Sheet film washing

[donbga]

Since Frances is busy drenching the poor folks in Florida tonight I thought I would inquire with group about how APUG members wash their sheet film.

Thanks,

Don Bryant

 

[donbga]

Since Frances is busy drenching the poor folks in Florida tonight I thought I would inquire with group about how APUG members wash their sheet film.

Thanks,

Don Bryant

This includes all sheetsizes 5x4 and up.

Thanks,

Don

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I tray wash all my sheet film (4x5, 5x7 and 8x10) in my slosher trays. This minimizes the film handling required during the entire process. I use multiple water changes, following the Ilford mininmal water procedure. My last wash is in deionized water with a couple drops of low foam wetting agent added.

 

[jovo]

I was so disappointed with my Doran cut-film daylight tank when I used it for the purpose for which it was intended that I nearly threw it out. Then a dim 15 watt bulb went off in my head and, after switching to tray development, realized that it would make a terrific film washer. So that is what I do now....finish fixing the sheets and plop them into the slots on the tank that I've already filled with water. Twelve fills, sloshes, and emptys serve very competently to wash the film thoroughly.

 

[removed account4]

i shuffle the film in a tray ( 4x5 - 8x10 ) and fill/dump the tray at least 20 times.

 

[John McCallum]

I drop mine into a Nova print washer, 2 per slot (8 max). Very convenient because they wash themselves, while I start printing the first batch.

 

[fhovie]

My 4x5 sheets get washed by running water through my Jobo spool; the 8x10 sheets soak in a 5 gallon bucket filled with water that I change several times in a period of 30 minutes. Since I use only ammonium thiosulfate based fixer, my wash cycle can actually be shorter than even this.

 

[DrPhil]

I have a gravity works 4x5 film washer. Works wonderful! On the really rare occasions that I shoot roll film I can also stack the reels in the washer as well. For 8x10 I use my print washer.

 

[juan]

As the hurricane blew my front porch full of water last night, I tried hanging a couple of negatives on a line. The wind blew the negatives parallel to the rain so they were not drenched by the water. Oh, well.

I develop in PVC tubes placed in a bucket. I keep the film in the tubes from presoak through final wash with the final wash being in a five-gallon bucket as Frank does.

BTW, it looks as though my block is the only one in the state that still has power.
juan

 

[jovo]

BTW, it looks as though my block is the only one in the state that still has power.
juan

My wife and mother-in-law are from Jacksonville. 'Gramma' is staying with us here in NY for a while, and has spent nearly every available moment watching the progress of Frances. We are all relieved to know that north Florida seems to have escaped major damage. Good luck to you, juan.

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, Don,

I probably should get a 4 x 5 film washer, but haven't yet done so.

I use a Kodak tray siphon and the same 20 x 24 tray I use for RC prints. I have two plastic "film hangers" purchased from Calumet many years ago. Each one holds four sheets of 4 x 5 securely and allows circulation to the base side of the film. I don't know who made these devices, but they are, apparently, no longer available. When they were being sold, I believe they could be had for 5 x 7 and 8 x 10 also. Since I ordinarily process four sheets at a time in a Beseler drum, the system works out fine.

Konical

 

[KenM]

I use hangers and tanks to develop my film, so I just wash them in the hangers. I have flexible latex tubing at various drop points in my sinks, so I just stick one of those into the tank, and use the hangers to hold it in place. Let it sit for a few minutes, then dump the tank, and let it fill again. Do that about 5 or so times, quick rinse in some photo-flo, and they get hung up to dry. Simple, works well.

I remember seeing a film washer at Barnbaum's workshop - I *think* it was a GravityWorks film washer. Had some (6?) slots for 4x5 film, and it used a siphon to drain the tank once it filled up. It was tall enough that you could just drop the hangers into the top of the washer without removing the film from the hangers.

 

[John McCallum]

As the hurricane blew my front porch full of water last night, I tried hanging a couple of negatives on a line. The wind blew the negatives parallel to the rain so they were not drenched by the water. Oh, well.

I develop in PVC tubes placed in a bucket. I keep the film in the tubes from presoak through final wash with the final wash being in a five-gallon bucket as Frank does.

BTW, it looks as though my block is the only one in the state that still has power.
juan

Good to hear things are relatively OK there Juan. From the news clips we've seen, that looks like quite a storm. best wishes, john.

 

[ThomHarrop]

Gravity Works washer. I just love to watch it fill and dump. It is a work of art.

 

[KenM]

Gravity Works washer. I just love to watch it fill and dump. It is a work of art.

Yeah, they're pretty neat. As you say, just fun to watch. As much as I used to poke fun at 'gear heads, every now and then they come up with something useful

 

[k_jupiter]

I process usually in tubes (but not BTZS tubes) and occasionally in a JOBO 2509 sheet film holder. After processing, I careflly remove from the tubes and place in film hangers and use an old Hollywood 4x5 tank to wash the film with. 10 minutes with a last dunk in distilled water with LFN.

tim in san jose