Washing 5x4 in Jobo 3010 tank

[hogarth1x]

I'm trying an experiment and could use some input.

I think I'm getting some embedded junk on my negatives from my plumbing. Before I go through the pain and expense of adding filters, I thought I should find out if that's where the problem lies first.

I can eliminate the plumbing entirely from the process. I'm going to process entirely with steam distilled water, including washing. It's all done on a Jobo CPP-2, using a 3010 tank. I'm using XTOL 1:3 as a one shot, and using Kodak stop and fixer as one shots also, all mixed with distilled water.

Which brings me to washing. According to what I've been reading, Ilford did some research that shows that you don't need to wash film nearly as much as I was taught back in the dark ages 35 years ago. What I've found pertains to roll films and small tanks - Ilford advises continuous agitation by inversion, something on the order of 5x, then 10x, then 20x, then possibly 40x inversions, then you are done.

Has anyone has tried this with sheet film and a Jobo system? I'd love to hear what you did and how you judged your results. I'm thinking of 4 or 5 wash cycles of increasing length (30sec, 1 min, 2 min, 4 min), and 500ml of water. Am I shooting myself in the foot? Is this overkill? What do you think???

 

[colrehogan]

I just put in a final wash of 7 minutes with mine. I don't recall off the top of my head why I picked that particular amount of time though.

 

[Lee L]

Go with your proposed system. For more specifics on the efficacy of this method and suggested times see:

www.largeformatphotography.info/unicolor/ilfwash.pdf

Lee

 

[Jim Noel]

I use 5 changes of water for one minute each in al of my Expert drums and have no problems.

I have bothered to have some sheets of film tested by a very good chemist and been told that there is no significant difference in the films washed in this manner and the ones washed in a Kostiner Film Washer for 30 minutes.

 

[jp80874]

hogarth1x,

In an effort to keep your test honest, may I suggest that you rinse the system, both the Jobo and the Expert tank with distilled water before your test. If your plumbing is leaving debris on film, there is probably debris from earlier processing dried in either the Jobo or the tank.

If it is any help to you, I have well water, and used to have little specs on the film even though we have a water softener filter. I added a canister with 3 micron filter. After I am through the rinse cycle I dip each sheet of film for a couple of seconds in a gallon of distilled water with a drop of photoflo, then hang to dry in a dust free container. No more specs.

Good luck,

John Powers