Developing B&W 4x5 Film

[Sirius Glass]

Pyromaniacs?

Are you PUNishing us?!?!

 

[Rick A]

I use Uncolor drums, it requires only 250ml of developer per 4 sheets of 4x5 or two sheets of 5x7 or one 8x10 per run. I suppose I'm a PYRO maniac, PMK one shot is very inexpensive most films use 1+2+100, Foma needs 1+2+50 and it's still cheap.

 

[Two23]

I use a Stearman Press SP-445. Easy Peasy, I load in the dark (my interior bathroom at night) and do the processing at my kitchen sink. Very slick! Mine does four sheets and I think they are now selling one that does six sheets. The Stearman is very affordable and uses minimal chemicals.


Kent in SD

 

[xkaes]

Pyrophiles!

 

[MattKing]

Puns are not an excuse for off topic posts on political subjects.
So sayeth your friendly neighbourhood moderator!

 

[DREW WILEY]

Friendly? How do I know you're not in cahoots with Smokey the Bear yourself? It's always those who you least suspect. Smokey drinks pyro, you know.

 

[MattKing]

Not Smokey.
Yogi!
"Hey there, Boo Boo"

 

[DREW WILEY]

I knew it all along ... pilfering picnic boxes, eh?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

There's something about sitting... all alone... in the pitch darkness... a tray... a single sheet of film... agitating while soft music plays in the background... the beep of my timer every 30 seconds to jolt me back to reality... ...

 

[MattKing]

There's something about sitting... all alone... in the pitch darkness... a tray... a single sheet of film... agitating while soft music plays in the background... the beep of my timer every 30 seconds to jolt me back to reality... ...

Is that your version of Marie Kondo?

 

[Don_ih]

There's something about sitting... all alone... in the pitch darkness... a tray... a single sheet of film... agitating while soft music plays in the background... the beep of my timer every 30 seconds to jolt me back to reality... ...

And you slowly start to realize you were agitating it in the tray of fixer.....

 

[SodaAnt]

Can anyone who has used both offer an opinion as to which is easier to load with film, a MOD54 reel or a Jobo 2509N reel?

 

[GregY]

And you slowly start to realize you were agitating it in the tray of fixer.....

..... Not really...I can still find them in the dark

 

[Don_ih]

..... Not really...I can still find them in the dark

Left to right - that's how I lay them out. I just don't like doing it.

 

[GregY]

Left to right - that's how I lay them out. I just don't like doing it.

Yes. left to right

 

[chuckroast]

Ha! Just a moment ago, over on the LF Forum, someone asked about a developer formula involving an anhydrous ingredient. The person who replied reminded them to use distilled water for the mix. So then I politely informed everyone that anhydrous distilled water is cheaper to ship because it weighs less.

As I happens, I have packs of anhydrous water for sale. You merely open the packet and add water. A steal at $29.95 per packet.

 

[xya]

One more Jobo 2509N and Multitank user here. I load in an ample sleeve and no darkroom. As I'm lazy, I do semi-stand Rodinal 1:100 for an hour. Turn 2 times at start and 2 times at 30 minutes. That's it, great results.

Other developpers for special film and more turns of course, if needed.

P.S. I have both, both easy to load, but the Jobo tank is much easier to handle. I do have the Jobo processors as well, but I don't use them for the moment. See above...

 

[cliveh]

There's something about sitting... all alone... in the pitch darkness... a tray... a single sheet of film... agitating while soft music plays in the background... the beep of my timer every 30 seconds to jolt me back to reality... ...

Or even listening to the sound of running water. Darkroom work is a form of relaxing therapy that should be employed more often for people who are stressed out.

 

[MattKing]

Left to right - that's how I lay them out. I just don't like doing it.

In safelight illuminated, group printing darkrooms, I like to exact my left-handed person's revenge for all those years of slights from the right-handed majority by setting the trays out right to left.
I would never be so cruel as to do that when the trays need to be used in complete darkness!

 

[Rick A]

In safelight illuminated, group printing darkrooms, I like to exact my left-handed person's revenge for all those years of slights from the right-handed majority by setting the trays out right to left.
I would never be so cruel as to do that when the trays need to be used in complete darkness!

I have always worked right to left in the dark room, even in college in the shared dark room. I'm not necessarily daffy handed, but truly ambidextrous. I golf righty, bat lefty, shoot guns equally well either hand.

 

[koraks]

Can anyone who has used both offer an opinion as to which is easier to load with film, a MOD54 reel or a Jobo 2509N reel?

IMO the Jobo reels load easier, but in both cases, there's a small learning curve involved before you 'get it'. More importantly, the sheets stay nicely in place in the 2509N reel, but if you use a MOD54 in a Paterson tank and agitate a bit too wildly even once, sheets will dislodge, get scratched etc.

I ended up selling my MOD54 a few years ago. Kept the Jobo stuff. And do most of my B&W sheet film development in a tray!

 

[TmRn]

I use tubes -- which most people think of for processing paper, which, of course, they can do, as well.

There are lots to choose from and they are cheap, cheap, cheap. Some are designed to handle film -- and have internal ridges -- and some are only designed for paper.

I use a Cibachrome 4x5 tube, for a single sheet, and an 8x10 tube for up the 4 sheets. I avoid larger tubes due to the increased risk of slippage. The developer is a BASE and very slippery, so you have to be careful and get the film in exactly right so it won't slip around and mess up development. With B&W, the tubes can be SLOWLY, manually rolled or put on a tube roller (Beseler, Unicolor, etc.) -- $20 on EBAY.

The tubes use basically no chemicals at all -- and it's fresh each time. Tanks and trays waste so much chemical. BUT I do use tanks for final washing.

Second on tubes. I use old Beseler print tubes on a motor base. Flawless. And, yea, hardly any chemicals.

 

[Peter Schuyler]

I have been using tank and hanger for 50+ years. Reliable and versatile, even for stand development.

 

[xkaes]

I have been using tank and hanger for 50+ years. Reliable and versatile, even for stand development.

Works fine, but uses 10X the chemicals needed. You either have to re-use the chemicals and deal with replenishment/time adjustment/record keeping, or throw them out. Just a waste of time or money or both.

 

[Citsmith]

I typically use a HP Combiplan .
Holds six 5x4 sheets or several other sheet size and plates.
Also got the Patterson Orbital for 7x5 and 8x6 sheets .
I have a Jobo tank for 5x4 , but find it a pain to load .

I have used the Combi Plan tank with good success. I does use a lot of chemistry