My Plans for Combiplan Developing Tanks

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53386093043_49c7faab34_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pkxFw4)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pkxFw4) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Went to World of Used Photography yesterday, bought these two matching Combiplan Developing Tanks. Up to now I have been developing rotary using JOBO 2500 series, working good for me for really big runs. Wanted something smaller, more like dipn'dunk, daylight lid is a plus. My thought is to load my European size films (six at a time), then drop into dev tanks, cover on. I checked in the store, ran water and the dev tank dosen't leak when inverted. The tank labeled stop bath DOES leak when inverted, so would be good as a small deep tank. On the left front is a rack of 6.5cmx9cm XRAY film, on the right is six sheets of 9x12cm B&W (this rack has all the pieces and is complete). I just won one more Combiplan, complete unbroken, with all the original parts, from Germany. That gives me three tanks and racks to configure in different ways for different processing runs. Any thoughts on Complan use from out there?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53385941366_bfbb383794_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pkwUqW)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pkwUqW) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This is what is also coming my way soon.

[Merg Ross]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53386093043_49c7faab34_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pkxFw4)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pkxFw4) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Went to World of Used Photography yesterday, bought these two matching Combiplan Developing Tanks. Up to now I have been developing rotary using JOBO 2500 series, working good for me for really big runs. Wanted something smaller, more like dipn'dunk, daylight lid is a plus. My thought is to load my European size films (six at a time), then drop into dev tanks, cover on. I checked in the store, ran water and the dev tank dosen't leak when inverted. The tank labeled stop bath DOES leak when inverted, so would be good as a small deep tank. On the left front is a rack of 6.5cmx9cm XRAY film, on the right is six sheets of 9x12cm B&W (this rack has all the pieces and is complete). I just won one more Combiplan, complete unbroken, with all the original parts, from Germany. That gives me three tanks and racks to configure in different ways for different processing runs. Any thoughts on Complan use from out there? Wish mine so far would takes glass plates!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53385941366_bfbb383794_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pkwUqW)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pkwUqW) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This is what is also coming my way soon.

Daniel,

You may enjoy this old post from Eugene Singer who posted here for many years. I followed his method with Combiplan and it worked well.


https://www.largeformatphotography.info/alternative-developing/

[Daniel Unkefer]

Wow. That's exactly what I want to do. Just printed out the article. Like his washing setup!

Thank You Merg!

Happy Holidays

[Torquemada]

this may be helpful or not but....

have you considered ammo cans? heavy duty rubber seal, completely light proof... resist dropping from moving air craft... just need a darkroom to use them in.. unless you got some heavy duty hose fittings and a good drill and modified them.

ive thought about it, just heavy.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Those would also be good for storing film in a light tight environment. Good for organizing things in the darkroom too. I'll see what's around.

[Jon Shiu]

Wondering why you are not able to use to develop glass plates?

Jon

[Daniel Unkefer]

Wondering why you are not able to use to develop glass plates?

Jon

The film guides are -curved- not flat, J Lane glass plates won't fit. Maybe earlier film holders are flat, I seem to remember somewhere that glass plates were ok at some point. I'll keep a look out.

[Jon Shiu]

If you look at the sides they are reversible and there is a curved and a straight side to them. It took me about 10 years to figure that out.

Jon

[Daniel Unkefer]

Aha! Thank You Sir for that! Now I can burn up my quantity of J Lane Plates. So these tanks will do my 6.5x9cm glass, 9x12cm glass, and one box of 4x5 Lane plates. Even some EI 25 Speed Plates. Good Times Ahead :)

[Daniel Unkefer]

Well, Drat. Both of my Combitube units have curved sides, on both sides, so there it is. Perhaps the one coming my way will be more like the ones you folks are describing.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53391230395_78df7c4f07_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pm11F6)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2pm11F6) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Here's the box for what's coming to me next. It says it develops plates, so we will see.

[Bob Salomon]

Well, Drat. Both of my Combitube units have curved sides, on both sides, so there it is. Perhaps the one coming my way will be more like the ones you folks are describing.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53391230395_78df7c4f07_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pm11F6)My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2pm11F6) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Here's the box for what's coming to me next. It says it develops plates, so we will see.
No, one side is curved it’s other side is straight. And, when you assemble the rack do it so the lock rings are on opposite sides, that will make the rack stronger and, if there are any blue washers, throw them away, they haven’t been needed for over 30 years.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Ah, Thank You Bob! It was difficult to see the difference to my eyes, but now all is good. Scrap J. Lane 6.5x9cm glass plates load smoothly and perfectly. I'm delighted. Happy Holidays to All.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53393563729_56f971a1c5_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pmcYhZ)Combiplan Six 6.5x9cm J Lane Glass Plates loaded (https://flic.kr/p/2pmcYhZ) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This is six dummy Jason Lane 6.5x9cm Glass Plates, loaded into a Combiplan Rack now properly adjusted. I have a lot of Plaubel Makina Glass Plate Holders, purchased in various bundle deals. And quite a few Makina Holders are loaded ready to go. About ASA 1 with most developers I have tried. Fun ahead. Need some more liter graduates for stop and fix. For small runs this will be great, planning to use PMK+

