Developing Tubes

mikepry · Aug 4, 2004

I'm reposting this old thread for the benefit of anyone that is interested in going in on a lot of these tubes. There has all of a sudden been two people who have contacted me and are interested in getting some of these. I would like to have 5 people to do this and we need two more. These really work nice and I just love them. So if anyone else wants to go in on them just holler and we can do it. If five people do it we can be at 50 or thereabouts each.

Mike

"Brian,
I can say that the welding rod tubes are working out great so far. I tried using ABS pipe(2") at first but found three things that I didn't like...
1) The weight of them
2) The ease of getting the caps on and off
3) Having to fix in a tray
With the Rod Gaurd tubes I have eliminated the pre soak with no difference in the end result at all(FP4). I know allot of people say to do it but on the other hand there are people that are just as firm on NOT doing it. Well I tried it and it works just fine without. I can load the tube up dry and fixing is done to completion inside the tube. These tubes are very lightweight and to screw the caps on and off is very quick and easy. I have since contacted the Manufactuer and I can get these tubes in BLACK but I have to buy 48 of them. If any one on this forum wants to purchase with me, we can get them for under 5.00 each. The company sent me one so as I could try it to see if it was light tight and yeppers it was. Silver Pixels is interested in some and I'm wanting more so why don't we get together on this and get some. I'd like to have more than one so I can do multiple sheets. The company also said they can work out a deal for extra caps. That would be handy. So at around 4.80 each that comes out to about 230.00 less shipping. If we get 4 people on this we're at about 60 bucks each! That's doable I think. The other thing I like about them (and the ABS as well) is that in a water bath there is zero flucuations in temp and that is key. Anyone out there interested let me know and let's do this."

Jim Moore · Aug 5, 2004

Mike,

I am interested. In fact if you can't find 5 people I am willing to double my order and take the place of 2 people.

Jim

Jorge · Aug 5, 2004

mikepry said:
I'm reposting this old thread for the benefit of anyone that is interested in going in on a lot of these tubes. There has all of a sudden been two people who have contacted me and are interested in getting some of these. I would like to have 5 people to do this and we need two more. These really work nice and I just love them. So if anyone else wants to go in on them just holler and we can do it. If five people do it we can be at 50 or thereabouts each.

Mike

"Brian,
I can say that the welding rod tubes are working out great so far. I tried using ABS pipe(2") at first but found three things that I didn't like...
1) The weight of them
2) The ease of getting the caps on and off
3) Having to fix in a tray
With the Rod Gaurd tubes I have eliminated the pre soak with no difference in the end result at all(FP4). I know allot of people say to do it but on the other hand there are people that are just as firm on NOT doing it. Well I tried it and it works just fine without. I can load the tube up dry and fixing is done to completion inside the tube. These tubes are very lightweight and to screw the caps on and off is very quick and easy. I have since contacted the Manufactuer and I can get these tubes in BLACK but I have to buy 48 of them. If any one on this forum wants to purchase with me, we can get them for under 5.00 each. The company sent me one so as I could try it to see if it was light tight and yeppers it was. Silver Pixels is interested in some and I'm wanting more so why don't we get together on this and get some. I'd like to have more than one so I can do multiple sheets. The company also said they can work out a deal for extra caps. That would be handy. So at around 4.80 each that comes out to about 230.00 less shipping. If we get 4 people on this we're at about 60 bucks each! That's doable I think. The other thing I like about them (and the ABS as well) is that in a water bath there is zero flucuations in temp and that is key. Anyone out there interested let me know and let's do this."

Hey Mike, count me in, while I will still be doing brush development for the 12x20's, I think I can get away with doing tube development for the 8x10's. I tried the Jobo expert drum on a motor base and it was a hassle, specially if you had more than one neg in the drum. So sounds like the welding rod tubes are a good solution.

bmac · Aug 5, 2004

Not to take this OT, but what was the issue with the expert drums? I just finished up 10 8x10 negs (2 batches of 5) and aside from almost knocking myself off when I used the pump to take the lid off, I have been happy as a clam.

