Thanks to all, as always. I just emerged from a darkroom session with another couple of negatives, with similar results. I tried turning off the enlarger station safelight but saw no difference.
I then made two sets of graduated test strips without a negative in the carrier:
8 steps of 3 seconds each with Ilford at Gr 2 and 5, opening a stop for the 5
8 steps of 4 seconds each with Foma at Gr 2 and 5, opening a stop for the 5 (addition of 33% as a rough estimate for the slower emulsion; pretty close)
The two Gr 2 strips are quite close. The Ilford Gr 5 shows a steeper curve and a noticeably higher max density, by eye inspection side by side with the Foma. To double-check, I made a D-max test with the Foma then, adding up to 50% to the previous max exposure. Certainly better, showing that I previously hadn't actually reached D-max yet, but still weaker than the Ilford. I may need to try Dektol (or something not BOA -- Brown On Arrival, Multigrade perhaps) and see what happens.
However, I do use amber safelights. I didn't take time to test them with Foma today; I'll do it on the weekend. I do have one red OC bullet safelight filter (barely used), but it will probably be easier to get some red SuperBright LEDs and figure out some dashingly clever way (read, Rube Goldberg had nothing on my creative assemblages) to switch to them when needed. I don't enjoy working in red light all the time.
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