My first Jobo hand rotation

Radost · May 28, 2023

Just developed my first JOBO using hand rotation and DIY in bath roller. “See picture bellow”
My experience:
Reel for 120 is very easy when you clip the corners. Loading 2 120 films error free is a big plus.
I really like the way chemical is poured and it does not splash out.
The burp alert cap is great and it is easy to put on and off.
Less chemicals is a great life saver.
But what I think is the best JOBO advantage is the thin walls. I did a Lot of tests with temperature and the JOBO responds to the water temp outside very quick.
Paterson is hard to warm and keep at temperature because the walls are very thick.
Cons:
Using 1:1 deletion requires a lot more chemicals then minimum recommendation.
Another kind of con is the way the tank closes. I was a little afraid the tank is not closed or can open it by mistake. But I guess it comes with experience.
The results:
Absolutely love the results “did 2 TMAX100 120” with XTOL 1:1 following Kodak recommended times. I tried to emulate the automated JOBO rotations.
There is a certain consistency in the details and tonality. Very clean. Don’t know how to explain it. And maybe will piss people off but with TMAX100 120 it has the realism and constancy of digital when it comes to dynamic range and detail and realistic representation of what I remember the light was.
I think my next purchase will be the smaller JOBO CPE-3 and will sale all my Paterson tanks.

logan2z · May 28, 2023

Radost said:
Another kind of con is the way the tank closes. I was a little afraid the tank is not closed or can open it by mistake. But I guess it comes with experience.

What I usually do is go around the tank several times while it's in the changing bag and push the top down firmly to ensure it's fully closed. I can usually tell by feel when it's closed evenly all around the circumference, but it's always nice to hear the 'click' confirmation as it locks into place.

Sirius Glass · May 28, 2023

The advantage I found was consistent development of color and black & white film of all types and formats.

Radost · May 28, 2023

logan2z said:
What I usually do is go around the tank several times while it's in the changing bag and push the top down firmly to ensure it's fully closed. I can usually tell by feel when it's closed evenly all around the circumference, but it's always nice to hear the 'click' confirmation as it locks into place.

I kind of did the same thing a few time. Better safe then sorry

mshchem · May 28, 2023

I appreciate what you have to say about TMX and XTOL 1:1, great combination. Jobo is a great system.

Radost · May 29, 2023

Radost said:
I kind of did the same thing a few time. Better safe then sorry

logan2z said:
What I usually do is go around the tank several times while it's in the changing bag and push the top down firmly to ensure it's fully closed. I can usually tell by feel when it's closed evenly all around the circumference, but it's always nice to hear the 'click' confirmation as it locks into place.

Just did another load and I was sure it was closed all the way. When I took it out the changing back it was crooked. I had to open a little and pews down again.

pentaxuser · May 29, 2023

Radost said:
Just did another load and I was sure it was closed all the way. When I took it out the changing back it was crooked. I had to open a little and pews down again.

Yes in the same darkness in my darkroom I could not always be sure, like you, that the top was fully on all the way round as sometimes the click sound can be quite weak in my opinion but what I found to be infallible as a check was running my index finger tip around the top and spanning the very small gap between the solid part of the top and the part that is pushed down. My finger or I imagine anyone else's finger is sensitive enough feel even a slight difference in what should be an unbroken and even slope

I hope I have explained this properly enough for you to be able to grasp what I mean. It's where a seeing a picture of what I mean is worth a thousand words

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass · May 29, 2023

After I load the film in the changing room [https://www.freestylephoto.com/25001-Photoflex-Changing-Room], I remove the tank and inspect to be sure that the lid is on properly.

Radost · May 29, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
After I load the film in the changing room [https://www.freestylephoto.com/25001-Photoflex-Changing-Room], I remove the tank and inspect to be sure that the lid is on properly.

Thank You.
This might be something you know:
Can I use the short bottom part of 1540 to develop one roll of 35?

Sirius Glass · May 29, 2023

Radost said:
Thank You.
This might be something you know:
Can I use the short bottom part of 1540 to develop one roll of 35?

Yes, 4 35mm reels or 2 120 reels, with up to two rolls per reel. There are longer 1500 series tanks for more reels.

koraks · May 30, 2023

Radost said:
Just did another load and I was sure it was closed all the way. When I took it out the changing back it was crooked. I had to open a little and pews down again.

Try rotating the top on the tank when you've locked it in place. If it rotates (with a little effort), it's not seated properly. This is a check you can easily do in the dark (changing bag, darkroom).

Radost · May 30, 2023

koraks said:
Try rotating the top on the tank when you've locked it in place. If it rotates (with a little effort), it's not seated properly. This is a check you can easily do in the dark (changing bag, darkroom).

Thanks
When it was crooked it was not rotating.

Mick Fagan · May 30, 2023

Radost said:
Thank You.
This might be something you know:
Can I use the short bottom part of 1540 to develop one roll of 35?

Yes.

The 1540 tank is made up of two components. The bottom part is the 1510 tank, which has the little core, 1 reel and the lid.

The 1530 extension kit is the long outer piece, with the long centre core which can hold three reels that you need to supply.

When combined they are sold as the 1540 tank.

If you look up the 1510 tank, you will get all the specifications and most importantly the amount of chemistry required.

From memory the 1510 tank was the only Jobo tank that was supplied complete with a reel, so you were good to go immediately. All other Jobo tanks required you to purchase the needed reels for whatever 1500 tank configuration you had purchased.

Radost · May 30, 2023

Mick Fagan said:
Yes.

The 1540 tank is made up of two components. The bottom part is the 1510 tank, which has the little core, 1 reel and the lid.

The 1530 extension kit is the long outer piece, with the long centre core which can hold three reels that you need to supply.

When combined they are sold as the 1540 tank.

If you look up the 1510 tank, you will get all the specifications and most importantly the amount of chemistry required.

From memory the 1510 tank was the only Jobo tank that was supplied complete with a reel, so you were good to go immediately. All other Jobo tanks required you to purchase the needed reels for whatever 1500 tank configuration you had purchased.

Thanks 1520 came with 1 reel as well.
So I’ll purchase 1540 instead of 1510 and 1530.

Mick Fagan · May 30, 2023

Good news then.

The 1520 when combined with the 1530 extension, allows you to develop five 35mm rolls of film.

Both the 1540 and the combined 1520 tank and 1530 extension, can be rotary processed on any hard surface, either in a sink in a water bath, or on a tabletop simply by rolling them back and forwards by hand. They both roll on the red locking rings, of which there are two evenly spaced in both of these tank/extension configurations.

Sirius Glass · May 30, 2023

Mick Fagan said:
Yes.

The 1540 tank is made up of two components. The bottom part is the 1510 tank, which has the little core, 1 reel and the lid.

The 1530 extension kit is the long outer piece, with the long centre core which can hold three reels that you need to supply.

When combined they are sold as the 1540 tank.

If you look up the 1510 tank, you will get all the specifications and most importantly the amount of chemistry required.

From memory the 1510 tank was the only Jobo tank that was supplied complete with a reel, so you were good to go immediately. All other Jobo tanks required you to purchase the needed reels for whatever 1500 tank configuration you had purchased.

That reel is adjustable and can handle 35mm and 120. I do not know if can handle other films, I never tried.

My first Jobo hand rotation

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