Anyone use a Jobo to process platinum/palladium prints? I'm trying to save space and be efficient in my silver darkroom by using my Jobo to process pt/pd prints smaller than 16x20".
Interesting idea. It could work for some papers (the stiffer ones), especially for clearing. But I wouldn't use a drum for developing because you usually want to have a very short development time (or at least, I usually want a very short development time - others may differ).
AFAIK - aside from the possiblity of ultra short timing, there is no reason not to do it. Note that some materials will stain the plastic, and you might need to dedicate that tank for that process to prevent contamination in the future.
This is an interesting question, you should post it to the Jobo analog facebook and see what their experts have to say.
I wouldn't do it unless I had more than one tank of appropriate size because of the likelihood of chemical carryover. I normally use only one tray for processing Pd. It is quite easy to develop (2-5 minutes for me), rinse, clear in 3 baths and then into the washing tray. Yes it is time consuming, but it makes for careful attention to the process.
I don't see any problem with chemical carryover, just due to the nature of the chemistry. Who cares if some developer ends up in the rinse (if you use one.) I think the primary factor is whether the paper is going to collapse in the drum. I've also used a one-tray approach, holding the paper in place with small rare earth magnets to simplify dump and refill.
The reason why I am considering using the Jobo to process the prints instead of trays is that I don't want to have two tray lines in my darkroom, silver and Pt, or have to stand over and agitate the trays while they do the 3 x 5 minute clearing soaks. If the Jobo doesn't work, and I think for some papers it might be too vigorous, then of course I'll have to use the trays.