Reusing Tetenal E6 (3 bath) chemistry

[jrydberg]

I'm trying to understand the process time table in the user manual.

If I got it right, they say that you can reuse the (500ml) chemicals up to three times provided that you adjust the development times a bit, and only run two films at a time. If you run six films in 500ml they argue that you should not reuse the chemicals at all.

What are your experiences and workflow?

I'm doing all my processing in an ATL-1500.

 

[snallan]

Hi jr,

You are correct, the capacity for 500ml of the chemistry is six films, and the number of runs in a rotary processor should be limited to three (because of the high rate of oxidation under the continuous agitation).

If I am using 500ml of the working solutions, I normally do multiple films in batches of two. Though if I only have three, or four films to process at one time, I will do them in one go, using the extended processing time that would be given for the second run.

 

[alien]

Hi,

I use 1 ltr for 12 films (so 6 films in half a liter) - after that all liquids are replaced.

I usually develop 4 films at a time, so re-use 3 times.

They say you should not develop less than 2 films at a time - might have to do with a minimum of film to get a good chemical reaction going.

I do it all by hand, with a warm water bath.

Best regards

Ansgar

 

[alien]

...of course, I use once, and then re-use 2 times....ah, well, math problems....

 

[jrydberg]

Thanks guys for your answers.

Earlier I've done 250ml in the one-120-reel jobo-tank and throwing away the chems after the first use. The result has been OK.

But when you want to reuse the chemicals, I guess you really need to use the full amount (500ml). Do anyone know how much chemicals you can pour into the tanks?

I got three different tank types:

* The small one, only able to hold one 135-reel.
* The bigger one, can hold one 120-reel, or the 4x5" reel.
* The biggest one, can hold five 135-reels or three 120-reels.

Until now I've only used the one that can hold one 120 reel, and run 250ml in it. Should I step up to the biggest one, and run 500ml in that one, or can I crank 500ml in the smaller one?

Is there a simple way to find out how much chemicals a tank can hold? You pour in as much as possible until some escapes while you rotate it by hand (horizontally of course)?

Another problem is that the chemical bottles in the ATL-1500 can only hold 700ml or so, which eliminates the possibility to run larger amounts of chemicals in the big tanks. Anyone tried to run three films at a time using 700ml?

What it all boils down to I guess is that I would like to be able to run six films at a time, but that doesn't seem to be possible with the ATL-1500.

How about the C41 chemicals? They manual states that you need 1000ml to feed four films, and the chems can also be used up to three times. I guess there is no problems running two films at a time in 500ml then, or maybe even three films in 700ml?

Thanks in advance.

 

[snallan]

This link on the Jobo website leads to info on the 2500 series film tanks, and has info on the recommended solution volumes to be used. It sounds like you have 2513, 2523, and 2553 film tanks (unless the smallest one is smaller in diameter than the other two, in which case it is probably a 1510 film tank; and takes 140ml for rotary processing, and 250ml for inversion).

The 2523 tanks require 640ml, and allow you to process five x 35mm at a time (though five films would require 1.25 litre of solutions to ensure adequate processing without modifying the processing times), so if you want to do more than two films at a time, you will need to make up 700ml of solutions. You should be able to do eight films with that volume (some careful testing would show whether it might even manage nine films; i.e. Three runs of three films in the larger tank. Though that might be stretching the chemicals a little too far!).

 

[jrydberg]

I found the online version of Dead Link Removed. It seems that I have the 2513 and the 4219, and some a tank that can fit a single 120-reel.

I also noted that the manual states that bottles actually hold 750ml but no process requires more than 660ml.

750ml should be well enough to cover the three films, should fit in the large tank, and hopefully lasts for two reuses.
That gives you 60 rolls, which is stated as the capacity of the kit.

 

[Serg Lavrenchuk]

I have one question. I first time develop E6 in my Jobo. There is a problem - Tetenal Manual advise to Preheat to 39 degrees.
I have done that and prosessed not 7 min (as tetenal Advise), but 6.30 with Velvia 50 on iso 40 (i preheat the system to 39C and while pooring FD quckly drop to 38).
The resust was slightly overdeveloped like +0.3 .

I tryed also to develop on 38C with times recomended (6.45 for 3-4 films).
The result was underdeveloped (Velvia 50 on iso 40) like -0.5 or even little bit more.

Please advise me what correction should I make and what system take as standard for future processing - 39 preheat with some time correction or 38 with some time correction.

Should I shoot Velvia 50 on iso 40 or not?

Thanks for the unswers.

 

[domaz]

Maybe you've considered this already but why not just use the 5L Kodak E-6 Single Use kit? It costs $50 for the kit. If you developed two rolls (35mm or 120) with each 500ml batch you make then it costs you $2.50 per roll. Not bad at all.

 

[Serg Lavrenchuk]

Why not to use cause I live in Ukraine (country with 50 million people ihab) and 2 labs still processing e6. The only kit I can find and not easily = tetenal e6 3 bath.

I would like to try Kodak. Tetenal cost 65 usd here so one rol is little more than 1 Usd. Twice not bad at all .

But i need advice on the 39-38 C temperature mode. Please.

 

[argus]

Why not to use cause I live in Ukraine (country with 50 million people ihab) and 2 labs still processing e6. The only kit I can find and not easily = tetenal e6 3 bath.

I would like to try Kodak. Tetenal cost 65 usd here so one rol is little more than 1 Usd. Twice not bad at all .

But i need advice on the 39-38 C temperature mode. Please.

I would not start to play with adjusting temperatures and timings. It's better to adjust your exposure.

I also use the Tetenal 3-bath kit on my Jobo and have discovered that I'd better expose Fuji Provia 100F at 125ASA and not at box speed.
This is also better for scanning the film afterwards, I have noticed... (sorry for swearing)

I juse the timings and temperatures as described in the documentation, but I can't help you with Velvia50 as I haven't used that.

G

 

[Serg Lavrenchuk]

This is not a "play" - that what documentation says.

I would not start to play with adjusting temperatures and timings. It's better to adjust your exposure.
G

But I don't play with times. It is written in the TETENAL E6 MANUAL.

"for rotary processors - preheat to 39C and use XXX FD time..."

I also use the Tetenal 3-bath kit on my Jobo and have discovered that I'd better expose Fuji Provia 100F at 125ASA and not at box speed.
This is also better for scanning the film afterwards, I have noticed... (sorry for swearing)

I juse the timings and temperatures as described in the documentation, but I can't help you with Velvia50 as I haven't used that.

G

Please don't think I whant to abuse you - just interesting. Did you read this documentation carefully? Cause one of my friends who never read manuals really had possitive results in development. Maybe I also should do like this.

But this documentation says to "adjust FD temperature to FD and than change to 38" to predict fall of temperature while pouring FD".

And this situation really makes me crazy.