Daylight 4x5 dev tank

[revdocjim]

Thank you everyone for lots of great input. I will give it some more thought and probably have my wife bring something back in her suitcase in May.

 

[Ian Grant]

I've been using a Jobo 2000 series tank since 1976, these were pre-rotary and mine takes two reels each holding 6 sheets. You need 1 or 2 litres of solution depending on whether you use 1 or 2 reels.

For economy I used replenished Xtol, very quick and easy, or Rodinal, these days I only use Pyrocat HD. When I moved to Turkey I placed a wanted advert on this forum and bought a second tank to leave there.

Ian

 

[John Koehrer]

Since we're dealing with "what ifs" and the OP's in Japan, The Patterson & MOD54 may be less expensive to ship & it's considered a very good combination.

 

[revdocjim]

Thanks John. B&H wants over $40 to ship to Japan for either the Yankee or Patterson & Mod54. I haven't seen the Jobo unit for sale online in the U.S. so I don't know how much cheaper it is there than here where the tank and reel come to $170.
But like I said earlier, my wife is going to the U.S. in May as both of our sons are graduating (college and H.S.) so I'll probably make up my mind by then and have her bring something back for me.

 

[paul ron]

I have been using a Yankee daylite sheet film developing tank for 30 years n love it!

I see B&H has it for $38.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I have been using a Yankee daylite sheet film developing tank for 30 years n love it!

I'm not familiar with the Yankee tank. What is the agitation method used?

 

[rcmartins]

Keeping it light-tight, so that it can be used with the lights on, I just rock-it sideways, but gently, using the base left edge and the right base edge as pivots for a small swing. The movement is very close to rocking a tray sideways. Since I do semi-stand, when it's time to move the developer a bit, I close the lights and open the lid, raising and lowering the film holder core two or three times. Then I close the lid again.
You cannot do inversions with this tank, nor can you agitate it too vigorously as the liquids will come out.
raul

 

[paul ron]

The film is mounted in frames, agitation is done by rocking the frames via a bar.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Paul and rc, thanks for the explanation.

 

[mgb74]

Regarding the Yankee and (similar) FR tanks, has anyone tried using a block of plastic or similar material to reduce the volume of chemicals required when processing 4-6 sheets?

 

[WayneStevenson]

The frame wouldn't allow anything extra to be thrown in. At least without damaging your film. Unless you attach it to the frame somehow. But would then act as a baffle, creating a current inside that you probably do not want.

 

[WayneStevenson]

I stick to my Jobo or SS tanks by the way. Ruined an entire tank full of negatives because of uneven agitation (which was according to manufacturer's directions).

For SS, I use double-120 (4x 135) reel tanks. Two sheets emulsion side out portrait orientation into tank. No rubber bands or anything. Fill the tank full in case the film rides up the tank during inversion.

 

[Paul Howell]

The reason I only use my Yankee for semi stand is that it very slow to drain and with the light tight cap on I can only rock back and forth and side to side so the negatives are prone to uneven development. I have attempted couple of different alterntavie methods of filling the tank, such as fill and drain with the lights off, messey I used raditator hose tape to tape the lid and fill hole so I could invert the tank, just not worth the hassle. If I have only just one or two negatives I use a old Unicolor film drum, for 4 or 6 a set of daylight tanks that use hangers, they take about a quart of chem, and for more than 6, standard hard rubber tanks with hangers. I have never got the hang of using trays.

 

[frobozz]

The Nikor tanks show up on ebay all the time, and some of them end up selling pretty cheap ($100-ish). I use one and really really like it, but then I've always been a fan of stainless tanks and reels.

Duncan

There's one on there right now for $120 buy-it-now. Has the little zig-zaggy retaining band, but not the little cap for the lid.

Duncan

 

[Mark Crabtree]

I never really thought these Yankee and similar tanks were a good idea, but I had one around and needed to do couple larger runs so gave it a try. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the results, and I'm using aerial rollfilm stock which is tricky.

But I never pour in or out of any daylight tank (except on the Jobo). I load the holder (full run is 12 sheets) and drop it into the developer in the dark, then put the lid on and process with in room light. I give vigorous rocking agitation in the direction indicated on the tank. I fix in an open tray; just more convenient to me that way.

You can mix up a gallon of any kind of tank developer like DK50 and replenish very cheaply. I'm using some old GAF (Ansco) developer.

 

[revdocjim]

Thought I should give an update. I was at Yodobashi Camera again today (Japan's biggest camera chain). This is where I saw the very expensive Jobo unit some time ago. But today I noticed a sign saying they would be getting the Mod54 in stock in early may. So I put in an order for one and went ahead and bought the Paterson Multi-Reel 3 tank. My total cost will be about $120 which is quite a bit more than B&H's price for the combo $86.95 but I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. The Mod54 is $70 here and $59 at B&H. But the tank is $57 here and only $32 at B&H. And when you buy both pieces as a set at B&H the price falls to $86.95.