agitation stick in dev tank - do I need it?

[Jerevan]

I have been developing film for many years now, but I have never given the agitation stick on the Paterson tanks much thought. Is the tank light tight without it?

 

[yellowcat]

I have been developing film for many years now, but I have never given the agitation stick on the Paterson tanks much thought. Is the tank light tight without it?

Yes the tank light tight without it. I use inversion agitation rather than the agitation stick.

 

[Dave Miller]

Yes, it is, and just to balance the argument I only ever use the twizzel stick to agitate the film.

 

[Jerevan]

Sounds good. I have been pouring the developer into the tank all the time with the stick stuck on. Takes about forever. But last time I tried and left it out while I poured stop into the tank, and hey, we are now talking warp speed...

 

[edtbjon]

The only time I ever used it was for giving the film a twirl now and then when fixing and HCA'in the film. (Yes, I know that it should be "constant agitation", but I'm sometimes lazy. So... the Jobo CPP2 comes in really handy. )
I havn't heard of anyone else using that stick either. Inversion is so much better.

//Björn

 

[MattKing]

If you happen to have a tank that leaks when inverted, the stick is a lot less messy .

They work pretty well, if you alternate between twisting the stick and moving the tank back and round and round on a flat surface.

Matt

 

[Sino]

I never use it. It just feels funny.

-Sino.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

I have never seen any differences in my film developing if I use the stick or I invert

Its a personal choice thing

I tend to invert - most of the time

I find the stick a little too short to comfortably use/hold for extended times

On the other hand using the stick helps prevent getting developer all over your hands - dev really stings when it gets into cuts and cracked skin

Martin

 

[André E.C.]

I never used that thingy, I use the inversion method.


Cheers



André