Developing 4x5 B&W Film: Tray or Tank

Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

Thanks.

RON

Tubes! And the old Unicolor for one 8x10 or four 4x5 prints can be used
without modifications for developing 4x5 negatives. Only 150mm developing
solution needed for 4 film sheets simultaneously. Tough to beat.

"Ron " wrote in
message ups.com...
Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

While more complete and expensive then the Combi Plan tank I like my
Jobo!!


"Ron " wrote:
: Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
: or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
: but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
: film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

: 1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
: 2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
: is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
: bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

: Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

: Thanks.

: RON


--




Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------

On 2/8/2005 10:26 PM Lawrence Akutagawa spake thus:

Tubes! And the old Unicolor for one 8x10 or four 4x5 prints can be used
without modifications for developing 4x5 negatives. Only 150mm developing
solution needed for 4 film sheets simultaneously. Tough to beat.

I second that emotion. Easy to load, difficult to scratch, uses little
chemistry, easy to agitate.

"Ron " wrote in
message ups.com...

Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!


--
Today's bull**** job description:

• Collaborate to produce operational procedures for the systems management
of the production Information Technology infrastructure.

- from an actual job listing on Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org)

In article . com,
"Ron "
wrote:

Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

Thanks.

RON

There should be no scratches- PERIOD. Please call us so we can eliminate
yhis problem. 800 735 4373,

--
To reply no_ HPMarketing Corp.

"Ron " wrote in
ups.com:

Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

Thanks.

RON


Ron -

I tried to use a Unicolor print drum - and I agree with the general
consensus that a drum SHOULD be an ideal solution. But in my case I had
problems keeping the sheets separated, and ended up ruining all four
sheets.

Trays work, but the risk of scratching is pretty high, especially as the
number of sheets done at a time increases. Last summer I was in a
workshop where the instructor let us use his "slosher". This is
basically a plexiglass insert that fits into 11x14 trays and that holds
six sheets of film. Each sheet is in its own compartment, and is
developed emulsion up. As a result, there is no scratching at all.
After the workshop, I decided to make my own slosher. There are also
commercial versions available.

With trays, you do have to do the processing in total darkness. I have
the advantage of a dedicated darkroom, but I think it could be done in a
temporary setup just as well. The only issue might be that when using
trays you pretty much have to have four trays set up - presoak,
developer, stop and fix. If you are using a six sheet slosher, four
11x14 trays take up quite a bit of space, more than might be found in the
typical bathroom (unless you work over the tub).

It should be possible to build a four-sheet slosher for use in smaller
trays. I've worked out the slosher dimensions, and the size is larger
than the 8x10 trays that I already have so I have'nt tried to make one
yet. I am thinking about a two-tray version, though.

Ron
Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!

I never dared tray development or normal negatives. I do develop Kodak
2556 Type 3 OrthoLith film in trays, one at a time, using a red safelight
where I can see what I am doing. One at a time, face up, when I can see
what I am doing, results in scratches only when I am careless.

For normal negatives, I started out with three Calumet stainless steel 1/2
gallon tanks and two Kodak hard rubber tanks. Dev, stop, and Fix in the ss
tanks, wash and PhotoFlo in the hard rubber tanks. I used Kodak sheet film
hangers and later added a rack that held the hangers to keep them
separated better. I had no problem with uniformity doing that, and almost
never any scratches. But I did not much care for the amount of time I
spent in the dark. No lights until the film had been in the fix a while.

I got the Jobo 2500 tanks and 2501N (I think the number is) reels when I
wanted to do some E-6 processing. I now use them for almost everything
except when I want to do a single roll of 35mm, where I use Nikor ss tank
and reel.

The Jobo is uniform in development, too.

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"Ron " wrote:
Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?
2) If not, do I have to use trays for the best development? (The tank
is sooooo convenient; I can keep the lights on, etc. I do this in my
bathroom, so the whole thing is rather jimmyrigged.)

Any other recommendations are gratefully accepted!



Jobo 2500 type tanks. The full setup new is more money then the Combi tank
but used is often less. If you do multiple formats then the Jobo will handle
everything from 35mm to 4x5. With the right tank and a Unicolor or Beseler
motorbase you can even automate the process. The bigger tank can even handle
18 sheets with three reels.

Nick

"Ron " wrote in
message ups.com...
Hi. I've been developing my 4x5 film in a HP Combi Plus tank. It's hit
or miss in that (1) I can develop only 2 sheets at a time (they say 6),
but the problem is that from time to time there are scratches where the
film passes through the plastic guiderail. My questions are these:

Something is wrong, Ron. You certainly can develop 6 at a time. If you are
getting scratches, then I strongly doubt it is from the Combi guiderail.
Let's talk this out and find out what's going on.

1) Is there a tank that is better than the HP Combi?

Unfortunately, no. For daylight work it's the best. Just work over a sink,
don't be alarmed by leaking, and never, ever 'rap' the tank (to dislodge
bubbles) near the bottom spigot lest you snap it off.

"Louie Powell" wrote in message
7...

Trays work, but the risk of scratching is pretty high, especially as the
number of sheets done at a time increases. Last summer I was in a
workshop where the instructor let us use his "slosher". This is
basically a plexiglass insert that fits into 11x14 trays and that holds
six sheets of film. Each sheet is in its own compartment, and is
developed emulsion up. As a result, there is no scratching at all.
After the workshop, I decided to make my own slosher. There are also
commercial versions available.

The OP apparently has no real darkroom, so that would be a problem.

I'd be interested in seeing a picture of your slosher. It is a very clean
method of developing. I have one for four negatives.