Gentle agitation

bogeyes · Nov 7, 2007

In the rodinal semi stand disaster thread Gainer asked what is the definition of GENTLE agitation and what is its virtue. I have not got a clue ,but this is what I do: (1) I gently invert my paterson tank letting the developer flow smoothly through the reels just fast enough so that the dev does not froth or splash about. (2) I then swirl the tank anti-clockwice twice (3) The tank is returned upright and inverted again, this time I swirl it twice clockwise. (4) Once the tank is upright again I rap it twice on my worktop to remove air bubbles. I have always done this. Have I been missing something? Is there any good reason not to continue doing this?

Rich Ullsmith · Nov 7, 2007

If you are consistent with your methods and happy with your results, then you got it made! I usually miss a cycle somewhere along the line, trying to find my bottle of beer.

Jim Noel · Nov 7, 2007

One should never have consumable beverages in the dark room anyway. Picking up the wrong vessel in the dark or semi-dark can be very dangerous.

Sirius Glass · Nov 7, 2007

I figured that he loaded the film in a changing bag and was processing in the kitchen with the lights on. That way he could safely drink the beer and be close to the source.

Steve

Lee Shively · Nov 8, 2007

"I figured that he (...) was processing in the kitchen with the lights on. That way he could safely drink the beer and be close to the source."

Is there any other way???

Not sure of the real definition of "gentle agitation" either. I invert twice every 30 seconds, rap the tank on the table, give it a little turn...and have a sip of beer.

Shawn Dougherty · Nov 8, 2007

Jim Noel said:
One should never have consumable beverages in the dark room anyway. Picking up the wrong vessel in the dark or semi-dark can be very dangerous.

My beer mug isn't shaped like any of my developing tools. Never have beer in the darkroom.... :rolleyes: more like never enter the darkroom without a beer.

Alan Johnson · Nov 8, 2007

Extra edge density on roll film can occur:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
For semi stand,where I obtained extra edge density with gentle inversion,I am going to try twirling with the spin stick.

Don Wallace · Nov 8, 2007

Jim Noel said:
One should never have consumable beverages in the dark room anyway. Picking up the wrong vessel in the dark or semi-dark can be very dangerous.

If I kept my selenium toner in a wine glass, I would worry.

Dave Miller · Nov 8, 2007

Don Wallace said:
If I kept my selenium toner in a wine glass, I would worry.

But where else should one keep it:confused:

Akki14 · Nov 8, 2007

I tend to do the drinking BEFORE developing or deciding to develop. I'm always surprised when I don't screw up

George Collier · Nov 9, 2007

Since the thread has been hijacked to a downward path - one more:

W. Gene Smith was famous for printing all day with scotch at the elbow, works for me too, just not when I'm making really big prints with expensive paper, or developing important negs.

Roger Hicks · Nov 10, 2007

Jim Noel said:
One should never have consumable beverages in the dark room anyway. Picking up the wrong vessel in the dark or semi-dark can be very dangerous.

Come on, Jim! There are at least four major safeguards built into having a glass of anything in the darkroom, so 'very dangerous' is something of an exaggeration.

(1) I can easily tell a wine or whisky glass -- or a coffee mug, if I drank coffee -- from a 600ml graduate; (2) the smell would warn me if I tried to sip from the graduate; (3) if I were absent minded enough to sip it, I'd spit it out before I swallowed it; and (4) even if I swallowed it, I couldn't keep it down anyway. I could add (5) that if I could keep it down, it would be a very small quantity of something that is not inherently very poisonous.

gainer · Nov 10, 2007

Akki14 said:
I tend to do the drinking BEFORE developing or deciding to develop. I'm always surprised when I don't screw up

I have seen a number of serious musicians ruin their careers by drinking before a concert to "steady their nerves". Those nerves are the same that ready a warrior for battle, and are best left on edge until the battle is won. It is more likely to be won if the drinking is reserved for celebration.

pentaxuser · Nov 10, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Come on, Jim! There are at least four major safeguards built into having a glass of anything in the darkroom, so 'very dangerous' is something of an exaggeration.

(1) I can easily tell a wine or whisky glass -- or a coffee mug, if I drank coffee -- from a 600ml graduate; (2) the smell would warn me if I tried to sip from the graduate; (3) if I were absent minded enough to sip it, I'd spit it out before I swallowed it; and (4) even if I swallowed it, I couldn't keep it down anyway. I could add (5) that if I could keep it down, it would be a very small quantity of something that is not inherently very poisonous.

Well if they start producing graduates in thick and wide rimmed crystal glass and give the chems that West Coast peatiness then I am finished or confined to Speyside. To our U.S. members, that's the West Coast as in Islay and the big slur( eventually) not the Big Sur

A little humour goes a long way. In my case it has to.

pentaxuser

Gentle agitation

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