minimalist dip and dunk

[Eric Dolphy]

someone from an old thread noted of b/w processing:

I had a container made for dunking the 45 film while in the hanger, it is 3/4 in wide, 6 inches long, and 6 inches deep, it holds 13 oz of developer and when the hanger is in it, it comes about 1/4 inch above the top of the hanger, I develop one sheet at a time and it works very well. Measure the width of your two hanger set and and allow 1/4 inch, the same for depth and length.

casting about for a processing method, one sheet at a time, HP+ w/Ilfotec DD-X,

one part DD-X, four parts distilled water, nine minutes at 20C
the quoted method seems okay but your pov is needed

Q: does it seem too small an enclosure, though ? thx all Eric

 

[paul_c5x4]

I use a small dip'n'dunk line occasionally for 5x4 - My tanks measure approximately 5x7x3 and hold about 1.2L (Combiplan tanks). I need to keep track of the number of sheets going through and be careful with the replenishment regime. Small tanks can work.

With 370ml of chemistry in each tank, I'd be looking at either using it one-shot or having a larger jug of working solution and emptying the tanks back in to the jugs after each film.


P.S. welcome to the forum. A veritable mine of useful information.

 

[Eric Dolphy]

it holds 13 oz of developer



the fellow quoted mentioned the 13oz for his mini tank
is that developer depleted with the one sheet being processed?

 

[wildbill]

it holds 13 oz of developer



the fellow quoted mentioned the 13oz for his mini tank
is that developer depleted with the one sheet being processed?

No, as long as it's not "one-shot" developer.
A moderator deleted my post on the LF forum but you can see small tanks and their capacities on my website to give you an idea of volumes which may be useful.

 

[ritternathan]

If you are not set on dip and dunk, a simple way to process one sheet at a time is in an appropriately sized silicon bread pan. Use it like a tray and use 100ml to 200ml working solution, depending on how much minimum stock you need for one sheet. This is how I process one sheet of film at a time with Xtol and Pyrocat.

 

[Eric Dolphy]

If you are not set on dip and dunk, a simple way to process one sheet at a time is in an appropriately sized silicon bread pan. Use it like a tray and use 100ml to 200ml working solution, depending on how much minimum stock you need for one sheet. This is how I process one sheet of film at a time with Xtol and Pyrocat.

great idea

Walmart bread pans--three of them

an inexpensive way to process one sheet at a time

using Ilford HP+ 4X5 and DD-X

re the 'agitation' protocol, do you slosh them around somehow? initial thirty seconds, then pause, etc., or is there another agitation procedure for trays (bread pans)

seems worth a try

thx all

Eric

 

[ritternathan]

Eric, I am even lazier than that. I only use one silicon pan and prepare the developer, water stop, and fixer before hand. Then when I want to pour the developer out, I squeeze the sides of the bread pan and only the liquid pours out. This way I don't need to put on the nitrile gloves, esp. for the Pyrocat and I don't need to handle the negative as much. With Xtol, I initially agitate for 30sec and 60 sec. for Pyrocat getting a hand under the pan to ensure that the negative does not stay stuck on the bottom. And then after that I agitate every minute. I agitate by lifting one corner and then the opposite corner and then I lift up on side and vibrate back and forth. All of this is done gently and in under 10 sec. The films I use are FP4+, HP5+, and Ektascan. The only possible danger I have seen in using the pan is that the negative can get stuck to the bottom so every two or three minutes I lift up on the bottom to unstick the negative as part of the agitation. Best, Nathan

 

[ritternathan]

If you are starting out, I recommend getting some film that you can process under a safe light so you can watch the magic. Anything orthochromatic should work.