Hate 4x5 Souping in Combiplan Tank

Christopher Walrath · May 14, 2010

Well, today I processed my first negs. I have limited space and the tank was sloppy as heck. Splashed all over requiring massive clean up. I have no dedicated darkroom. I use a 2' x 2' sink alcove. The negs came out great. I posted more detailed results in my (there was a url link here which no longer exists). But I canned the tank as I do not foresee having the room to be able to use it in the future. I will tank process from here on out.

fschifano · May 14, 2010

Chris, ya gotta screw down the top valve before you start inverting that thing. Once you do that, it doesn't leak so much. Helps speed things up if you loosen it when you drain from the bottom.

Christopher Walrath · May 14, 2010

It was loose on top. I did not invert it. I rocked it back and forth due to advise on other threads. But draining the tank into a funnel on top of the brown plastic litre bottle as I was planning on continuing with more negatives was what cinched it for me. I have not nor will I in the foreseeable future have room to use it.

BradS · May 15, 2010

what an incredibly vulgar title for a thread.

Rick A · May 15, 2010

Chris, I've been using the 'taco' method with great success. I've been using an A-P brand (frestyle's Arista brand) tank, better than the Patterson Super System tank, and I can fit six negs in snugly without squishing or distortion. Inversion method without slopping or leaks is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. Chems pour in fast and dump fast without retaining any liquid in the tank, and only uses 800ml of liquid.

VaryaV · May 15, 2010

Hey Chris - I know a lot of folks trash the Combi tanks but I have been using them for several years and I have never had a problem. I add the chemicals to the tanks first, (in light of course) I have a separate tank for each bath and drop the film holder right into that and secure the lid (in the dark). I have done complete inversions without scratches and leaks. I have had positive experience with them. I never liked the funnel thing so I don't use it that way.

Wishing you success.

Christopher Walrath · May 15, 2010

Again, if I had a long stainless darkroom sink that I could do it in that had splash boards on the wall it would be no problem. Just no room. The tank worked fine and the sheets came out sweet. Just . . . no . . . stinking . . . room . . .

Valerie · May 15, 2010

BradS said:
what an incredibly vulgar title for a thread.

Agreed!

KenR · May 15, 2010

I've been using this tank for years without any splashing - but no longer use the little spouts for access. Rather I load the tank in the dark, turn on the lights, get the chemistry ready and then turn out the lights again. I then remove the top, then remove the film holder, pour the developer in thru the open top and then dunk the film holder in and start the clock. I then put on the top, start aggitation by inverting the tank and then turn on the lights. I empty it in the dark by removing the top, pouring out the developer and pouring in the stop bath. I lift and dunk for a count of 30 and then, while still in the dark, pour out the stop and pour in the fixer. Put the top on, start inverting the tank and turn on the lights.

I find that if you don't add more than 36 oz to the tank, it doesn't leak.

Chazzy · May 15, 2010

Valerie said:
Agreed!

I agree tooI wish that a moderator would change it. Can't we maintain a minimum of decorum?

SuzanneR · May 15, 2010

Thread title changed...

tlitody · May 15, 2010

get yourself a Jobo 2521 tank with 2905N reel. Beats the combiplan in every way.
Magnet for base not required and you want the version with the cap lid and NOT the cog lid.
Its 100% water tight. fills and empties fast and can be used on a processor with a magnet base or cog lid attached.
The only downside is that is uses 50% more chemistry than a combiplan but its worth it for the easier usability.

removed account4 · May 15, 2010

SuzanneR said:
Thread title changed...

thank you !

Dan Henderson · May 15, 2010

SuzanneR said:
Thread title changed...

I am glad that others thought this was vulgar as well. I was beginning to think I was a prude. Now thanks to Chazzy I know that I have decorum.

The more complaints that I read about the combi tanks, the more in love I am with the old, used Yankee tank that I bought at a (former) photography store for $1. In fact, I wish that I could find another to buy cheaply.

Christopher Walrath · May 15, 2010

Posted wirelessly..

No and you're all right. Kinda thought about it after posting. Apologies too all. That was my indiscretion.

Valerie · May 15, 2010

Christopher Walrath said:
Posted wirelessly..

No and you're all right. Kinda thought about it after posting. Apologies too all. That was my indiscretion.

Happens to all of us at one time or another.....

As for our topic, I was given a Combi tank that I have never used because of just such complaints. Probably ought to just junk it.....

Rick A · May 15, 2010

I'll take that tank off your hands if you dont want it. I'd like to try one, but dont have the ca$h to lay out on a new one.

MattKing · May 15, 2010

Now I'm curious about what the vulgar title said before it was changed .

Kevin Caulfield · May 16, 2010

I just started using a Combi-Plan this week and I absolutely love it, so I'll also take it off your hands.

Ross Chambers · May 16, 2010

MattKing said:
Now I'm curious about what the vulgar title said before it was changed .

Me, too. It couldn't be worse than my expletives when I tried the 3 tank open top dip and dunk method recommended by someone and tipped the first (developer) tank over in the dark thereby losing the negs and leaving a chemical spill to clean up.

Since then I've used the sealed tank Combiplan method, stopped panicking about the minimal possible overdevelopment resulting from draining time and used one of the spare tanks to attach a hose at the bottom and have a great rinse system.

I'm still developing 5x7 in trays.

Regards - Ross

bill spears · May 16, 2010

DAMN - missed the vulgar title !

Rodex · May 16, 2010

bill spears said:
DAMN - missed the vulgar title !

Life is hard

Christopher Walrath · May 16, 2010

I wish I had, instead, bought two more boxes of film than to spend the $75 on the tank. As stated and restated, I simply do not have the room for the mess while draining the tank after each stage, hence the reason for discarding the mess in the first place.

As to the title, let's forget it. Not intentional, but not one of my finer moments.

No, Tommy, I do have fine moments. ;p

eddie · May 16, 2010

I don't understand how having enough room is an issue with the Combi-plan. It's certainly more space efficient than trays, or hard rubber tanks.

removed account4 · May 16, 2010

chris

why don't you use a FR tank. they take a good amount
of fluid to fill them up and they seem to have the same ribbed / bowed system
for the sheets ( seems like you are used to that ? )
they don't seem to be as HUGE or messy as your combi system ...
i have read both good and bad things about the FR,
some use a pencil under the tank to agitate, others do other stuff
( actual instructions can be found on equinoxphotographic.com )
the FR might be an inexpensive alternative to your current system ...

i have never had very good luck with the FR tanks ( never can load the film in right )
and since i have a bigger space i use trays ...

Hate 4x5 Souping in Combiplan Tank

Christopher Walrath

fschifano

Christopher Walrath

BradS

Rick A

VaryaV

Christopher Walrath

Valerie

KenR

Chazzy

SuzanneR

Moderator

tlitody

removed account4

Dan Henderson

Christopher Walrath

Valerie

Rick A

MattKing

Moderator

Kevin Caulfield

Ross Chambers

bill spears

Rodex

Christopher Walrath

eddie

removed account4

Hate 4x5 Souping in Combiplan Tank

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Moderator

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