My first home development worked!

Jeff Bannow · Aug 6, 2008

Just wanted to thank everyone who has assisted me so far. I have been developing and printing in the lab at school for years, but finally developed my first film at home last night - 2 sheets of 4x5. Tonight I will try a full run of 12 sheets and see how it comes out.

The D-76 had some "chunks" at the bottom, but seemed to process fine. Also, I have decided I need a film washer. Other than that, everything went exactly as hoped.

These are 2x5s of the Heidelberg Project in downtown Detroit, shot with my new Chamonix.

Trevor Crone · Aug 6, 2008

Nice one Jeff; is it not satisfying when a plan comes together.

BTW I like the lady-bug pegs

Jeff Bannow · Aug 6, 2008

The lady bug pegs are great! Ikea, $1 for 15 or something like that. They are tiny and don't clamp too strong as well. Plus, doesn't everyone want ladybugs on their film pegs?

Paul Verizzo · Aug 6, 2008

Hey, guys! We got ourselves another addict!

Akki14 · Aug 6, 2008

I have a cute japanese sock dryer for my 4x5 films. Very tiny plastic clips... not quite a cute as ladybug pegs. I hope you find this helps improve your work. I know it does for me as I can get quicker feedback than sending it off to a lab or waiting to go into some place to get film developed.

jeroldharter · Aug 6, 2008

Some processing advice judging from the photo of your setup: you might substitute Photo-Flo for the shampoo and go lightly with the loofa.

Seriously though, good work. I think it is always satifying to see the negatives turn out.

MartinB · Aug 6, 2008

jbannow said:
Also, I have decided I need a film washer. Other than that, everything went exactly as hoped.

It looks like you already have a film washer - isn't it the chrome thing that the white loofa is hanging from? lol

Good to see the processing went well. Are you using tanks, trays or tubes?

Martin

Jeff Bannow · Aug 6, 2008

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

I hadn't thought of washing in the shower .... hmmm .... I am currently processing in a Nikor 4x5 spiral tank. It works pretty well, I just don't like standing there filling and dumping the tank to wash.

MartinB · Aug 6, 2008

When I use my stainless steel tanks for rollfilm, I use an old Patterson hose and shove the hose down the middle of the spiral (I remove the black plastic tip that is made to fit the Patterson tanks since it is too big to fit down the center of the metal sprials) Might this work for the Nikor tank?

Those Patterson washer hoses are cheap used but you can also find a similar device in hardware plumbing sections - they just slip over the faucet of most taps.

Martin

fschifano · Aug 7, 2008

jbannow said:
Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

I hadn't thought of washing in the shower .... hmmm .... I am currently processing in a Nikor 4x5 spiral tank. It works pretty well, I just don't like standing there filling and dumping the tank to wash.

No need for a separate expensive film washer. Get a plastic tub large enough to hold the reel and punch a few small holes in the bottom. Mine was big tub of ricotta cheese. I made the holes with straightened paper clip heated over the gas stove. Run a hose from the tap into the tub and let 'er rip. Ten minutes later, you get perfectly washed negatives. A couple of bricks serve as a stand for the tub to elevate it and allow the water to drain freely. If you want to get fancy, hot glue 3 or 4 35mm film canisters to the bottom of the tub.

Pete H · Aug 7, 2008

Great stuff! Just a cautionary note - Are those pegs wooden or plastic? I had problems with wooden ones - I think acid in the wood reacted with the film. It certainly made nasty marks and ruined a couple of negs. I switched to plastic and had no more problems.

Akki14 · Aug 7, 2008

Yeah I've had problems with wooden pegs because they are porous and suck the water off the emulsion side quickly... resulting in it leaving marks and slightly sticking to the film. I get slight marks with my plastic pegs but they're no where near as bad.

m_liddell · Aug 7, 2008

I just developed my first sheets of 4x5 this week using tubes and it was easier than I thought. No darkroom required, loaded the tubes in a fill changing bag and also used the bag to (carefully) switch caps. As long as light is low and you get the film quick no issues. Unfortunatly the nice ilford stainless hangers I bought seem very slightly too small for the film? Stop and fix was done in trays. I washed the film under running water. I figure if the ilford washing method works so well due to water changes, running water in a single sheet must be even better.

Being able to finally use the full 4x5 groundglass on my ebony is amazing. It's like composing a print coming from 6x7 Due to the mad cost of quickload, my 4x5 is strictly b&w only and my D700 is seeing more and more use...

Jeff Bannow · Aug 7, 2008

Hmm ... maybe I will switch from the wooden pegs then. Anyone seen plastic pegs with ladybugs on them? Or, I suppose small plastic pegs without ladybugs would do in a pinch?

I just ran a full tankload of 12 sheets and they came out great. Much more satisfying than working in the lab at school, except for my nosy cats and their horrible timing.

m_liddell · Aug 7, 2008

On the subject of pegs, bulldog clips work very well as they are steel and have a small contact area.

My first home development worked!

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