Remembering nitrogen burst processing

slackercrurster · Nov 14, 2018

I could not afford a burst processor, but in the 1970s we used them at work and at school. We developed sheet film and prints in them. Some shops developed roll film on reels. They would use a reel rack to process a couple dozen stainless reels in bulk.

https://danieldteolijrarchivalcolle...it-back-in-the-day-nitrogen-burst-processing/

Vaughn · Nov 14, 2018

I never used one...never did the volume to justify one either.

slackercrurster · Nov 14, 2018

Vaughn said:
I never used one...never did the volume to justify one either.

Me either, only used them at work and at L.A.C.C. Pro photogs had small burst units in their labs if they did some volume. I also used one as a tryout for an photographer assistant job. (Didn't get the job.)

btaylor · Nov 14, 2018

There’s a guy over at LFPF, Randy Moe, who recently put together a nitrogen burst processing line. I suspect just because he wanted the challenge, it is hard to imagine an individual needing such a system. It was the holy grail, consistent, works with any process. I always wanted such a system back in the day but it was expensive and not appropriate unless you were doing a fairly big volume. I had to be content with my Unicolor film drum and base, which actually worked very well and was absolutely consistent.

btaylor · Nov 14, 2018

Btw, did you mean LACC in LA? I am pleased to say they (as of a couple of years ago) are still big on darkroom work. They had a nice sized lab. The plan I heard was that they were going to add color as well when they move into the new building.

Mick Fagan · Nov 14, 2018

Had them at a place I worked in. Huge units, one for C41 the other for E6, Dip 'N' Dunk units. I seem to remember the nitrogen bursts were every 10 seconds for about 3 seconds. We had 4 cylinders hooked up on an automatic changing system, with about 12 full spare cylinders on the side. There was hell to pay when things stuffed up, which they did.

Mick.

juan · Nov 15, 2018

I have one. You can sometimes find the components on eBay. It works great with the minimal agitation schemes I use.

wyofilm · Nov 15, 2018

What did the nitrogen blast tanks do exactly?

MattKing · Nov 15, 2018

wyofilm said:
What did the nitrogen blast tanks do exactly?

The nitrogen bubbles provide the agitation.

Bob Carnie · Nov 15, 2018

I used them for making film and my first colour printing was done with a Calument Nitrogen Burst basket system for C prints, really worked well.

gordrob · Nov 15, 2018

I have an Arkay set up that will process either 5x7 or 4x5 sheet film. Works really well for my needs.

Vaughn · Nov 15, 2018

MattKing said:
The nitrogen bubbles provide the agitation.

The volume of the bubbles themselves cause the liquid level to change, providing a lot of the agitation. All pretty neat.

juan · Nov 16, 2018

Vaughn said:
The volume of the bubbles themselves cause the liquid level to change, providing a lot of the agitation. All pretty neat.

Exactly. I use a tank larger than my sparger so the bubbles themselves don’t reach all the film, but the moving developer does. The system is regulated by a timer that controls the length of the burst and the interval between bursts. That leads to very consistent development.

Remembering nitrogen burst processing

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