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Thread: Developing tank advice

  1. #31

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    Re: Developing tank advice

    I didn't like using trays, I had a Yankee tank, lots of sloshing, was never sure I was getting proper agitation. I then got a Nikor tank, the tank is for 2 220 reels, so it is a little big for the sheet film cage, prone to pistoning with inversion agitation, so I put a thin plastic pipe to hold the cage, works well. Loading the film you have to be careful or there can be touching. Once you get everything figured out it a nice tank, holds 12 4x5 sheets. It is almost impossible told while the cage is wet.

  2. #32

    Re: Developing tank advice

    When I was researching low agitation development earlier this year, I incidentally ended up also researching sheet film development technique. Low agitation is just merciless if you have any kind of developer trapping or flow problems along the edges of negs.

    I found that open tank processing of sheet film with minimal 'pinch' type film holders was the only way I could avoid bromide drag problems. Frame hangers - or worse still - the Yankee Tank, yielded nothing but pain and suffering. Similarly, I found that roll/35mm film is best done on Nikor stainless reels with relatively wide spiral spacing. Additionally, I put a rubber plug at the bottom of the reel to space it off the bottom the the developer tank.

    I realize that not everyone does low agitation, but since this approach gives me good results for the most demanding case, I also use it for the less demanding, normal agitation case as well.
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  3. #33

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    Re: Developing tank advice

    Quote Originally Posted by tundra View Post
    I realize that not everyone does low agitation, but since this approach gives me good results for the most demanding case, I also use it for the less demanding, normal agitation case as well.
    Initial agitation of 2-3 minutes seems to give me the most even results especially with open sky. It also seems to eliminate the edge holder effect on the SP-445.
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  4. #34

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    Re: Developing tank advice

    Quote Originally Posted by John Layton View Post
    I also have an old Yankee tank, but have only used this for film washing. Recently I've been thinking that it might be nice to press the Yankee into service to process 4x5's - especially as this tank has twelve film slots...but I'm feeling a bit unsure about how to agitate films in this tank in a manner which avoids artifacts. Anybody? RJ?
    I used one for years and did 4-6 pieces of film in it. I would put it in a tray and slide side to side, and then tilt side to side letting it drop. Any spillage would be dumped back in. I just got tired of losing that many sheets in one session if there were problems so have moved to single sheet processing, maybe two.
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  5. #35

    Re: Developing tank advice

    Quote Originally Posted by esearing View Post
    Initial agitation of 2-3 minutes seems to give me the most even results especially with open sky. It also seems to eliminate the edge holder effect on the SP-445.

    I routinely prewash for 3 minutes and continuously agitate for 2 min initially. Nonetheless, anything except pinch hangers and widely spaced reels gave me bromide drag irrespective of whether I was doing Semistand or Extreme Minimal Agitation.
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  6. #36

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    Re: Developing tank advice

    Quote Originally Posted by tundra View Post
    I routinely prewash for 3 minutes and continuously agitate for 2 min initially. Nonetheless, anything except pinch hangers and widely spaced reels gave me bromide drag irrespective of whether I was doing Semistand or Extreme Minimal Agitation.
    What developer are you using? If it contains potassium bromide try making it without the bromide. Example there are variations of Pyrocat that do not include PB. Also do you use photoflo in your tanks? It leaves a film behind and gives odd edge problems. It is very hard to remove after a few uses on plastic tanks and sheet holders.
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  7. #37
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    Re: Developing tank advice

    Tundra

    What are you using as Pinch Type Hangers?

    and how

    Thanks in advance

  8. #38

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    Re: Developing tank advice

    Thinking about that, esearing may be right. I’ve developed hundreds of EMA negatives without bromide drag, but I’m using Pyrocat P and M which do not have the KBr.

  9. #39

    Re: Developing tank advice

    The drag problems are noted with Pyrocat-HD which - as you say - does have KBr.

    I do use Photoflo, but not in the tanks used for development or fixing. I use open tank development in Kodak 1/2 gal rubber tanks for everything except 220 reels where I use a Nikor stainless tank, but again, open in the dark. For sheet film, I've cut the bottom off a 1 gal water jug and I mix 500ml water + 2.5 ml Photoflo 200 + 1/2 oz Isoproply alcohol in it to make a final rinse working solution.
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  10. #40

    Re: Developing tank advice

    I use hangers of this kind and a 1/2 gal Kodak rubber tank: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mN4AA...jmU/s-l300.jpg

    You can also use X-Ray film clips but you have to figure out a way to suspend them.
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