Are Paterson tanks light tight without the funnel?

[matti]

So, I am using my 2 liter-Paterson tank to develop 8x10 negatives in. Just using the rubber lid, without the funnel insert, and loading the film and pouring the chemicals in the dark. But turning on the light while agitating.

Problem is that the film is fogged at the top end, which is nearest the lid of the tank and also at the flip out part of the film holder.

So, is it the rubber lid or the film holders that are leaking? I suppose it must be the lid on the Paterson tank, since both my two film holders would have the same problem otherwise.

The step from 4x5 to 8x10 seems larger than the step from medium format to 4x5...

/matti

 

[Ian Grant]

They aren't designed to be used like that, so no. You answered our own question.

Ian

 

[smieglitz]

No. I've witnessed probably about 100 students ruin their 35mm film by putting it loose in a Paterson tank without the tube and funnel.

 

[matti]

OK, thank you.

One mystery less to solve. Now I just have to find a better way to develop those negatives. BTZS-tubes or tray. Adjacency-effects are not noticeable while contact printing, right? So I might just use constant agitation with any of these techniques?

/matti

 

[haris]

One idea...

Get Jobo 2850 drum for processing (up to 16x20) papers and Jobo 2521 tank for process 4x5 films (or just top of that tank and its additional center columns). Replace paper drum top (that with red rubber cover) with top from film tank, they are same size and mach, I checked that. Also, column from film tank sit pefectly on bottom of paper tank. In fact film tank is actually bootom part of paper drum, they are identical . Next buy 4 or five additional centeral columns for 4x5 film processing tank and connect them, so they go from top to bottom of paper tank. Now, use paper tank like ordinary film tank. taht way in theory it is possibile to develop up to 16x20 film.

Be carefull to get top of 2521 film tank. It has top with red rubber, and it is made to work with magnet on Jobo processors without lift. There is tank with cog, its number is 2523 and it doesn't have red rubber cover, it is made to work in Jobo processors with lift. So, in manuall processing 2523 top isn't closed and chemical spilling is very possibile.

I don't know if that works, but that is something I will try to do. I have those Jobo paper and film tanks, and just need to get few more central columns and to try if that work. Only concern is because of size and time needed for pouring in and out of chemicals, will that make problems that is make uneven development of 8x10 film.