[Corran]

I have 3 Combiplan holders and one tank. Over the years I've found metal tanks a little bigger than the Combiplan so I use those for fix/water bath while developing in the single tank with 1100ml of solution usually.

For b&w images I sometimes load the film back-to-back in the tank for a total of 12 sheets at a time, which is nice for when I have a lot of film to develop. These films take a bit more time to fix once you separate them after development as the rear of the film doesn't have the anti-halation coating washed off in the developer.

For color I use the tanks in the dark for dip-n-dunk processing, C-41 and E-6.

Combiplans are great!

[Duolab123]

These tanks are neat. I don't need anything else darkroom or I would chase one of these down. :o

[Daniel Unkefer]

That's very cool to know Bryan. JOBO rotary will do 18 6.5x9cm sheets, but twelve dipn'dunk is even more awesome IMO. Thanks for sharing! I have Yankees too but this is very different.

[Sal Santamaura]

No, one side is curved it’s other side is straight. And, when you assemble the rack do it so the lock rings are on opposite sides, that will make the rack stronger and, if there are any blue washers, throw them away, they haven’t been needed for over 30 years.

Hi Bob. I've also recently set up a three-tank Combinplan-T line per Eugene Singer's article and, despite replacing washers on the valves with ones you recommended some time ago, occasionally have one or more process chemicals slowly leak into the water jacket. I suspect it's the caps on those valves that are causing this issue. I'd like to replace the valves with threaded plastic plugs, and have found a source for those, but there's a minimum order quantity. Do you by any chance know if my guess at the thread size is correct? By eye and ruler it seems like 5/8-18. It would be good to avoid buying a bag of the things when I only need three if they won't fit. :)

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Bob Salomon]

Hi Bob. I've also recently set up a three-tank Combinplan-T line per Eugene Singer's article and, despite replacing washers on the valves with ones you recommended some time ago, occasionally have one or more process chemicals slowly leak into the water jacket. I suspect it's the caps on those valves that are causing this issue. I'd like to replace the valves with threaded plastic plugs, and have found a source for those, but there's a minimum order quantity. Do you by any chance know if my guess at the thread size is correct? By eye and ruler it seems like 5/8-18. It would be good to avoid buying a bag of the things when I only need three if they won't fit. :)

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sorry no. We ordered them by part number not size.

[Daniel Unkefer]

One of my tanks has a cap that looks like it have been smeared with aquarium cement (or similar). It doesn't leak! Prolly wouldn't hurt anything? WOW this design is great!

[Daniel Unkefer]

[https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53414559364_a018ac9f9e_h.jpg[/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2po4zyG]


I ordered three liter sized pitchers from Photographer's Formulary. The complete Combitube NIB old stock arrived from Germany in good order. So now I am ready to go trying developers that are more suitable for DipN'Dunk processing. Works with European sized planfilm and plates that fit my European cameras. Long WInter, crank up the heater, and give it a good go. Looking forward to it as I have time.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I'm building a little Combiplan Tank Wash Unit, using the original screw-in parts. Rubber hose and "Water Outlet Purifier Kit" 3 for $30 on Amazon. Should work perfectly, I've not be filtering, but this is a good time to start. Works on any online hose filters 5 microns. Will hook it in when I get 'em. May order extras for all my washers.

Going to start up some Replenished D23 in a liter brown glass bottle. Easy to replenish and gets me started with deep tanks. I have run C41 and E6 sink lines in the past. This is for black and white, for use with developers and films that don't like rotary.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53458427455_3da6411565_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2prWq26)Makiflex 150 Xenar F11 Octobox 50 Ortho Commercial 9x12cm (https://flic.kr/p/2prWq26) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Plaubel Auto Makiflex with SK Grimes Graphic Back 150 f4.5 Auto Maki Xenar Yellow Filter Ilford Commercial Ortho 9x12cm Arca Swiss 9x12cm Graphic Back. Broncolor Octobox 150 1500J C200 Monolight One Pop F11. D23 Straight Replenished in 9x12cm Combiplan Tank. DipN'Dunk works great! Love it. New Background Low Key by Artist David Maheu. 4x6 Foamcore Fill off camera right. A successful first test of the Combiplan, I utilized red LED safelight Inspection 25 minutes Straight Replenished D23. Omega DII Laser Aligned 180mm Rodagon Omegalite Dektol 1:2. Copied with Sony Nex 7 on Minolta SRT Copy Stand, Zeiss Touit 2.8/50M at F8