Gary892 · Aug 5, 2004

Welding Tubes

Mike, would you be so kind as to post an image of the tube as well as mention what the dimensions are?
Thanks

Gary

Jorge · Aug 5, 2004

bmac said:
Not to take this OT, but what was the issue with the expert drums? I just finished up 10 8x10 negs (2 batches of 5) and aside from almost knocking myself off when I used the pump to take the lid off, I have been happy as a clam.

Exactly the same issue as you, I wanted to develop 2 negatives at different times and trying to open that &%&·$% lid was a real pain. Of course all this had to be done in the dark, so I gave up. Having a drum with 5 holes and only being able to develop one negative at the time seemed like a waste of time and developer to me. I dont know how you manage to get 10 negatives with the same developing time, but I almost never get the same developing times.

mikepry · Aug 5, 2004

If you want to see one, go to www.filmholders.com and look under developing tubes. The dim. are as follows;

Main tube body....................12" long
cap....................................4" high (holds up to 375ml)
I.D.....................................2-7/7"

Well we have enough people for me to place the order so here is where we stand as of now;

Mike Pry
Jorge
Silver Pixels
Matt Miller
JMoore

If anyone else wants in let me know ASAP!

As I said it will be 248.00 for the tubes and then shipping to me in Wisconsin. I can order them today or tommorow and then if you all would email me w/your addresses I will figure out individual shipping charges and then get back to you on them. I gaurantee you will love these things.

noseoil · Aug 5, 2004

Mike, I'm in if you still have room on this batch. tim curry

c6h6o3 · Aug 5, 2004

mikepry said:
Mike Pry
Jorge
Silver Pixels
Matt Miller
JMoore

If anyone else wants in let me know ASAP!

I'm in. Please email particulars to jshanesy@starpower.net and your check is in the mail.

Jim

matt miller · Aug 5, 2004

Mike, It looks like this order may have to be for more than the minimum of 48, depending on how many everyone wants. 6 would be ideal for me, but will take 8 if I have to.

I read in your original post about these that you had to do a little prep work to use them, like removing a liner, washing & painting, etc. Do you happen to know what, if any, work will be required to get these special order tubes ready for use?

Thanks for doing this!

Matt

Silverpixels5 · Aug 5, 2004

matt miller said:
Mike, It looks like this order may have to be for more than the minimum of 48, depending on how many everyone wants. 6 would be ideal for me, but will take 8 if I have to.

I read in your original post about these that you had to do a little prep work to use them, like removing a liner, washing & painting, etc. Do you happen to know what, if any, work will be required to get these special order tubes ready for use?

Thanks for doing this!

Matt

Matt:

I believe the tubes that would be ordered would be ready to use, except for the fiberglass screen that you would have to provide. They will come in black, so there will be no painting needed...and there's also no liner to remove as far as I know. You can buy a rather large roll of the fiberglass screen from your local hardware store for about 5 dollars.

Aggie · Aug 5, 2004

matt miller said:
Mike, It looks like this order may have to be for more than the minimum of 48, depending on how many everyone wants. 6 would be ideal for me, but will take 8 if I have to.

I read in your original post about these that you had to do a little prep work to use them, like removing a liner, washing & painting, etc. Do you happen to know what, if any, work will be required to get these special order tubes ready for use?

Thanks for doing this!

Matt

I'd take the other half of this order's 6. I just didn't think I would want to process more than 6 at a time.

mikepry · Aug 6, 2004

Okay, here is how our list is now....
I think we should end it here for now as you can only order from them in increments of 48 (case) and we divide nicely at 8.

JMoore
Jorge
Nose Oil
Mike Pry
Jim Shanesy
Matt Miller
Silver Pixels
Aggie

I talked to the manufacturer today and they will ship out tomorrow, hopefully. These are black and do NOT have the steel lining in them. The only modification I did was to take off the little plastic hoop/eyelet thing on the cap so as it would sit flat. Not a big thing at all and one will instantly see what I'm talking about when they see it.

