New SS Tank brand and lid choice

[Vania]

Hello everyone,
I need to get some new SS tank and reels.

For the reels it's Hewes no question about that. But where do you guys get the best price for them nowadays in Europe?

For the tanks it's more complicated. First the guy who decides what we europeans will or will not be allowed to buy, sell or use decreed that ss tank shalt not be heard of anymore. Unless some of you know of a place?... Oh yes! we actually can find a japanese brand named ISE but do stay away from them at all cost if you don't want uneven agitation and/or light leaks issues.

So that basically leaves B&H and Freestyle in the USA with huge shipping cost. The brands they offer are Arista (Freestyle) or Kalt and Samigon (B&H). Anyone knows which is the better brand (meaning not prone to bending or dripping, better build etc.)?

And finally which lid would you people recommend? Plastic or metal? Basically from my experience plastic doesn't last very long and the little tongue that allows to remove the top lid breaks easily. I've read that SS tops tend to get stuck, and are consequently a pain tu use. But I never used one so I don't know if it's really a problem...

Thanks!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

SS tanks are pretty indestructable and are a standard size, so there's no particular need to buy them new. You might look for old Kindermann or Nikor tanks, replacing the lids if mecessary with new plastic Kindermann lids that fill quickly and are easy to remove when wet. Used tanks are cheap, so you can buy several sizes for different size batches of film.

 

[Vania]

Thanks David! Do you know where can one buy new kinderman lid?


Vania

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

B&H lists them as backordered, but if you're in Europe, perhaps you have a more convenient source. Maybe fotoimpex.de

 

[mgb74]

SS tanks are pretty indestructable and are a standard size, so there's no particular need to buy them new. You might look for old Kindermann or Nikor tanks, replacing the lids if mecessary with new plastic Kindermann lids that fill quickly and are easy to remove when wet. Used tanks are cheap, so you can buy several sizes for different size batches of film.

I'd add a minor caveat if you don't plan to replace the lids as David suggested. I've seen where tanks, lids, and caps become mismatched (particular in "bins") and no longer fit well enough to prevent leaking.

 

[resummerfield]

....I was also concerned about the warmth of my hand increasing the developer temperature while agitating, so I resorted to laying a thick cloth over the closed tank after filliing to insulate the tank; the cloth would also absorb any leakage.....

GREAT IDEA! I've been using SS Nikor tanks for decades, and never thought of that idea. Thanks!

 

[John Koehrer]

I've used Nikor, Kinderman and a couple of cheapies and prefer Kinderman. I think they leak less than
the others with steel lids.

Hewes reels are #1.

 

[Vania]

Thanks. Anyone has experience and can comment on the new models available, as mentioned in the original post?


Vania

 

[ac12]

In school we would wrap a layer of masking tape over the cap/tank joint.
No leaks and no issues with cap coming off during developing.
And personally, I use the old Honeywell Nikor stainless steel reels and tanks all the time.
Admittedly, the cap can sometimes be difficult to get off the tank.

I thought Hewes makes both the SS reels and the tank. If so you should be able to get their SS tanks.

 

[AgX]

B&H lists [new Kindermann lids] as backordered, but if you're in Europe, perhaps you have a more convenient source. Maybe fotoimpex.de

Kindermann cancelled their lab products long ago. I very much doubt they still got spares on their shelves.
I even can't remember in the old days to have seen Kindermann lab stuff in the shops.

 

[Vania]

Why in the world would a European not be allowed to have a steel tank?:confused:

Of course it's not forbidden. It's just exasperating how very few things are available in Europe when it comes to lab equipment and furniture (even before the digital era) especially compare to the U.S. And in general I always felt like we have a sheep complex of some sort as there's always a profusion of the same things available and no diversity. Try asking for a steel tank in a darkroom shop in Paris they will look at you as if you were coming from Mars or something.


Vania

 

[frobozz]

I thought Hewes makes both the SS reels and the tank. If so you should be able to get their SS tanks.

Oh how I wish! As far as I know, they make no tanks. I don't know what they could do to make you want to buy their new tanks instead of any of the millions of cheap used tanks out there, but then again nobody had improved on the reels for 50 years until they came along and made a reel so much better that nobody should ever use anything else!

Duncan

 

[MattKing]

I use Hewes reels in inexpensive, older plastic tanks with plastic lids, and they work great. I see, however, that most of the tanks available are now metal, with plastic lids.

Hewes still makes the reels: http://www.hewes.co.uk/product.htm

EDIT: my plastic lids have worked well for years.

 

[Rick A]

Thanks David! Do you know where can one buy new kinderman lid?


Vania

I have a brand new one I'll sell you. I have tanks and reels, some used, some NOS.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[philbed]

Photostock in Paris sells steel tanks.

 

[Vania]

Photostock in Paris sells steel tanks.

Yep, the ISE brand which I mentioned that gives uneven development problems. It took me a while and almost half my films from a trip to Chilie to realize what was going on...

 

[Vania]

Oh how I wish! As far as I know, they make no tanks. I don't know what they could do to make you want to buy their new tanks instead of any of the millions of cheap used tanks out there, but then again nobody had improved on the reels for 50 years until they came along and made a reel so much better that nobody should ever use anything else!

Duncan

Actually they do have a tank system but it doesn't work in daylight, although you can develop many rolls at a time. Check their website: http://www.hewes.co.uk/spigots.htm & http://www.hewes.co.uk/scages.htm

 

[Vania]

Still interested to know if anyone has feedback on Arista, Kalt or Samigon. And the pro and cons of plastic lids vs the ss ones. Thanks!

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

The very best plastic top for stainless cans is Kindermann; I've had many of the cheaper ones develop very small cracks and have light leaks but the Kindermann's never do and I have some from at least a decade of very hard use hundreds of rolls.

 

[AgX]

Yep, the ISE brand which I mentioned that gives uneven development problems.

How can a plain tank give such problems?

 

[Vania]

How can a plain tank give such problems?

I've stopped asking myself this question as it was driving me crazy. But I've done extensive testing and, everything being equal, every single roll developped in any of the ise tank I had (the 450ml AND the 900ml) had uneven development as opposed to my other tank. So I just figured that I didn't really need to understand why, and just started working again.

 

[Gunfleet]

Plastic tanks don't conduct heat as well as stainless ones, so minimising one source of uneven development

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

Vania,
I got some Arista tank recently. Flawless.
Plastic lid, no leak.
ss lid, some do leak, but they look good

 

[Vania]

Vania,
I got some Arista tank recently. Flawless.
Plastic lid, no leak.
ss lid, some do leak, but they look good

Great thanks! Got them via freestyle?

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

Yes. I'm between Paris and LA. I took them at Freestyle.
And I confirm the deserted situation in France related to darkroom products.... Depressing !
Someone mentioned Photostock... Super Depressing with cheese !
I talked to them (freestyle) about shipping stuff to Paris. They have a really cheap way to ship.
Minimum order of $150 and the real caveat is delay. It takes time....
But that's worth it.
Best,
G.