Originally Posted by
Mick Fagan
I too have endured scratches like yours, from doing mostly the same thing with a changing tent.
I switched to the larger 8x10" changing tent, gives much more room for 4x5" stuff. Eventually I stopped doing 4 sheets into two holders at a time. I now do two sheets into one holder at a time. I only use my changing tent when on the road and then, only in our camper which can get incredibly hot; meaning sweaty hands. Speed then is the essence and having everything lined up inside the tent ready to go; so to speak.
This certainly seems to have reduced scratches, but not entirely. Unfortunately touching the emulsion with finger nails or anything like that, often results in scratches.
I don't load my SP445 tank in my tent, I develop everything at home where I have a darkroom. I actually bought my SP445 to use on the road, mainly because we sometimes are away for up to three months and I figured it would be nice to develop on the run. I have not done this yet, probably won't; but that was the reason in purchasing the SP445.
I did load my SP445 with two DDS and four sheets of film inside my changing tent, as a practice run prior to a long trip. I had one scratched sheet and decided that unless I was desperate, I would develop when home.
One possibility I did think of, was to get two sheets of plywood to place into the changing tent that fitted the floor of the tent perfectly. One big sheet cannot be gotten into the tent, so two together was my brainwave. This was to help with reducing movement of the tent and the walls; not sure if it would work, but it was something I thought of.
Thoughts.
Mick.
Bookmarks