Unicolor film drum help needed (again)...

[bobfowler]

I've decided this evening that I'm going to name my Unicolor film drum after the 16th President of the United States. From now on, it's called Abraham... Abraham Leakin'.

The end with the circular gasket that has the spokes is fine, not a drop. The OTHER end, the movable plug, leaks like crazy. I've cleaned this bloody thing until my fingers looklike prunes, but still, after a minute or so, a major puddle is forming in the 11X14 tray that I keep my motor base in.

My question... Is there anything I'm NOT doing that I'm supposed to be, or is there a way to fix that damned plug?

Any assistance in saving Abraham's life is greatly appreciated...

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, Bob,

The quickest way to solve your problem is to locate a Chromega drum. I have a couple of them and have NEVER had a leak, even from the one I've used for probably twenty-five years.

Konical

 

[bobfowler]

Good Evening, Bob,

The quickest way to solve your problem is to locate a Chromega drum. I have a couple of them and have NEVER had a leak, even from the one I've used for probably twenty-five years.

Konical

what kind of reels do they use?

 

[Konical]

Hello Again, Bob,

I don't use the drum for 120 or 35mm, just for 4 x 5 sheets. There's plenty of room for reels in the drum, but no way provided to secure them.

Sorry to sound a bit facetious in my original response. It's just that I've heard several reports of leakage problems with Unicolor drums. By complete chance, I happened to get a Chromega many years ago and found it to be absolutely satisfactory.

Konical

 

[bobfowler]

Hello Again, Bob,

I don't use the drum for 120 or 35mm, just for 4 x 5 sheets. There's plenty of room for reels in the drum, but no way provided to secure them.

Sorry to sound a bit facetious in my original response. It's just that I've heard several reports of leakage problems with Unicolor drums. By complete chance, I happened to get a Chromega many years ago and found it to be absolutely satisfactory.

Konical

I use the Unicolor paper drums for my sheet film and don't have any leakage problems, but that damn film drum...

Oh well...

 

[removed account4]

hey there bob -

mine leaks too, but less since i remembered to vasaline the gaskets ( like mad!)

not sure if you have the same film drum as me ( big and white and it has the adjustable plunger?) well, not only does the thin spokey gasket have to be clean and not cracked, but you need to goop on a healthy amount o' vasaline and as my newly found instruction manual suggests click /lock the end down a few times to seat the gasket well. the piston do the same thing but on the sides where the rubber bits are and you should be golden.
the first time i didn't goop it on a healthy amount and reseat the end 3-4 times about 1/2 my chems leaked out, second time i did as i suggest to you - it leaked a tiny bit, not not really enough for me to actually think the drum was bone-dry by the end of the run ( my thoughts the first time! )

-john

ps - if you haven't any vasaline, instructions suggest you can use crisco ...

 

[bobfowler]

hey there bob -

mine leaks too, but less since i remembered to vasaline the gaskets ( like mad!)

not sure if you have the same film drum as me ( big and white and it has the adjustable plunger?) well, not only does the thin spokey gasket have to be clean and not cracked, but you need to goop on a healthy amount o' vasaline and as my newly found instruction manual suggests click /lock the end down a few times to seat the gasket well. the piston do the same thing but on the sides where the rubber bits are and you should be golden.
the first time i didn't goop it on a healthy amount and reseat the end 3-4 times about 1/2 my chems leaked out, second time i did as i suggest to you - it leaked a tiny bit, not not really enough for me to actually think the drum was bone-dry by the end of the run ( my thoughts the first time! )

-john

ps - if you haven't any vasaline, instructions suggest you can use crisco ...

Ah-HA!

The instructions is one thing I didn't get with Abraham...

I'm getting ready to run some J&C 400 tonight, so I'll try it that way instead of the SS tank.

Thanks!!!!

 

[bobfowler]

Thank you! That solved the problem.

I did discover though, that I have to put new seals in one of my SQ-A backs...

ARGH!...

 

[Neal]

Dear Bob,

I found the Unicolor film tank to be much more trouble than it was worth. Your description of the seal tells me your drum is of the same construction. Try another brand, you'll be happier.

Neal Wydra

 

[glbeas]

Thank you! That solved the problem.

I did discover though, that I have to put new seals in one of my SQ-A backs...

ARGH!...

Thats not too hard to accomplish. I ordered a kit of seals for my backs a while back from Tamron, cost me all of $20 for enough seals to last me a long long time.