Help with Tetenal 5 Litre Kit

[mike the limey]

Hi Guys, I recently bought a 5 Litre kit of Tetenal C41 thinking, wrongly, that it would be the most economical way of doing C41. I was told by the salesman that the chemicals could be split and I would get about 80 films from the kit. Subsequent research has revealed that they will do this if used in a particular way, i.e. 4 films in one tank and used over a short period of time. The amount of processing I do means that the shelf life will expire long before I use all the chemistry. As an aside the sales rep for Tetenal told me that they, Tetenal, do not recommend their chemicals for Jobo processors!

All my previous C41 processing has been done with a Nova C41 Press Kit. Maximum output 10-12 films, life expentancy about 3-4 weeks. This kit does not come with a stabilizer whereas the Tetenal kit does. My question is this, do I wash the film before stabilizing or stabilize before washing?

Hope to do some processing tomorrow. Whilst I sleep I hope that the answer will come winging over the internet.

Thanks all and good night.

 

[langedp]

Mike,

I use the 5 liter C-41 kit all the time in my Jobo ATL 2300. The manual with the Jobo gives explicit instructions for Tetenal chemistry. Works just fine. I can't imagine why they would tell you not to use them in Jobo processors! Splitting is not recommended so shoot more film!

Wash before you stabilize.

 

[Ed Sukach]

I have split the 5 Liter Tetenal kit as a mater of course... NO problem.

I use a JOBO CPP-2 processor with 15xx and 25xx tanks. JOBO recommends 270 milliliters of solution for two rolls of 120 at a time; I have found "cheating" by using 250ml to be entirely possible, but measure the amount independently of the JOBO tubes. That way, the capacity of 1 liter of solution is eight (8) films.
Possibly, with replenishment, 80 rolls would be possible - I will not take the chance. Everything I do is "one shot".

I always preserve the remaining chemistry by using a 3 - 5 second burst of butane (thanks, Ole) from a Bernz-O-Matic Mini Torch (No, you DON'T light it!!) over the surface of the chemistry.

The "Stabilizer" is used as the last step in processing, before drying - with no following rinse.

 

[mike the limey]

I knew before I went to bed that the answer would be waiting for me when I woke up. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to answer my question.