Jobo 4x5 film tanks

[david b]

Can the Jobo 2523 tank be used as an inversion tank?

 

[Nick Zentena]

Get the 2521 instead.

 

[david b]

So with the 2521 I can hand process 4x5 film? How much liquid does it hold?

 

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi !
Yes; the 2523 can be hand processed (2 x 2509 reels) but it will need about 3 liters to run the two reels. So a bit on the heavy side. If you plan to go at the Gym club, go into your darkroom instead.
I routinely process 4x5 in my 2521 by hand using between 1300 and 1450 CC chemistry. 1300 cc is the bare minimal to cover the reel, 1450 include a safety factor.

 

[david b]

I am looking to use just one reel at a time. A maximum of 4 sheets.

So the 2521 can be inverted?

 

[Nick Zentena]

The 2521 and the 2523 are the same tank. The only difference is the 2521 has a red rubber stopper. The 2523 has a cog. You can add a cog to the 2521 but you can't remove a cog once added.

Jobo naming convention goes like this:

25 is the tank style
XX2X the third number is the number of 35mm reels the tank will hold.
XXX1 is rubber cap lid
XXX3 is cog lid.

So 2523 is a 2500 type tank that holds 2 35mm reels with a cog lid.

A 2521 is a 2500 type tank that holds 2 35mm reels but with a rubber cap.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[GeorgesGiralt]

"So the 2521 can be inverted?"
Yes, definitely yes.
I _do_ use it like this all the time.
Put 1.45 l chemistry in it, the red cap, and go for it.
It won't leak and provides you with perfect 4x5 negs.

 

[david b]

thanks everyone.

 

[GeorgesGiralt]

Last but not least,
28XX series tank intended for papers share most parts with 25XX series tranks.
1500 series tanks centre core and funnel are the same as 25XX series tanks parts...
So if you've bought a processor with a set of drums (like CPE2 starter kit), you can use the base of the 2830 tank, the centre core of the 1520 tank and the funnel of the 1520 tank instead of the beaker of the 2830 tank to compose a 2521. All you've to buy is the 2509 reel to put the 6 4x5 film sheets in.

 

[david b]

I have a 1520 and a 1540 tank. Will the 2509n reel fit into either one of these?

 

[Nick Zentena]

No. Much wider.

 

[david b]

ok...i'll just order the 2521 and the 2509n.

thanks.

 

[Fotohuis]

No it will not fit: 2509N is for the 25XX system, those reels are larger. For the 15XX system you have the 1501 reel. Suitable for 35mm and 120/220 roll film only.

 

[david b]

Will I need to film guides in order develop the film?

 

[Nick Zentena]

Do you mean the loader? Or the inserts?

 

[david b]

the inserts. I am assuming I can manually load the film.

 

[bdial]

The inserts are supposed to help prevent uneven development, I haven't checked to see what happens without them. The film is easy enough to load manually, in fact I think it's easier than using the loader.

 

[jstraw]

I'm not certain the film will stay put without the inserts. I just bought a pair from Omega-Satter.

 

[david b]

I'm waiting on a reel from Freestyle. How much were the inserts?

 

[Paul Sorensen]

David, if you want, you can easily do hand rotating in a water bath to use much less chemistry than inversion. I just used a dish pan or something similar and floated the tank in tempered water. I then rotated it continuously by hand in the water. I got great results, much better than I had gotten with a standard motor base like a beseler or unicolor. With constant rotation, you only need a very small amount of chemistry.

 

[bdial]

If the reel is new, it should come with them, as I recall.

 

[david b]

It is new but on backorder from Freestyle. It's killing me.

 

[jstraw]

I'm waiting on a reel from Freestyle. How much were the inserts?

They were about $8.50 for the pair. The minimum shipping was a bit high so I also bought a third reel for roll film.

 

[david b]

well...i'll wait to see if they come with the new reel.

 

[jstraw]

I believe they come with a reel. I was missing a pair. That's why I had to buy them separately.