SP-445 question

[Donald Qualls]

I've been looking at the SP-445 after seeing it in a YouTube video. That's something I've thought for years we should have; I take ten or so years away from the darkroom, and look what appears!

I just have a small operational question -- I've looked over the cross section and item photos on the Stearman Press web site, and I see only two film carriers for the tank. I can't tell for certain -- are the carriers actually double sided, to allow processing four sheets, or does a four-sheet batch require buying two more film carriers? The latter seems like there wouldn't be room in the tank for the relatively thick carriers, but the former seems to put two sheets emulsion-to-emulsion with, as far as I can tell from the photos, one long edge unrestrained on each, asking for the sheets to touch, adhere, and produce an un(der)developed area of contact, like mis-loading a 120 reel in a conventional daylight tank.

Am I misunderstanding how the SP-445 goes together, or how the film is retained?

 

[plummerl]

I've been looking at the SP-445 after seeing it in a YouTube video. That's something I've thought for years we should have; I take ten or so years away from the darkroom, and look what appears!

I just have a small operational question -- I've looked over the cross section and item photos on the Stearman Press web site, and I see only two film carriers for the tank. I can't tell for certain -- are the carriers actually double sided, to allow processing four sheets, or does a four-sheet batch require buying two more film carriers? The latter seems like there wouldn't be room in the tank for the relatively thick carriers, but the former seems to put two sheets emulsion-to-emulsion with, as far as I can tell from the photos, one long edge unrestrained on each, asking for the sheets to touch, adhere, and produce an un(der)developed area of contact, like mis-loading a 120 reel in a conventional daylight tank.

Am I misunderstanding how the SP-445 goes together, or how the film is retained?

It holds 4 sheets, hence the model name 4.4.5. Good instructions here : https://www.stearmanpress.com/SP-445 Users guide two page.pdf

 

[peter k.]

A little more clarity not shown in user guide:

are the carriers actually double sided, to allow processing four sheets,

yes ..two carriers, with two sheets per carrier, and sheets are separated by the carrier itself

 

[tim48v]

This might help: https://youtu.be/DNSNFY85lqc
Please forgive the audio; this was before we bought a decent mic.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Donald, welcome back.

The SP445 is really a neat way to develop 4x5" film, worked so well for me that I stopped using my Jobo with regard to 4x5" film.

One trick I very successfully use at the end of developing, is to drop each loaded film carrier into a tray filled with plain water, this allows the film to almost glide out of the holders.

I have the original kickstarter system, meaning the film holders are solid, not cut away like the current offering.

Mick.

 

[removed account4]

Donald, welcome back.

hi don
I don't have a sp-445 but still it is great to see you are here !!

best
John

 

[NedL]

hi don
I don't have a sp-445 but still it is great to see you are here !!

best
John

+1 miss seeing you here and at f/295. Hope you are well.
Ned

 

[Donald Qualls]

Thanks for all the welcomes back!

Now I see what's going on with the film holders -- sheets are captive on both long edges and the bottom short side; that should be quite adequate to prevent sheets from touching each other.

I might point out that marketing for this tank really shouldn't be limited to B&W processing. I don't see anything that would prevent processing C-41 or E-6 in this tank -- even improvised E-6 using C-41 chemistry with a B&W first developer and light exposure reversal (open the tank and pull each sheet out of its holder to expose both sides). When budget permits, I'll get one of these -- I've got some homemade ABS pipe daylight tanks I've used for 9x12 and 4x5, but this will use significantly less solution for more sheets (the pipe tanks, as built, need about 12 ounces for each sheet and get awkward to handle even for two sheets at a time.

 

[Nodda Duma]

I’ve used my SP-445 for every process available, including E-6 Aerochrome as well as dry plates. Works great.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Whoa! Glass plates. New! Sent myself that link, so I can look at it when I'm home -- might have to order a couple boxes of the 9x12 cm size, I've got a couple plate cameras.