Using a Jobo forced film washer

[adelorenzo]

I just picked up one of these. Seems like a simple device but I can't find any instructions online.

If I had to guess I would say that you pop the lid of the tank but leave it on loosely, then insert the washer. So the water flows down the column and then back up and out the sides of the tank.

Can anyone confirm or correct?

 

[miha]

Push it firmly into the centre opening of the tunel, open the water tap carefully, water flows out trough the openings in the tank lid. Now close the little hole on the transparent tube with your finger, this will close the air intake, the water will rise in the tube. Adjust the water flow with the tap so that the water level is steady between the two red lines on the tube, then unblock the air intake again.

 

[adelorenzo]

Thanks! It was a little more complicated that I thought, that is very helpful.

 

[Photo Engineer]

OTOH, you can just let fly with the water pressure and ignore the lines. After you finally grab the hose and nozzle whipping madly around the room and clean up the mess you can follow the instructions in #2.



PE

 

[MattKing]

OTOH, you can just let fly with the water pressure and ignore the lines. After you finally grab the hose and nozzle whipping madly around the room and clean up the mess you can follow the instructions in #2.



PE

As is often the case with PE ...

Clearly the voice of experience.

 

[AgX]

The designation of this apparatus is CASCADE.



"Manual":

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqZ,!i4E3QiEuTnJBOJrpp1EUg~~0_3.JPG

 

[mohmadkhatab]

My dear brother, how did you get those great machine,,, I'm thinking of buying one, I'm trying to gather information about the cost.

Could you help me in this matter?
Does that machine to show the potential and the development of the "positive film."

 

[AgX]

http://www.catlabs.info/product/jobo-3350-universal-forced-turbulence-cascade-film-washer

This Cascade device is only intended for washing the developed and fixed film (may it be a negative or positive) in a developing tank (or photographic paper in a tray, with some holding clips).
Especially when used in a tank it uses the water most economically as all water passes the film at near distance.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Jobo washer from a Jobo manual

Here is their own photo of the washer. They do call it a "cascade", but I just don't associate that name with this device.

And my only wall decorating was done with a Kodak style emulsion mixer made for me by a friend. When we first tried it, lets just say it "overperformed" a tiny tad!

PE

 

[AgX]

That water running over the tank over a staggered relief makes the term cascade quite appropriate.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Well, I can get about the same effect with a piece of tubing and a cork. However, cascade it is called so cascade it is.

PE

 

[adelorenzo]

Nonetheless it seems like a pretty handy thing. Thanks for the info everyone, better try a test run before I use it with film!

I still have to figure out some way to make it fit my water source as well.

 

[AgX]

As that sketch #1 in the manual shows,a 1/2" nipple with flange should fit. From there you should be able to go anywhere.
Alternative try to fit a shower hose, or go via step-up nipples and tubing.


EDIT:
With that shower hose I refered to adapting a Cascade to a bathroom installation, not just putting the shower house directly onto the tank.

 

[Seele]

The Cascade is different because it uses air bubbles to do most of the washing, not just water alone. Sure you can just shove a hose down the centre column of a tank but there is a possibility for some stale spots inside the tank where little fluid is replenished, so the Cascade was designed to force a lot of air bubbles into the tank where the inside is vigorously agitated.

While it washes the negatives very well along with low water consumption, I only use it when I fix my films with hardening fixer. Otherwise, I use the Ilford 5-10-20 method; after all as an Australian I tend to be quite frugal with water.

 

[AgX]

Yes you are right. A laminary flow might produce spots/areas of lesser washing (similar to some artefacts seen in rotational tank development).

The ventury principle implemented in the transparent part of the Cascade adds air bubbles to the water streaming through the reel.
On the other hand are we just afraid of air bubbles in the reels during rotational processing. So it depends what works out best to deliver best diffusiion in each application.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

My dear brother, how did you get those great machine,,, I'm thinking of buying one, I'm trying to gather information about the cost.

Could you help me in this matter?
Does that machine to show the potential and the development of the "positive film."

please keep in mind, there is nothing simpler than film washing,after 2min in washing aid, just insert the hose into the developing tank and slowly let fresh water enter the tank for 10 min; wipe off ecess water between two fingers and hang to dryin a dust-free warm place;done. forcefull washing is not required. even if you was the film in Niagra falls, if would not wash any quicker. a slow constant supply of fresh water is all it takes.

 

[Photo Engineer]

If you use a plain hose, it will wash well, but air bubbles will form and block proper washing. So, with a simple hose, one must tap the reel about once per minute to break up the bubbles and promote good surface water flow over the film.

PE

 

[RalphLambrecht]

If you use a plain hose, it will wash well, but air bubbles will form and block proper washing. So, with a simple hose, one must tap the reel about once per minute to break up the bubbles and promote good surface water flow over the film.

PE

so what keeps these bubbles from forming in film washers?:bli:confused:

 

[Photo Engineer]

The hole in the Jobo cascade washer is a "breaker" or some such name. It makes the small bubbles form larger ones and the large bubbles do not stick to the film (or paper). They tend to float off. However, I find it a good idea to check the film for tiny bubbles even with the Jobo washer.

Oh, and the Nitrogen burst agitation introduced by EK for color processing served a similar purpose along with agitation.

PE

 

[AgX]

That hole is necessary to yield that venturi-effect.
(That effect is only to be obtained with a tank connected to it. The flow-rate with the water level adjusted between those marks is about 3L/min)

Whether those added bubbles interfer with possibly all existing bubbles is still the question. As this apparatus is employed in the last bath consistant bubble-forming on the film will not be visible in its outcome. As will the effect of bubbles (at high flow-rate) or the lack of them (at low flow-rate or even better with closed hole) not be visible.
Without further tests on the emulsion layer we just have to thrust Jobo that those added bubbles are beneficial.


(Terminology: I have it about a venturi-effect or even venturi-apparatus. Actually the thing is not designed that way, to produce large suction force. Rather to make bubbles. And this it does by injecting its water stream at high velocity into the dammed-up water from the tank, and taking with it air out of that transparent casing. Thus it is better called an injector-system. That hole is the way for that air to get in.)

 

[gliderbee]

Push it firmly into the centre opening of the tunel, open the water tap carefully, water flows out trough the openings in the tank lid. Now close the little hole on the transparent tube with your finger, this will close the air intake, the water will rise in the tube. Adjust the water flow with the tap so that the water level is steady between the two red lines on the tube, then unblock the air intake again.

So is it correct that the tank lid does NOT have to be loosened for using the cascade?

regards,
Stefan

Verstuurd van mijn GT-P7510 met Tapatalk

 

[miha]

Correct, the lid stays closed.

 

[gliderbee]

Correct, the lid stays closed.

Thank you! That's how I used it for quite some time, but was told otherwise recently, so I had to ask.

regards,
Stefan

Verstuurd van mijn GT-P7510 met Tapatalk

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I just picked up one of these. Seems like a simple device but I can't find any instructions online.

If I had to guess I would say that you pop the lid of the tank but leave it on loosely, then insert the washer. So the water flows down the column and then back up and out the sides of the tank.

Can anyone confirm or correct?

any hose ,fitting the top hole in the lid will work just fine.film washing does not require a forced water stream. slowly running water is sufficient.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I just repeated pour water into the tank, let it turn for 30 seconds, and empty the tank using the lift.