Help troubleshooting dark band

[ninevolts]

I developed a 4-year-old roll of 6x6 Delta 100 yesterday in Ilfosol 3 using a Rokunar tank/reel (I put the collar on the column so the reel wouldn't ride up too). When it came out, the entire length of the roll had a dark band. I chose a shot that had a light background so I could see the pattern more clearly and it appears to be caused by liquid. I thought maybe not enough developer in the tank but I put in 450mL like always and haven't seen this before. Thoughts?

 

[ic-racer]

More cowbell...or, no, I mean developer.

 

[MattKing]

The collar slipped, and the reel rode up the column.

What sort of agitation were you using?

 

[ninevolts]

What sort of agitation were you using?

Wasn't overly aggressive with it, 10 second agitation at the beginning and then another 10 seconds at the start of each minute throughout the development. Same for fixing.

My technique was just a simple flipping of the tank upside down and then back up. Probably two seconds to complete each inversion.

I did get one PM that offered developer foaming as a possible culprit. Recommended a figure-8 agitation method instead.

EDIT: Your collar comment does make some sense though if it started riding up because of my inversions.

 

[MattKing]

Figure 8 agitation is much more likely to lead to uneven development than proper inversion agitation.

I asked about agitation in case you were using much less agitation than you are.

Moderate foaming won't matter if the reel is well covered even when there is some foam at the top.

If your tank has room for two reels, and you are using just one, an empty reel on top is the best way to keep the loaded reel at the bottom. Alternatively, a 35mm film container with the bottom cut off or any similar sized plastic tube can work. A tightly wrapped rubber band can work as well.

I'm guessing that your Rokunar tank/reel is the same as the ones I have with the "AP" brand on them. In my experience, the supplied clips aren't dependable.

 

[Nige]

are you sure 450ml is enough chemistry?

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I have had almost the exact same problem once or twice in a stainless tank with two reels where the top reel has got caught up in the top loop of the hanger. The end result is that the top film gets unevenly developed. It certainly looks like your reel rode up or 450 ml may not be enough chemistry for that particular tank as Nige suggested.

 

[removed account4]

i am really sorry for your chemistry problem.
i do figure 8 and twist the tank as my main
way of agitating hand tank ( 120/35mm ) film
-- i NEVER use minimum amounts of chemistry ... EVER.
i fill the tank until it is full. i have film like this ( a few times )
once i rolled with it ( sheet film ) once i was extreemly depressed 120
( at a locaation i will never go to again ) .. kind of stinks when it happens...
my trick is to only process film that fills a full tank, otherwise wait ...
latent images don't vanish ... ( i have processed 70+ year old roll film )

good luck !
john

 

[ninevolts]

All great points - thanks so much for weighing in! I think both the slippage and the chemistry volume are both great points. I will try to figure out a way to secure the reel on the column better and definitely use more chemistry. The volume has never been a problem in the past so I assumed by default that wouldn't be it.

Thanks again all!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Not enough chemistry and or the reel slipped up the column or both.