Thinking of putting a spigot and hose on Jobo CPE2; crazy?

rpavich · Mar 14, 2017

I just aquired a CPE2 (no lift) and did my first paper printing in the kitchen. I took over the counter space and now the jobo is sitting on the counter waiting to be used or dumped and stored until the next time.
Our kitchen is designed to where the exact place where it would make sense to have the jobo (left side of the sink) it can't fit. On the right side I slop water over the top of the jobo knobs to get to the sink. Any farther away and I slop water on the floor and counters.

I'd like to be able to get it out of my wife's domain and into my darkroom where I have lots of room but no running water.

After doing one session I noticed that water gets slopped a bit and I need a place to dump liquids while working. I also realized that either I have to pick up the jobo and lug it somewhere or leave it full of water and then figure out a way to get it to a place to dump out.

Also, when coming back to the jobo the next day, it would be good to be able to drain some water and warm it up again with hot water from the tap instead of heating up the entire 15 liter amount with the jobo.

So, having said that I was thinking about this; Adding a spigot that home beer brewers use and a few feet of vinyl tubing as a drain. I could drain the jobo into a 5 gallon bucket when necessary and refill for developing via the same bucket when needed. No carrying the jobo around and wife is happy with her kitchen counters back.

It's cheap, seems easy to do, and it seems like a good solution. I realize that I could pay a contractor to "plumb" my bedroom darkroom for water and any number of other solutions but this seems easy and cheap to accomplish.

What do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/Brewcraft-Bo...id=1489507717&sr=8-1&keywords=bottling+spigot

https://www.amazon.com/Tubing-Grade-Approved-Perfect-Pour/dp/B01CGVJ9QG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489507830&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=3/8+vinyl+tubing&psc=1

Sirius Glass · Mar 14, 2017

I could not see the webpage. I only get a blank screen.

I keep the Jobo with a lift next to the kitchen sink. It can drain into the sink and I put the bottles in the sink to catch the chemicals when I lift the tank or drum. I use the kitchen sink hose to fill the Jobo. The Jobo tank drain has flexible hoses for draining.

rpavich · Mar 14, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I could not see the webpage. I only get a blank screen.

I keep the Jobo with a lift next to the kitchen sink. It can drain into the sink and I put the bottles in the sink to catch the chemicals when I lift the tank or drum. I use the kitchen sink hose to fill the Jobo. The Jobo tank drain has flexible hoses for draining.

It's not that big of a deal, it was just a plastic spigot and vinyl tubing.
If I had a lift I'd be using it, but I don't.

grahamp · Mar 14, 2017

I have a self-priming siphon that I use to get most of the water out of mine. The dregs are easily handled. For warming, I have a little electric kettle if I am in a hurry.

I found my siphon in the local hardware store, but this looks to be the thing Dead Link Removed

MattKing · Mar 14, 2017

I would contact CatLabs about this - they might have knowledge about some less than obvious pitfalls (or think it is a great idea!).
They are the North American JOBO distributor, and participate here on APUG.

ic-racer · Mar 14, 2017

All these years of owning a CPP2, I did not realize the CPE did not have a spigot. I also have the TBE and it also does not have a spigot. The original Jobo Spigot is similar, if not identical to this one. (It is printed with "DRUM TAP" on the knob) Though, I'd think twice about putting a hole in the Jobo. Next year, when your darkroom setup is different and the spigot hole leaks, or a crack develops at the hole, you will wish you didn't do it....

https://www.coleparmer.com/i/mn/0606103

rpavich · Mar 14, 2017

ic-racer said:
All these years of owning a CPP2, I did not realize the CPE did not have a spigot. I also have the TBE and it also does not have a spigot. The original Jobo Spigot is similar, if not identical to this one. (It is printed with "DRUM TAP" on the knob) Though, I'd think twice about putting a hole in the Jobo. Next year, when your darkroom setup is different and the spigot hole leaks, or a crack develops at the hole, you will wish you didn't do it....

https://www.coleparmer.com/i/mn/0606103

Yeah...you are probably right. I was sure that I'd want this but I think maybe a little cooling off period might be in order. I'll look at the self priming siphon as an option for now

Sirius Glass · Mar 14, 2017

ic-racer said:
All these years of owning a CPP2, I did not realize the CPE did not have a spigot. I also have the TBE and it also does not have a spigot. The original Jobo Spigot is similar, if not identical to this one. (It is printed with "DRUM TAP" on the knob) Though, I'd think twice about putting a hole in the Jobo. Next year, when your darkroom setup is different and the spigot hole leaks, or a crack develops at the hole, you will wish you didn't do it....

https://www.coleparmer.com/i/mn/0606103

That is the drain that I attached the plastic hose to.

rpavich · Mar 14, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
That is the drain that I attached the plastic hose to.

