vertical bath for paper development ?

Rom · Oct 3, 2013

Dear all,

I need to relocate my darkroom in a place where i am quite short on place.

To minimize the lenght needed for my 3 baths, i was thinking to use a vertical bath.

Except for the amount of product i will need to fill the tanks, what will be the issues ? Does it already exists this type of tanks ?

I don't know so much about chemical but is it possible that i can have some variation in the development between the part of the paper which will be at the bottom and the one at the top ?

Bob Carnie · Oct 3, 2013

This is the general concept of a Calumet system I used at school, A basket that had nitrogen burst held the prints and they were traveled from bath to bath.
It will work for colour or black and white and very possible.

Hey I just drove by your home town on the way in to St Tropez and back to Paris. I really need to visit your city it looked amazing.

Sim2 · Oct 3, 2013

Hi there,
I don't often post here but, yep, they do exist & a company called Nova make some very good ones, either single "trays" or multiple "trays". I have a 4 "bath" fibre paper processor for when I have to relocate to somewhere smaller and the footprint is tiny compared to 4 16"x12" trays.
Agitation I think is the main issue, it is easier to rock a tray than jiggle a print in the "slot" but something one would get used to.
Nova darkrooms in the uk make/stock the processors. Hope that is of assistance.

Rom · Oct 3, 2013

Thanks for the info. Will look at calumet. Sounds good. What is the nitrogen for ?

Are you still in france ? you should stop through lyon ! it's a nice city.

Rick A · Oct 3, 2013

I used to own a Nova Trimate slot processor, all done on the up and up.

AgX · Oct 3, 2013

Jobo once made vertical (actually oblique) slot tanks. Either as single unit or in a heated version combined with a rotary processor.

johnielvis · Oct 3, 2013

depends on size-I bought a plastic three-drawer set that is PERFECT for 8x10...dev/stop/fix...it's a bit bigger than 8x10 and the drawers function as trays..the houseing for the drawers is plastic...you get three trays stacked on top of each other

otherwise--they have these things at like office depot or staples that allow you to stack inbox trays---just stack-em

jeffreyg · Oct 3, 2013

Rom,
Since you will call Calumet also check on tray stackers. The advantage (if you have the room) is that if you want to make larger prints ie 16x20 you can stack three trays in just over the space of one. You may already have trays. I happen to have a large sink so with two of the tray stackers that hold 16x20 trays I can have six trays in just over the space of two.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

jbrubaker · Oct 3, 2013

As others have said, the Nova slot processors are very good at saving space. I have a heated one which is good for developing color photo paper. Here's a link to a dealer in the UK that has some pictures and prices:

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/nova-slot-processors-348-c.asp

regards ---john.

presspass · Oct 3, 2013

I've been using a Nova slot processor for about 15 years. I have never tried it with fiber prints, only RC. It is a wonderful tool, agitation is not a problem, and it keeps the chemistry fresh for several weeks with floating tubes that seal the slots off. That's great if you just have time to go to the darkroom and make a few prints - just remove the floating tubes and you're ready to go. It also saves on chemistry.

Richard Man · Oct 3, 2013

I have a large Nova. Works great. Need to re-set up the wet darkroom

Rom · Oct 4, 2013

Dear all,

Thanks for all good suggestion.

It's very good to see that nice solutions already exists. I am really temptated by the nova model, with temperature control. But, budget is high...

I will see what will be possible.

Just one last question regarding the use of this system.

If for example you get a 16x12 slot processors. Is it confortable when you just want to make some test with small piece of paper ?

Neal · Oct 4, 2013

Dear Rom,

Consider using a single tray and pouring the chemicals in and out. I have enough room for the normal setup but I use it for 16x20 and 20x24 as I find it easier to pour the liquid than to move the larger sheets.

Neal Wydra

Bob Carnie · Oct 4, 2013

You may have a hard time finding this unit , very old system... the nitrogen is for agitation, the basket which holds the prints is attached via tubes to a burst system
when you put the basket in the chemicals you set the agitation pressure burst length and pressure to suit.

Basically it is a dip and dunk processor that is used world wide to pocess film of all sorts... Roller transport processors for prints replaced the basket system in the 70's;

No longer in France, but will come back , amazing part of the world .
UOTE=Rom;1553901]Thanks for the info. Will look at calumet. Sounds good. What is the nitrogen for ?

Are you still in france ? you should stop through lyon ! it's a nice city.[/QUOTE]

Richard Man · Oct 4, 2013

If you use a Nova, there's no problem with developing test strips. You use clips to hold the strips.

David Allen · Oct 4, 2013

Neal said:
Dear Rom,

Consider using a single tray and pouring the chemicals in and out. I have enough room for the normal setup but I use it for 16x20 and 20x24 as I find it easier to pour the liquid than to move the larger sheets.

Neal Wydra

Very good advice.

If you use the one tray method you have all of the chemicals prepared in jugs. If you select a jug of applicable size, you can put the test strips through them before using the tray for the final print. Not only is the single tray method very good for handling large prints but it is also good if you have problems with taking the print out of one tray into another tray without kinking the paper. I have had students who managed to kink 16 x 12 double weight fibre prints in a way that made me think they were handling one of the super thin single weight papers (those made for binding together in books - such a scene of crime evidence, etc) of the past.

By the way, there has been a Nova on the German e-bay for ages that has not sold:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Dunkelkammer...order_Vergrößerungsgeräte&hash=item2a31fa0779

Unfortunately, it is collection only but, even with the travel and accommodation costs of coming to Berlin, it is still a fraction of the cost when buying new.

Hope you find the solution that works for you.

David.
www.dsallen.de

AgX · Oct 4, 2013

didjiman said:
If you use a Nova, there's no problem with developing test strips. You use clips to hold the strips.

Jobo employed sticks with suction cups at their ends to manipulate the papers.

Rom · Oct 4, 2013

David Allen said:
Very good advice.

If you use the one tray method you have all of the chemicals prepared in jugs. If you select a jug of applicable size, you can put the test strips through them before using the tray for the final print. Not only is the single tray method very good for handling large prints but it is also good if you have problems with taking the print out of one tray into another tray without kinking the paper. I have had students who managed to kink 16 x 12 double weight fibre prints in a way that made me think they were handling one of the super thin single weight papers (those made for binding together in books - such a scene of crime evidence, etc) of the past.

By the way, there has been a Nova on the German e-bay for ages that has not sold:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Dunkelkammer...order_Vergrößerungsgeräte&hash=item2a31fa0779

Unfortunately, it is collection only but, even with the travel and accommodation costs of coming to Berlin, it is still a fraction of the cost when buying new.

Hope you find the solution that works for you.

David.
www.dsallen.de

Dear David and Neal,

Thanks for the advise.

Just a last small question. If i use only one tray, is there any problem of contamination when i pass from the fixer of the first print to the developer of the second print ? (in my case, the washing bath is in the room just next to).

Thanks in advance for your help.

And thanks for the eBay link ! i search on eBay this morning without any results. It could be a nice occasion to pass through berlin.

Neal · Oct 4, 2013

Dear Rom,

Chemicals are transferred from one bath to the next in all schemes. The key is to make sure you don't back up into the developer. You are going to do at least one rinse in the working tray and probably two with a hypo clearing agent in between.

Neal Wydra

vertical bath for paper development ?

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