Originally Posted by
Mick Fagan
The 2521 tank is/was designed for rotary processing, therefore the chemical usage was minimal, 270ml (I use 300ml).
The tank does work quite well for inversion processing, but does use a lot of chemicals. I think the reason for this is that the sheets are quite far apart to allow for chemicals to pass by the film freely, so the tank is a bigger (wider) tank than most other 4x5 sheet film tanks I have seen.
My own usage of this tank on a CPE2 is that it works best with only 4 sheets. I have used 6 sheets, but I had processing errors. Using 6 sheets of film, is the only time I have had processing errors with this drum. Remember though, this is rotary processing.
The drum can be used with inversion and works well. I have used mine for inversion, but that was about 18 or more years ago, so I'm a tad off with chemistry levels, but it is over 1,000ml possibly 1.2l or close to that. With inversion I don't see any problems with loading 6 sheets onto the reel.
There is a sheet film loader which certainly makes life easier and more importantly, keeps hot sweaty fingers off your emulsion. The sheet film holder takes three film guides, one of which is for 4x5 film.
Jobo did make a sheet film kit for 4 (or six) 4x5 sheet films, it was called, "Sheet film Kit 4341" for 4 sheet films 4x5"
1 tank item No. 2521
1 reel 4x5" Item No. 2509
1 sheet film loader Item No. 2508
1 film guide Item No. 2512 (this is the 4x5 guide)
The other sheet film guides that the loader will load onto the 2509 reels are called:-
6x9cm Item No. 2510
9x12cm Item No. 2511
The print drum system 2800 is the same set of drums, the only major difference is the sticker on the outside. The 2820 test drum is actually the 2521 tank.
You may find a print drum which comes apart called the 2840, this is designed to do a print of 30x40cm. However if you pull the bottom part off, you once again have the 2521 tank.
As it appears you have some Jobo processing stuff, you may be interested to know that the centre core for the 4x5 drum 2521, is the same centre core as that used in the 1520 film drum.
So if you already have a 2 reel centre core for the 1520, this is handy.
Whilst the 2509 reel does come virtually right to the lip of the 2521 tank, the film is about 8 - 10mm below the lip top as it is inside the reel itself.
I am in the lucky position of having both a cog fitted 2500 top and another top without the cog, so I can do rotary or if (when) my processor dies, I'll just switch to inversion using the same system and the only changes will be more chamicals and more hand work.
Mick.
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