Anyone Else Use 2.25 x 3.25 Sheet Film?

[skyrick]

I use an HP Combi Plan to process my sheets, and after the first batch, when I did inversions every minute, I've had to just kind of slosh it around, tipping the tank 90 degrees back and forth. The problem is that the Combi Plan rack, while accomodating the 2 x 3 sheets horizontally, the top ratchet on the rack doesn't come down far enough to hold the sheets in during a full inversion. The first batch I processed were all in the bottom of the tank when I took the lid off to wash. Is there a better way to process this film with this tank?

Thanks,

Rick

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've processed 2x3" successfully in open trays by shuffling, using tanks and hangers, and with the Nikor Sheet Film tank.

A friend recently asked me about the possibility of processing 2x3" in an HP Combi-Plan tank, so I measured a sample sheet precisely, and he measured the rack, and we determined that it wouldn't work.

I also once tried using the rack from a Yankee tank in a larger dip and dunk tank, but it was awkward, because the rack has a tendency to float, which can cause unwanted turbulence in the wrong direction, causing sheets to fall out of the grooves, though it can work if you're careful about it and are willing to hold the rack down between agitation cycles.

 

[keithwms]

I may be wrong but maybe with some minor work you might be able to feed them into a normal 120/220 developing reel. The width is quite close. I thought of trying but haven't yet. So far I have just done tray with them.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Sheets are slightly narrower than rollfilm--enough so that it's not worth the trouble. Even if you don't feel confident about developing larger formats in open trays, 2x3" sheets are quite easy to handle in a 5x7" tray.

 

[DanielStone]

I think Jobo 4x5 reels have a setting for 2x3 cut films. Might want to check in on those

-Dan

 

[ricksplace]

If you use Paterson type plastic reels, adjust the reel until it is somewhere in between 120 and 127 size, that just fits a sheet of film. I placed a sheet in the reel and adjusted it until the sheet just fit with room to move in the spiral. Then put a gob of crazy glue into the adjustable part of the reel. This makes the reel this size permanently. When it's dry, you can just walk the sheets in to the reel, and soup them like you do 120 roll film.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I use an HP Combi Plan to process my sheets, and after the first batch, when I did inversions every minute, I've had to just kind of slosh it around, tipping the tank 90 degrees back and forth. The problem is that the Combi Plan rack, while accomodating the 2 x 3 sheets horizontally, the top ratchet on the rack doesn't come down far enough to hold the sheets in during a full inversion. The first batch I processed were all in the bottom of the tank when I took the lid off to wash. Is there a better way to process this film with this tank?

Thanks,

Rick

Is this the only format you use the Combi for? If so, have you considered adjusting the depth of the slots to raise the bottoms enough to have the sheets secured by the notched ratchet? Just a thought.

 

[dpurdy]

I cut the sheets out of 5x7 film and they are actually a bit wider than roll film, I have to trim them to fit in a negative holder for the enlarger. I bought a bunch of glass butter dishes and the lids make perfect little processing trays.
Dennis

 

[mts]

Use 5x7 trays. You can process two sheets rather easily. I don't shuffle sheets because it is too easy to scratch or abrade the emulsion especially for the Efke soft-emulsion films. I have also processed C41 this way by putting the trays on a tray warmer. Only the developer temperature is critical so you need only control its temperature for the 3-1/2 minutes processing time. The rest can be done in room light at nominal 100F temperature.

 

[keithwms]

If you use Paterson type plastic reels, adjust the reel until it is somewhere in between 120 and 127 size, that just fits a sheet of film. I placed a sheet in the reel and adjusted it until the sheet just fit with room to move in the spiral. Then put a gob of crazy glue into the adjustable part of the reel. This makes the reel this size permanently. When it's dry, you can just walk the sheets in to the reel, and soup them like you do 120 roll film.

Aha! I thought that might work. So are you able to push several onto one reel?

 

[Ian Grant]

I think Jobo 4x5 reels have a setting for 2x3 cut films. Might want to check in on those

-Dan

The Jobo reels I have are all fixed for 4" wide, so no adjustment, I bought a separate tack for 6x9 & 9x12.

Ian

 

[ricksplace]

Aha! I thought that might work. So are you able to push several onto one reel?

Yup. I can fit about 6 onto the reel before they get difficult to load. The sheet film is quite a bit thicker than roll film, and I don't force them down into the grooves too much farther since the diameter gets pretty small towards the end of the spiral. YMMV. Uses way less solution than a combiplan tank too.

 

[keithwms]

Okay, good to know, Rick. Incidentally, a few months ago, I modified spools for "can" development of 4" and 5" width films, which is of interest to me because I shoot pano in these widths. The bowing is too much with most films, so they don't go easily onto the spools, but an enterprising person might find a way to fix that with a center piece. When I have some more shop time I'll give it a go.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

With the Nikor sheet film tank, it helps to bend the film in the direction of the curve as you load it in. This might help with the Paterson reels as well, at least as you load them initially. The Nikor tank has twelve curved slots instead of one continuous spiral.

 

[keithwms]

Ah good to know, thanks David. Never seen one of those. I do have some combiplans and type 55 clearing gizmos that sound similar. My goal with the spirals is to keep dev volume reasonably low. Tray dev of 4" and 5" panos eats up a lot of developer.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The Nikor tank is actually a round tank, the size of an old style 2-reel 220 tank with an adjustable metal cage. I've posted the instruction sheet here, and you can see how it works--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Irrev.Rev.]

See if you can locate a ''FR'' Adjustable Tank; they set from 4 1/2 to 6cm up to 4x5 sheet. "Oldie but goodie!!"

John

 

[skyrick]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll keep using my Combi Plan for now, without doing full inversions. The 90 degree side to side with flat 360 degree wrist rotation seems to work fine without the sheets sliding out. I'll keep an eye open for the Nikor tank, even the Yankee tank looks better. I shied away from it initially because of complaints I read here, but it looks like it will hold the 2x3s more securely. Since I don't have a true darkroom, tray development is not really an option right now. I load the sheets in the laundry room then process in the upstairs bathroom with the lights on.

Thanks for all of the responses!

Rick

 

[mopar_guy]

See if you can locate a ''FR'' Adjustable Tank; they set from 4 1/2 to 6cm up to 4x5 sheet. "Oldie but goodie!!"

John

I am also using this tank with mostly good results.

Cons: Too vigorous agitation can cause streaks, uses a lot of chemistry.

Pros: Adjustable for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 or 3 1/4 x 4 1/4. Can be cheap to find.