Please e-mail me your addresses asap.
Everyone can have six the way it stands now. Even if you don't do six at a time, it's nice to have additional dry ones for the next batch waiting. I usually do two-three at a time. I will ship out as soon as I get them

Mike

noseoil · Aug 16, 2004

Mike and all. Got my tubes already and they are quite a deal. They are well made, easy to use and seem to be as good as it gets for 8x10. Much easier than having to make them out of plumbing supplies and they have a gasket to seal things well. Hats off to Mike!

Max · Nov 19, 2004

How are these working out?

With all the recent discussion of stand agitation, is anyone interested in ordering up another batch? If Mike would be willing to share the info with me, I'd be happy to organize it this time.

Peter De Smidt · Nov 19, 2004

bmac said:
Not to take this OT, but what was the issue with the expert drums? I just finished up 10 8x10 negs (2 batches of 5) and aside from almost knocking myself off when I used the pump to take the lid off, I have been happy as a clam.

Yeah, What's up with that? The cover on my 4x5/5x7 expert drum comes off easily with a pump or two, but the 8x10 needs to build up a huge amount of dangerous pressure. I've been thinking of lightly sanding the inside lip of the lid, but these things are so ridiculously priced that I'm leery of doing that.

isaacc7 · Nov 19, 2004

Max said:
How are these working out?

With all the recent discussion of stand agitation, is anyone interested in ordering up another batch? If Mike would be willing to share the info with me, I'd be happy to organize it this time.

OK, I'm in for at least 6. Just for my curiosity, i could do 8x10, 5x7, or 4x5 with these, right? Can two 4x5 sheets be done at the same time?

Isaac

sanking · Nov 20, 2004

isaacc7 said:
OK, I'm in for at least 6. Just for my curiosity, i could do 8x10, 5x7, or 4x5 with these, right? Can two 4x5 sheets be done at the same time?

Isaac

I would like to test these tubes as well so please count me in for six tubes of the 8X10 size. These are black, right?

Sandy King

matt miller · Nov 20, 2004

They are black & very light tight. They work great.

mikepry · Nov 20, 2004

J and C will be carrying the tubes from now on and they should be available in the very near future. He should have them in his possesion by the end of next week.

gbock · Nov 20, 2004

I'm in for four.

THANKS!

Gerhard

isaacc7 · Nov 21, 2004

How do you use them?

I haven't seen any pictures so I'm curious as to how you would use these things. You'd obviously have to load the tubes in the dark, but wouldn't you have to put the developer in them in the dark too? Seems like a logistical problem, and then what about stop, fix, etc? Anyone care to share their techniques? Thanks!

Isaac

mikepry · Nov 21, 2004

The film is loaded in the dark into the tube. The screw-on cap is off to the side with the dev. already in it. The tube containing the sheet of film is screwed onto the cap with dev. The tube is then put into the water and developing is commenced. I have an extra cap off to the side in which I have the stop bath in. After dev. time is up lights go off to simply unscrew tube and screw on cap with stop bath. Ditto for fix. It is darn near seamless. Sometimes I get lazy and don't even use a stop and go straight to fix from dev. J and C will have these available with an extra cap in the next two weeks.

isaacc7 · Nov 21, 2004

That makes sense...

mikepry said:
The film is loaded in the dark into the tube. The screw-on cap is off to the side with the dev. already in it. The tube containing the sheet of film is screwed onto the cap with dev. The tube is then put into the water and developing is commenced. I have an extra cap off to the side in which I have the stop bath in. After dev. time is up lights go off to simply unscrew tube and screw on cap with stop bath. Ditto for fix. It is darn near seamless. Sometimes I get lazy and don't even use a stop and go straight to fix from dev. J and C will have these available with an extra cap in the next two weeks.

Aha, so the extra cap is the key then. That makes much more sense. I was trying to imagine dumping, filling, and screwing the cap in the dark fast enough to not effect the processing times. So the fiberglass screen material is so the solutions get to the back of the film, right?

Isaac

Jorge · Nov 21, 2004

Nope, these tubes have ridges inside so that the developer also wets the outside of the film. I am telling you these are great!

Developing Tubes

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