Don Hutton
14-Jul-2008, 10:30
Just an FYI... I do a fair amount of both C41 and E6 processing on a Jobo, but often find my processing is sporadic and it's pretty easy to have color developer concentrates go bad. Also, now that Kodak seems to have stopped making 1-gallon C41 Flexicolor developer, I'll have to start using the 5-gallon kit which would last me over a year...
I recently bought a device called an Ultra Wine Saver - this is a very small argon dispenser - it has a built in regulator which allows exactly 1.4 cu inches of argon to be dispensed per second. This really seems to be a great idea for low volume color processing - you can put a layer of perfectly inert argon onto anything very conveniently and quickly. The product is designed for preserving opened bottles of wine so it's very convenient for using on concentrate bottles - calculate the area of the concentrate in the bottle and you can quickly work out exactly how many seconds from the UWS will apply a 1 inch layer onto the concentrate (argon is over two times heavier than air so it "sits" on the concentrate) which should protect it from oxidation for a very long time.
The good news: this little device only costs $30 - and that includes 3 spare cartridges - http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Wine-Saver-Argon-Saving/dp/B000O3GA5C Extra cartridges are around $3 each and the math suggest that for infrequent chemistry use, this is a very cheap solution. A recent check at a welding supplier revealed about $150 for the cheapest solution there (although, you'd likely have enough argon for a lifetime with that solution). I have no connection with this outfit and there are plenty of other similar devices on the market now which should work at least as well - just a heads up on what seems to be a pretty elegant solution. The product appears to be adequately made etc., but obviously for $30, you're not getting a work of art - it's functional. I've only had it for a couple of weeks - mine worked perfectly and is pretty handy to use.
Of course, you could use it for wine too, but I find wine is generally supplied in very convenient 750mm servings...
I recently bought a device called an Ultra Wine Saver - this is a very small argon dispenser - it has a built in regulator which allows exactly 1.4 cu inches of argon to be dispensed per second. This really seems to be a great idea for low volume color processing - you can put a layer of perfectly inert argon onto anything very conveniently and quickly. The product is designed for preserving opened bottles of wine so it's very convenient for using on concentrate bottles - calculate the area of the concentrate in the bottle and you can quickly work out exactly how many seconds from the UWS will apply a 1 inch layer onto the concentrate (argon is over two times heavier than air so it "sits" on the concentrate) which should protect it from oxidation for a very long time.
The good news: this little device only costs $30 - and that includes 3 spare cartridges - http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Wine-Saver-Argon-Saving/dp/B000O3GA5C Extra cartridges are around $3 each and the math suggest that for infrequent chemistry use, this is a very cheap solution. A recent check at a welding supplier revealed about $150 for the cheapest solution there (although, you'd likely have enough argon for a lifetime with that solution). I have no connection with this outfit and there are plenty of other similar devices on the market now which should work at least as well - just a heads up on what seems to be a pretty elegant solution. The product appears to be adequately made etc., but obviously for $30, you're not getting a work of art - it's functional. I've only had it for a couple of weeks - mine worked perfectly and is pretty handy to use.
Of course, you could use it for wine too, but I find wine is generally supplied in very convenient 750mm servings...