Paterson Orbital Processors

[Dave Tolcher]

I have just managed to buy a nice s/h orbital processor with motorised base afte r reading various recommendations to try 5X4 film processing in one. Some people seem to have put grooves in the base to allow a flow of water/chemicals all rou nd the film - is this necessary ? Any other experiences to share before I put so me film through it ?

Thanks

Dave

[Darryl Peck]

I have one of these for processing film from 4x5 to 8x10. The article in Shutterbug magazine recommended scoring the bottom of the processor with a Dremmel tool so that the developer reaches the back of the film. So I took the Dremmel tool with a grinder and ground the bottom of the processor such that it was rough and then sanded it so that there were no sharp points. It works fine and is easy to set up. Its a little pricey at nearly $200 but it can do paper as well up to 8x10. Also if no groves are put in the film sticks to the processor and is hard to remove.

Hope that helps.

[Dave Tolcher]

Thanks, I will add some get 'groovy' with a grinder