Pyrocat-HD questions

[Peter Witkop]

I'm getting ready to start testing/playing with pyrocat-hd, and I had a couple of questions. I was reading Sandy King's article on unblinkingeye.com, and he advises to use the slowest speed on a jobo processor to avoid general stain, or to add sodium sulfite to help combat this. I'll be using a jobo cpe2, which has only one speed, 75rpm. Does this qualify as slow enough, or should I also order some sodium sulfite? One other related question I had was the min. developer per sheet (I'll be using 4x5 sheets). I've heard a recomendation of both 75ml and 50ml per sheet. Would 50ml per sheet be exausted with extneded development (N+1 or N+2), or is 75 just a little more conservative? I use a 2521 tank, and the table on the side lists 270ml (IIRC) so 50ml per sheet would work well, but 75ml would be a rather full tank, and the motor on the cpe2 isn't terribly strong (though I've had no problems in the past). Thanks very much for any anwsers anyone might have.

Peter

[Bill Jefferson]

Hi Peter, I also use the CPE2 processor and use the 270 ml per tank if its full or not

[Michael Kadillak]

My drums bearly rotate on my CPP2 with Pyrocat and I get fabulous results. I would think that 75 RPM is way to fast. Unless someone else that has a similar Jobo unit can contradict this conclusion, I would be on the phone ordering the Sodium Sulfite. I have been using a consistent ratio of 250ml per 8x10 sheet of film or 3.1 ml/sq inch or 62.5 ml per 4x5 sheet. For a full drum of 4x5 in the 3010 drum, you would be looking at 625 ml of chemistry. Jobo lists a minimum volume of 500 ml as a starting point and individual testing would ascertain if this ration works for you. Good Luck

[jerry brodkey]

My CPP2 rotates at about 18-20 RPM's at the lowest level. I wonder if you could get your JOBO to rotate slower by using a voltage regulator? The JOBO people in Ann Arbor are very helpful. Why don't you give them a call and see what they think?

[jerry brodkey]

I don't know if I was clear. Maybe you can get your JOBO to run slower if you run it at a lower voltage.

[Peter Witkop]

Thanks very much for all the anwsers. I suspect I'll end up using some sodium sulfite. I will give JOBO a call too, and see about slowing the machine down, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to test and see just how everything comes out. Tanks again for the suggestions.

Peter