Tube processing...what is it?

[johnnywalker]

I've used this method and like it, but I found using the fibreglass screens between the back of the film and the tube often left faint marks on the back of the film. I use 1 1/2 inch tubes.
My system was made from PVC tubes as well, but didn't have the chemicals in the cap - I just poured them in and out in the dark (which it now appears wasn't necessary) from pre-measured flasks at the ready.
My biggest problem was that I could only do 2 sheets at a time, one loaded in one end and the other film in the other end. I've since switched to a Jobo tank and reels and can develope 6 films at once.
I thought about roughening up the surface of the tubes using epoxy droplets in place of the screen, but never got around to trying it.
Best regards,

 

[w35773]

How critical is the consistency of the "log rolling" for even development? If you are processing 6 tubes at a time, it seems like it would be hard to have tight agitation control. Do you get even development and consistent contrast results?

As JBrunner said, the water the tubes float in randomizes the process somewhat. Additionally, I flip my tubes and change their order on a regular basis. Essentially, I take the front tube and flip it end for end and move it to the back of the line every 15 or 30 seconds depending on how many tubes I am doing. This ensures that each tube regularly reverses direction and that any inconsistency introduced from the position of the tube in the line is minimized.

I think I will try to do my stop and fix "in vitro" and see how that works. The two biggest issues I currently have with tube processing is scratching them in the fix tray and losing track of which negative is which if some of them are of the same subject.