As you may know, the smaller Jobo ATL 1000 and 1500 can only develop film up to 4x5. I started shooting 8x10 this year and I didn't want to buy another larger Jobo machine that could handle 8x10. I fiddled around with a custom built 8x10 film reel that I bought overpriced at nearly $250. It was basically 2 4x5 reels that were cut up and glued together to make an 8x10 three-sheet reel (it fits into the large Jobo drum for these models). It was a huge pain in the ass to load, and I was quite successful at scratching and bending my precious undeveloped 8x10 transparencies. I used wooden food skewers as makeshift guides to help me load the reel in the dark. The best I could do was two sheets at a time. Three sheets was impossible. Recently, the glue finally came apart and the reel is now in the garbage since I decided not to fix it.
Before falling victim to this expensive custom 8x10 reel I was wandering up and down the aisles of a large arts & craft store looking for ideas to developing 8x10 film in my Jobo. In the sewing section I found some plastic canvas used for creating 3D needlework. I bought a $5 sheet and cut it to fit around the inside of the large Jobo drum. The idea was that the chemicals would get underneath the film since the plastic grid like pattern would sit between the drum and the film allowing chemicals to get to both sides. However, I was too scared of using it until the custom holder fell apart. I realize now how silly of me it was to not even spare a sheet to test my theory.
I now perfectly develop a scratch and dent free 8x10. Loading is a breeze too. Just pop it into the drum. Headache free. All for only $5. Live and learn I guess.
Before falling victim to this expensive custom 8x10 reel I was wandering up and down the aisles of a large arts & craft store looking for ideas to developing 8x10 film in my Jobo. In the sewing section I found some plastic canvas used for creating 3D needlework. I bought a $5 sheet and cut it to fit around the inside of the large Jobo drum. The idea was that the chemicals would get underneath the film since the plastic grid like pattern would sit between the drum and the film allowing chemicals to get to both sides. However, I was too scared of using it until the custom holder fell apart. I realize now how silly of me it was to not even spare a sheet to test my theory.
I now perfectly develop a scratch and dent free 8x10. Loading is a breeze too. Just pop it into the drum. Headache free. All for only $5. Live and learn I guess.
