For Lab-Box Users

Some time ago I posted that I had finally opened the carton from Lab-Box and made a base with an electric motor for it. At that time I realised I could easily drop the same motor into the base I had made for my 35mm and 120 Rondinax tanks. So I never actually got around to using the Lab-Box until today. The motorized base worked perfectly and all went well. The thing that was curious to me was this: they recommend 300ml of solution for continuous agitation (not sure I like 'agitation' for the smooth and regular rotation a motor provides!) whereas the Rondinax 60 looks for only 150ml. After the fixer was finished, as I always do, I took off the lid for the several washes. It's apparent that 300ml brings the fluid level up to very nearly the top of the film on the reel, whereas the 150ml in the Rondinax 60 immerses only the bottom of the reel but avoids the fluid level rising to the axle, where it will cause a leak. I must give credit to the Lab-Box makers about that, as not one drop of any solution trickled down the side of the tank after leaking around the axle; their rubber seal works well, even if it adds drag to the rotation. But surely there is no reason for 300ml if 150ml works fine in the Rondinax 60? Has anyone played with that?

Being a Kickstarter investor for Lab-Box, I got mine early on. Noting the terrific leakage problem with the Rondinax design, this was the first thing I tested. I too got no leaks at all - None. I tested for more than 24 hours, then gave up and called it leak proof. In the event, the seal is easily replaced. Lab-Box originally stated its intent to regularly support the tank and provide these parts, but as far as I know, they never followed through. This lack of long term support for its product is the big disappointment with the maker of the tank. For any L-B owner, I'd look at the accessories which are still available and buy for the future planned need, as support and supply in the US is drying up fast and will be orphaned soon. Note that the L-B was grossly over-funded, yet they still ran out of funds and failed to fulfill their promises to the Kickstarter investors. The maker is a small retailer of photo supplies and has no experience in developing, manufacturing and selling a product as "complex" as this tank, and no financial resources to back up its promises, which they freely made nevertheless.