Polaroid 804 Banding

[Ben Diss]

I've finally made my first pictures on 8x10. I'm starting with Polaroid 804 so I can get instant feedback while learning. I blew through a whole box this weekend so it has been expensive. I've learned a bit and truely do appreciate the depth of field at 8x10 now.

I have a problem. The print has noticible banding. I didn't see this on the first three or four shots, but all of the last ones have it. At first I thought it was related to the way I was pulling the print off the negative so I tried pulling at different angles and that made no difference. I cleaned the rollers very carefully and that also made no difference. I'm thinking that maybe there's slippage in the rollers or maybe somethings out of round.

Here's the pic. It's horizontal banding that particlarly evident across the nose and above the lip. Any help here would be appreciated.

 

[ann]

Call tec support at Polaroid they are always very helpfu/' Is your processor on a motor or crank. If you are cranking and hesitate any at all you might be causing the problem.

 

[Ben Diss]

Ann- Thanks. This is an early electric model. Good idea, I hadn't thought to call them since this is so old.

-Ben

 

[rbarker]

I agree that it looks like a roller problem. I'd try just running the rollers with no film and the cover open so you can see if anything obvious is happening. If you are a friend has a dial indicator, you could use that to check for one of the rollers having one or more flat(ish) spots.

Added: Also check to make sure that something isn't causing the roller assembly not to seat properly.

 

[Ben Diss]

Another good idea. I pulled out some tools and measure runout. None. DNA. Dead-Accurate. I took measurements at four different places on each roller. They're off about .004" front to back as they sit in the processor, but I doubt that's going to cause a problem.

I wonder if I'm not cleaning them right. I took a paper towel and alcohol and wiped them. Is there a better way? Napha?

 

[janvanhove]

Cleaning the rollers is indeed very important with any Polaroid system, but a soft cloth and water should be enough, so if you still have a problem I don't think that it's the cleaning that is insufficient...

I second the "get in touch with Polaroid tech support" proposition above...

PJ

 

[Ben Diss]

Polaroid tech support was easily reached and familiar with the symptoms I described. She suggest a thorough cleaning of the rollers using only water and a paper towel. Turns out that alcohol doesn't dissolve Polaroid chemicals but water does. I could have something on there that I'm not seeing.

I'll try tonight and report back.

-Ben

 

[Ben Diss]

I carefully cleaned the rollers with a paper towel and water and it did make a big improvement. Still, the tones are smooth with just a little banding. I did notice some corrosion pitting on one roller so I wonder if this is what I'm seeing now. I'm going to check on the price of new rollers to see if it's worth just replacing them.