Jobo 2550 Tank + "Color by Beseler" Motor Base

Hello Everybody,

I'm Théo from France. I'm 24 years old, and i begin to shoot with an US Camera. A Speed Graphic Graflex 4x5.

I'm at the step of the processing. But i have a lot of question about the system of the Beseler Base. I explain.

I use "Microphen" developer, on the explanation of this developer, it is written : "For rotary tank with continuous agitation and no presoaking, reduce above development by 15%". I found this sentence a little blurry. Because, all rotary system have not the same speed and other settings can change. I have a rotary base "Color by Beseler" with no reverse system (unidirectional).

I have make a simulation. I have put the two 2509n spire in my 2550 tank + 600ml of water. I have use my chronometer and my Jobo Tank make 40 revolution per minute.

So, i'm a little confusing about 2 things:

First: At which % i must adjust my developing time, with all this information? (I know for exemple that a CPE2, works at 30rpm in "speed 1" for film development)

Second: I have seen a lot of person on many page of this forum who say that they don't change the sense of the Jobo tank during the rotation in unic direction. And a other person change the position of the tank... So: "Who is right?"

Thanks to help me

Most Jobo tanks are run at 'P' speed and drums at '4' speed. Then if one can to use a different speed based on experience. I have not needed to vary from those speeds.

Thank you for your answer. So if the speed have no importance... Maybe the position changing during the development?

KraftwerkNation63 said:

Thank you for your answer. So if the speed have no importance... Maybe the position changing during the development?

Click to expand...

The speed is important, it is the control for agitation.

I begin to be lost. So, I will wait. Maybe a person use this type of processing. thanks again

Théo, welcome to Photrio.

I have used since new the old Jobo CPE2 unit with the slower 30rpm for film processing and the faster rpm for paper processing. That machine finally died after nearly 30 years of heavy use. Later models of the CPE2 as far as I know, did not have this slow speed.

For the first couple of months or so, I didn't know there was a speed difference and developed everything at the higher rotation speed. It really didn't make a difference to the final product, which was B&W negative film, colour (C41) negative film or colour slide film (E6).

I would suggest that you use your unit at the normal processing times as suggested by Ilford then evaluate if you need to increase or decrease development times. The difference, if noticeable, will be very minor; at least in my situations it is so. Ilford's suggestion of reducing the developing time for rotary developing is possibly correct as they use lab equipment to measure things exactly.

I have never used a reduced time for rotary development, as suggested by some film manufacturers. Also I have never used a pre-soak. You can extend or reduce development times, add a pre-soak or not. Whichever way you decide to develop your films, if it works, then keep on doing it.

With the 2509 reels, I would suggest you restrict the reels to 4 sheets at a time, two sheets on the outer and two sheets on the inner of each reel. The 2509 reels have the film very close to each other and space is a premium and unless your sheets are exactly and correctly loaded in the spaces in each slot, it is possible to have almost no space to allow good flow of developer across the sheets.

Later 2509 reels had an additional component, which is a set of wings to firmly locate the sheets and allow proper developer flow across the film. You may have these and if you do, I would still suggest only 4 sheets for the first or second run you do.

You should have young steady hands with good feel, so I think you can load the 2509 reels without a loader. I have the 2509 loader and find it a requirement to get the individual sheets into the slots as my hands are quite unsteady and I have much reduced feeling so require the film loader.

Mick.

Hello Mick.

Thanks a lot for your reply. I will not use the ore-soak.

To says all to you, it is written on my jobo 2550. With two 2509n, Jobo says to charge only 8 film, not 12 as possible.

I don’t use the Jobo charger for the 2550 reels, I have training myself in the dark!

Théo, with regard to the rotation direction, technically it will/should be better to have bi-directional rotation, and that is my preference. But I have used home built single direction drum units to develop film, including a Beseler unit I had around 35 to 40 years ago.

Also, a couple of times the rotation lever on my CPE2 unit failed during a processing run and the film was developed in a single direction. I never worried about it and I could not detect any difference between bi-directional rotation and single direction rotation. You may decide to simply pick the drum up as it is rotating and turn it around by hand so that it rotates in the other direction. There are many ways to develop film, the main requirement is agitation, as long as the drum is rotating you will have plenty of agitation.

Mick.

I agree with Mick. I don't usually reduce development time for rotary development. It's probably a good idea to pick up the tank and turn it around once or twice during development. I have had bromide drag (streaks) on 8x10 sheet film when developing in a 2830 print tank. I increased the volume and concentration of the developer, this solved the streaks. This can happen with color prints in these tanks.
With the 2509n reels I have always had great results. I use the Jobo loading stand to help guide the sheets on to the reels.
I use a pre rinse when I need to warm the tank, but for black and white, at room temperature it's not needed. Good to stay consistent and keep a record book of your processing times and techniques.
I have used rubber gaskets around the tanks to keep the tank centered. I found oil filter canister gaskets at a farm tractor supply shop that worked fine.
Good luck, Best Regards Mike

Thanks a lot for your reply, and your help. I appreciate it a lot.

So! I will heard you! I will use normal processing time without the 15% reduction. And I will change the sense of the Jobo tank two times during the development.

i will says to you how it’s work! Thanks again!

Hello Everybody!
Only to says to you that i have follow your advices. I have not reduced the time of 15% and all work perfectly!
Thanks a lot for your help!

That's great!

Wonderful news.

Mick.

Thanks for your help