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53468185589_6060b6eb06_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psNqLM)SONY DSC (https://flic.kr/p/2psNqLM) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Testing this Combiplan Film Washer, it works great! After fixing into this modded tank it goes. Surgical tubing three feet ID half-inch, fits the screw-in plastic Combiplan insert. Gently tightened hose clamp tight seal, no leaks. Final embellishment will be to add Inline Filter, set of three plus six extra filters, $30 on Amazon. On it's way to me. This will wash any of the Combiplan Rack Configuration, Planfilm or Glass Plates, Imperial size or Metric size. Most excellent film washer.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53491078541_8be785e3b3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2puPL3R)SONY DSC (https://flic.kr/p/2puPL3R) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Got three of these Inline Filters 5 Microns, about $20 each including plumbing from Lowes, which was half the cost. Have six extra filters for future. From Amazon and Lowes. This is hooked to the Combiplan Wash Tank. I have two left for other uses. No leaks so far!

What I like about the Combiplan, is that it can be inverted when the room lights are on. I load the film rack, drop it into the filled tank, put the cover on, and it's lights on. I wash in the dark, then into the TF4 with more inversion. Trying to use the funnel and daylight caps is messy for me and takes forever. And this unit excels for Ortho process work, I use the Jason Lane ""Double Safelight" and no fog even after thirty minute development. So as safe as you can get. Happy Happy.

[Toyon]

I have used the Combiplan for thousands of sheets of film. They work better than any other system I have used. My only advice is to be extremely careful with the top clips. They break easily. So practice your pinching technique until you have a reliable, surgical approach to installing them. Note: they can be glued.

[Drew Wiley]

I use the inner film holding devices by themselves within a larger custom film washing tank after development, but gave up on the system itself for actual development long ago. I could never get consistent, streak-free results that way. Mine have curved slots on both sides. No way plates would fit in there. But mine is a newer system than the one being posted.

[Daniel Unkefer]

For rotary I have developed hundreds of times using the Unicolor 8x10 Undrum, I've always been pleased with the results, even with 8x10 film. Some developers don't like Unicolor rotary print tubes. I've just received two liters of Ansco 130, one liter for developer, and the other for replenishing. Should work good with dip n' dunk? Lasts a long time too? Legacy Microdol-X can also be replenished and i like it with Fuji HRU XRAY film. I also have about ten gallons of DK-50 and replenisher gallons around here.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I have used the Combiplan for thousands of sheets of film. They work better than any other system I have used. My only advice is to be extremely careful with the top clips. They break easily. So practice your pinching technique until you have a reliable, surgical approach to installing them. Note: they can be glued.

Well Thank You for that! I've had to JBWeld the "foot" on one that was broken. Seems very sturdy. All of mine will take Glass Dry Plates which is a current goal. A friend just sent me complete daylight tank with extra parts. I'll use that fourth tank for holding the film after loading, then into the filled developing tank the rack will go, in the dark. Then the lid can go on if I need it to. Perfecto.

[Bob Salomon]

I use the inner film holding devices by themselves within a larger custom film washing tank after development, but gave up on the system itself for actual development long ago. I could never get consistent, streak-free results that way. Mine have curved slots on both sides. No way plates would fit in there. But mine is a newer system than the one being posted.

No, one side of each end plate is curved on one side and straight on the other.

[Drew Wiley]

Bob - my own Combi holders have no straight slots whatsoever. Only flexible 4x5 film will fit in those.

[Bob Salomon]

Bob - my own Combi holders have no straight slots whatsoever. Only flexible 4x5 film will fit in those.

Every CombiPlan made, from the first German ones from Kraus to the last ones made by us in the EU have both straight and curved sides on their clear end plates. No exceptions.

[Drew Wiley]

Oh, I see, Bob. The device has to be taken apart, and both end plates flipped around. Never noticed that option.

[Bob Salomon]

Oh, I see, Bob. The device has to be taken apart, and both end plates flipped around. Never noticed that option.

Glad you found it. When you reassemble it you should put it together so the bottom locking nut is on one side and the top one on the other. That will make the rack stronger then when when both nuts are on the same side.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Drew,

I missed it too, looking right at it. Another friend here said it took him ten years to notice that! :) Thnx Bob!