Daylight Film Tanks for Color Print Developing

Duceman · Nov 20, 2022

I would like to dip my toes into making color prints. I already have a Beseler 23CIII Dichro head. But what I don't have are any daylight film tanks. I've been looking around for decent used ones, but they still seem to fetch several hundred dollars? If that's what it costs, then fine. But being that I've never done this before, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on something a bit cheaper (if even just for testing to see if it is something I would do more in the future). Any suggestions?

awty · Nov 20, 2022

Duceman said:
I would like to dip my toes into making color prints. I already have a Beseler 23CIII Dichro head. But what I don't have are any daylight film tanks. I've been looking around for decent used ones, but they still seem to fetch several hundred dollars? If that's what it costs, then fine. But being that I've never done this before, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on something a bit cheaper (if even just for testing to see if it is something I would do more in the future). Any suggestions?

Are you talking about film or paper development?
I assume you meant paper.
Paper developiing tanks use to be cheap and ready available, I have a half dozen I acquired over the years. You can make easy enough out of plumbing fittings and pipe.
Motor rollers used to be common to, you could make your own manual type.
I bought a Jobo CPV with a paper tank recently for $30. Should do the job when I get to paper development.
I believe there a light tight trays as well you could use, or make your own.

Duceman · Nov 20, 2022

Yes, paper (print) development.

rcphoto · Nov 20, 2022

Usually you can find unicolor drums on ebay for pretty cheap. Under $60 depending on the size you are looking for.

MattKing · Nov 20, 2022

The Cibachrome tanks are great, and can be cheap. I think that some of them are also branded under the Ilfochrome name.
I have an excess, but I'm fairly sure that you aren't local, and they cost way too much to ship.

Duceman · Nov 21, 2022

Thanks for the replies. The tutorial videos I was viewing all were using Jobo drums, and that was the basis of my searching, and they don't seem to be all that cheap. But searching for both Unicolor and Cibachrome brings up a lot of hits on the Bay, and the prices are much more reasonable.

Again, thanks for the tips.

xkaes · Nov 21, 2022

JOBO is great, but expensive. There are TONS of drums under different brands for a LOT less. You need to decide what sizes you want to work with -- and stick with one brand so parts can be interchanged -- for example, the ENDS of the 8x10 drum fit on the 11x14 drum, etc. You should be able to get a good 8x10 drum, for example for $10-15 TOPS.

Paul Howell · Nov 21, 2022

I would avoid Unicolor tanks, I have Bessler, Cibachrome and Unicolor, Unicolor uses a gasket that is prone to go bad with years, at that point you will need to make a replacement.

btaylor · Nov 21, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I would avoid Unicolor tanks, I have Bessler, Cibachrome and Unicolor, Unicolor uses a gasket that is prone to go bad with years, at that point you will need to make a replacement.

+1 on the Unicolor- the gasket problem. Beseler, Cibachrome, Chromega are better bets. I had a bunch of surplus ones from a darkroom buyout, I had a hell of a time selling them (or even giving them away) so you shouldn't need to spend too much on them. The Beseler or Unicolor (I think omega made one too) roller base is nice to have, I think they are worth $40-60 these days.

mshchem · Nov 21, 2022

Cibachrome/Ilfochrome tubes work great, same diameter as the Doran made Devtec, Adorama etc. The 8x10 and 11x14 end caps are the same. I had a bunch of these used for Cibachrome, there's even a water bath, motor, temperature control that was sold under Devtec by Doran brand. Most of this stuff got tossed.

Randy Stewart · Nov 22, 2022

Way back when, I elected to buy the Cibachrome drums, because I was learning to do color printing with Cibachrome. The chemistry was so harsh that I concluded that if a drum could survive Ciba, it would work with anything. That proved correct. Very well made equipment. No replaceable seals or need for them. I ended up with a full set of drums for prints from 4x5 inches to 16x20. Their unique virtue is that the parts break down easily for quick wash and dry, so quick use turn-around. Some drums do not do this and are hard to dry quickly.

redbandit · Nov 30, 2022

the drums are expensive, used or new. regardless of who made them.

And its very common to get broken drums for beseler. If that tab is broken your screwed.

I could NEVER get proper development using the tray, but switching to drums was so much better.

Mr Flibble · Nov 30, 2022

Paterson Orbital Tank? If you can still find one.

I use one, with some modifications, to develop 4x5" sheet film.

RPC · Nov 30, 2022

redbandit said:
I could NEVER get proper development using the tray, but switching to drums was so much better.

I hated drums. All that pouring the solutions in and out, having to use a prewet and stop bath, roll the drum or motorize it, and wash and dry the drum out before the next use. All that went away when I switched to trays, using Kodak RA-RT developer/replenisher and bleach-fix at room temperature for 2 minutes each, which gives excellent results. Much easier and more productive.

eli griggs · Dec 11, 2022

btaylor said:
+1 on the Unicolor- the gasket problem. Beseler, Cibachrome, Chromega are better bets. I had a bunch of surplus ones from a darkroom buyout, I had a hell of a time selling them (or even giving them away) so you shouldn't need to spend too much on them. The Beseler or Unicolor (I think omega made one too) roller base is nice to have, I think they are worth $40-60 these days.

I've had both of the recommended rollers and, I personally think they will still be working long after our species fly away to a distance star; they are dead simple and reliable.

koraks · Dec 12, 2022

eli griggs said:
I've had both of the recommended rollers and, I personally think they will still be working long after our species fly away to a distance star; they are dead simple and reliable.

In the Unicolor rollers the drum rests on the two large wheels that in turn rest on a rather flimsy plastic post inside the roller base. This can easily break if force is exerted somehow on the big rollers.

eli griggs · Dec 13, 2022

Excess force will break many things, given time

Daylight Film Tanks for Color Print Developing

Duceman

awty

Duceman

rcphoto

MattKing

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Duceman

xkaes

Paul Howell

btaylor

mshchem

Randy Stewart

redbandit

Mr Flibble

RPC

eli griggs

koraks

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eli griggs

Daylight Film Tanks for Color Print Developing

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