Rodinal 1:50 in tanks with hangers?

[Christiaan Phleger]

Aloha! So I've been up and down this same old strip, Sorry, saw the Beach Boys the other night and its stuck in the head, I want to do Rodinal 1:50 with dip and dunk 4x5 in hangers. I'll either be doing a small tank of 1/2 gallon or I may just bust out the 3 1/2 gallon tank and do it all at once. Trouble is I can't really figure out how to do the Rodinal part. Like, how many 4x5's can I do at 1:50, at those two tank sizes? Should I top it up after each sheet with small amount of 1:50? After the first few (5-10?) sheets does Rodinal at 1:50 go kaput? Any advice from all you Rodinal hep cats would be cool, daddy-o.

 

[df cardwell]

Assume Rodinal is bullet-proof, high capacity, and forgiving. That makes the whole process easier on your nerves. You can probably develop 60 sheets of 4x5 in 1.9 liters of 1+50. Doing several runs is no different in Rodinal than anything else, just don't leave it around all day after you mix it before you use it. But this is the same for any diluted developer.

Topping the tank up is always a good idea. Mix the solution all at once, and set the extra aside.

Run a couple test sheets through the bath before you run the important film, of course. Just do what you'd normally do with HC-110 or whatever you're used to using in the tanks.

 

[reellis67]

It's a snap. I use the 4x5 tanks, the old Kodak hard rubber variety, and it turns out fine every time. The capacity with that volume should be quite large, like DF said.

- Randy

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

Thanks, I had a feeling that it should be ok, but I always do my Rodinal in small tanks one-shot so I was not clear on the deep tank thing. Aloha!

 

[George Collier]

My inclination would be to use one shot, however many sheets at a time, just because it's cheap, and to avoid oxidation issues. I would, however, listen to Don's experience with Rodinal.
One thing, if you try stand development, let us know how it works, I've been thinking about trying that with 4x5 and Rodinal for a while.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

I'm planning on doing the processing in one day, doing the 4x5 first then some 35mm/120 then maybe letting a sheet sit in there for a few hours or so, maybe overnight so I'll let you know about the stand action.