question on using plexi on the bottom of the trays. I'm planning to use 14x17 trays for 11x14 Fuji green. I'm assuming plexiglass for all the trays including wash, about how thick would you recommend for a 14x17 tray (might use 16x20 for wash)? Never having tried to make sure a sheet of plexiglass would stay submerged in water before. ;)

Thanks!


Pete, how about this place? http://www.asomerville.ltd.uk/xray-film.html

Since I started using the green sensitive stuff, that is what I prefer. I don't bother stripping as I contact print. How will you be printing?
I prefer pyrocat-hd (10ml of each stock solution to 1000ml water). Flat-bottomed tray, agitation 5sec every minute (constant for first minute). 21C. If you do not have any flat-bottomed trays, place in a sheet of plexi.
I usually expose the film through a yellow #8, #12 wratten or #11 green filters. Looks tonally better, in my opinion.
Beware of reciprocity... I have data posted in the original xray thread started a few years ago...

andrew