Thanks.
I'm going to try just a siphon hose for now and if I'm unsatisfied with that, then this will be the next step.

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

bob

Pioneer · Mar 14, 2017

I would imagine that you could use epoxy to cement in some plastic reinforcement on the outside and inside to reinforce the area where the hole is located so cracking would not be my biggest concern. With my clumsiness I would be more worried about hitting the spigot as I am carrying the tank around and damaging it in some manner.

I use a siphon similar to what I use to exchange water in my aquariums. When I want to empty it I just siphon the water into a plastic 5 gallon bucket. The siphon also allows me to suck out the bottom so the only water left is easily absorbed with a couple of rags. Works great.

Sirius Glass · Mar 14, 2017

Pioneer said:
I would imagine that you could use epoxy to cement in some plastic reinforcement on the outside and inside to reinforce the area where the hole is located so cracking would not be my biggest concern. With my clumsiness I would be more worried about hitting the spigot as I am carrying the tank around and damaging it in some manner.

The spigot is recessed and can be turned so that it will not get bumped when carried.

ic-racer · Mar 14, 2017

BTW, the rubber gasket that seals the "Drum Tap" on my CPP2 deteriorated and mine started leaking last year. So, I had to take mine apart and repair that. I wound up cleaning the whole inner tub at that time so it looks like new again. Now, I'm using a turkey baster to remove all the water when I'm done using it. The drain leaves about 250ml of water in there, even when tipping the other end way in the air. After I get all the drainage I can from the spigot, I prop it up with the spigot in the air and use the turkey baster from the far side bottle hole. I have been doing that for a year now and the inside still looks shiny and new, no more mildew and algae.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 19, 2017

rpavich said:
I just aquired a CPE2 (no lift) and did my first paper printing in the kitchen. I took over the counter space and now the jobo is sitting on the counter waiting to be used or dumped and stored until the next time.
Our kitchen is designed to where the exact place where it would make sense to have the jobo (left side of the sink) it can't fit. On the right side I slop water over the top of the jobo knobs to get to the sink. Any farther away and I slop water on the floor and counters.

I'd like to be able to get it out of my wife's domain and into my darkroom where I have lots of room but no running water.

After doing one session I noticed that water gets slopped a bit and I need a place to dump liquids while working. I also realized that either I have to pick up the jobo and lug it somewhere or leave it full of water and then figure out a way to get it to a place to dump out.

Also, when coming back to the jobo the next day, it would be good to be able to drain some water and warm it up again with hot water from the tap instead of heating up the entire 15 liter amount with the jobo.

So, having said that I was thinking about this; Adding a spigot that home beer brewers use and a few feet of vinyl tubing as a drain. I could drain the jobo into a 5 gallon bucket when necessary and refill for developing via the same bucket when needed. No carrying the jobo around and wife is happy with her kitchen counters back.
That's what I did and it worked great,much easier to dump the water. I cut a hole and bought a plastic spigot with a foam seal,which I glued to the inside of the tank. I never leaked once.to drain,I just open the spigot, then wipe the tailk dry on the inside.it will keep the Jobo looking like new for years.
It's cheap, seems easy to do, and it seems like a good solution. I realize that I could pay a contractor to "plumb" my bedroom darkroom for water and any number of other solutions but this seems easy and cheap to accomplish.

What do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/Brewcraft-Bo...id=1489507717&sr=8-1&keywords=bottling+spigot

https://www.amazon.com/Tubing-Grade-Approved-Perfect-Pour/dp/B01CGVJ9QG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489507830&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=3/8+vinyl+tubing&psc=1

mshchem · Mar 19, 2017

Siphon, then pick the processor up tip it on end and get all the water out. Be careful adding hot water directly, if you get the tap water too hot it will trip the thermal breaker (just reset).
I never leave water in my CPP2, I bought mine off the bay "For parts not working" It was covered in lime, I cleaned it all up, it took hours. replaced the drum tap, used Loctite red gasket sealant to seal tap. I put in a new switch I got from Catlabs, thing works perfectly now.
Don't leave tap water sit in your nice processor, not even over night.
The drain was not on original CPA etc. siphoning is faster than the drum tap, take a PVC hose, form it into a U shape, fill it with water to prime it, put a thumb over each end. Stick one end in the processor the other in the sink and let it rip. Bigger the hose the faster it goes.
Best Mike

Sirius Glass · Mar 19, 2017

I empty my Jobo processor as soon as I am finished processing film. It stays dry until the next time I need to use the temperature control. When developing black & white film, I do not fill the Jobo, I just process at room temperature and develop according to the temperature.

Thinking of putting a spigot and hose on Jobo CPE2; crazy?

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