Anybody tried Antifoam / Defoamer in rotary b&w film processing?

[classic_darkroom]

Hello,
since I've problems with foam on TriX during development in Xtol undiluted @ 21°C in my rotary Jobo processerors after 2 Min. presoaking , I'd like to try silicon oil as a defoaming solution.
I can't find Kodak Defoamer 1253566 here in germany, that would have been my first choice...
Any suggestions, what (brand or type) to use instead? Any formula or recipe?

Kodak defoamer is listed for E-6 any experiences, if and how it could be used in b&w?
Should I give a drop in developer after mixing? Will it swim on top, would that be a problem since the Jobo ATL3 pumps chemicals from the bottom of the temperated bottles?
I have 30 years of experience in film developing and do it every week. Since 13 years I do this with the same chemicals, the same machine exactly the same way. Foam is a very new problem for me....

@Ryuji: You've anounced your own defoamer or defoamer formula. Have you made new experiences yet?

best
Ole

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Hello,
since I've problems with foam on TriX during development in Xtol undiluted @ 21°C in my rotary Jobo processerors after 2 Min. presoaking , I'd like to try silicon oil as a defoaming solution.
I can't find Kodak Defoamer 1253566 here in germany, that would have been my first choice...
Any suggestions, what (brand or type) to use instead? Any formula or recipe?

Kodak defoamer is listed for E-6 any experiences, if and how it could be used in b&w?
Should I give a drop in developer after mixing? Will it swim on top, would that be a problem since the Jobo ATL3 pumps chemicals from the bottom of the temperated bottles?
I have 30 years of experience in film developing and do it every week. Since 13 years I do this with the same chemicals, the same machine exactly the same way. Foam is a very new problem for me....

@Ryuji: You've anounced your own defoamer or defoamer formula. Have you made new experiences yet?

best
Ole

View attachment 68621

Omit the pre-soak and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Hello,
since I've problems with foam on TriX during development in Xtol undiluted @ 21°C in my rotary Jobo processerors after 2 Min. presoaking , I'd like to try silicon oil as a defoaming solution.
I can't find Kodak Defoamer 1253566 here in germany, that would have been my first choice...
Any suggestions, what (brand or type) to use instead? Any formula or recipe?

Kodak defoamer is listed for E-6 any experiences, if and how it could be used in b&w?
Should I give a drop in developer after mixing? Will it swim on top, would that be a problem since the Jobo ATL3 pumps chemicals from the bottom of the temperated bottles?
I have 30 years of experience in film developing and do it every week. Since 13 years I do this with the same chemicals, the same machine exactly the same way. Foam is a very new problem for me....

@Ryuji: You've anounced your own defoamer or defoamer formula. Have you made new experiences yet?

best
Ole

View attachment 68621

Omit the pre-soak and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Neal]

Dear Ole,

As a long time user of the Xtol-Jobo combination, I have never had an issue with the little bit of foaming I encounter. I mix all my chemicals with distilled water, I use softened tap water (from a well) for the wash and then Photo-Flo in distilled water at the end. I ignore the Jobo warning against putting Photo-Flo in their tanks and let it slosh around in there for several minutes getting all nice and bubbly. I do, however, clean everything up in nice hot softened water until their is no sign of Photo-Flo afterword.

I suggest that if you are getting a lot of foam, a good cleaning might solve your problem.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

 

[Rick A]

If you are having foaming problems, a single drop of Edwal LFN per liter of developer will remedy the issue.

 

[classic_darkroom]

carefully cleaned as usually

Dear Keith,

thanks for this idea. I'll give it a try.

Dear Dean,
thanks for the answer. It seems, we do it quite the same way. But I, too be safe, put only the loaded reels in the Photo-Flo bath (with destilled Water).
After that, I wash the single parts of the wheels with complete change three times in 60°C water. I let them dry in its own drying cabinet.

I've never had this problem before, and what irritades me; there are three reels loaded in the tank, two have trouble with foam, four not. Next run, two have trouble, four not. But the foam canditates have been at different positions...

I hope somebody has experiences with defoamer, since I wait for an hint this way, I'm going to try to ultrasound cleaning the reels.

best,
Ole