What have I done wrong when developing?

[Graeme Simpson]

Hi all,
I'm new to this developing thing. Been wanting to do it for ages but thought it was like an impossible dark art that had to be handed down through generations

I've developed a few rolls of black and white with Ilfosol3 and it's been just fine but I moved onto r09 One Shot as was told it was good stuff.

I made up the dilution to 1:25 and followed the guidelines correctly but my roll came out like this.

I'm not quite sure what I'd call the messy edge so didn't know what to google so thought I'd join here and ask a few wise people.

The film was Kentmere 400, r09 dev, Ilford Stop and Ilford fix

thanks for any help you can offer

 

[Anon Ymous]

Probably too little developer used. The left part of the shot was higher in the tank and wasn't completely covered.

 

[Graeme Simpson]

Probably too little developer used. The left part of the shot was higher in the tank and wasn't completely covered.

The instructions with the tank states 300ml to cover 35mm so that's what I'm using.

 

[russell_w_b]

Have you got your spool pushed down on the hollow shaft as far as it will go? If it's a 'push-fit' one (Paterson), are you sure it's not riding up the shaft during the inversion / tapping process?

 

[Graeme Simpson]

Have you got your spool pushed down on the hollow shaft as far as it will go? If it's a 'push-fit' one (Paterson), are you sure it's not riding up the shaft during the inversion / tapping process?

Hmm possibly. I give it a good tap to remove bubbles after agitation so would have thought it would slide back down but it's certainly not something I'd considered. I only keep one reel in so I could leave them both in to stop it moving around?

 

[Anon Ymous]

Hmm possibly. I give it a good tap to remove bubbles after agitation so would have thought it would slide back down but it's certainly not something I'd considered. I only keep one reel in so I could leave them both in to stop it moving around?

Yes, that would be the best option. Some tanks also have a clip that keeps the reel from creeping up and is put around the central column.

 

[Graeme Simpson]

Yes, that would be the best option. Some tanks also have a clip that keeps the reel from creeping up and is put around the central column.

ah yeah...that's what that was for...that broke on it's first use. I'll find an alternative

 

[Svenedin]

ah yeah...that's what that was for...that broke on it's first use. I'll find an alternative

If it's a 2 reel tank and you only load one, put the loaded one on the bottom and the empty one on top and then your reel can't move up or down. I have had the same result as you by miscalculating the volume of developer required and stupidly using too little liquid. If that ever happens to you (and you realise immediately) you can save the situation by using constant agitation and reducing the development time accordingly.

 

[tezzasmall]

ah yeah...that's what that was for...that broke on it's first use. I'll find an alternative

I had this exact same problem with one of my films yonks ago...

I didn't have a clip to put on the tube to stop the single reel moving up and down when I bought my tank and therefore get uneven development like yours, the one time. So, I wrapped a single rubber-band around the tube directly above the spool and have not had a problem since. Even though I am still using the same rubber-band I put on ages ago, I think that it would probably be a good idea to change it every now and then. I think I might from now on put a new one on each time. Postie often leaves me a couple on the doorstep after visiting so I'm not short of a supply.

Terry S

 

[REAndy]

I use an "O-ring" on the top of my reals, to hold them down to the bottom of the "center column" (thing you push the reals onto) Does this have a "actual name"?
Anyway, take your center column and a real to a hardware store and you can find an O-ring that will fit. They are very inexpensive.

 

[Bill Burk]

I could have guessed it was a Paterson tank.

I never could keep the reels from slipping up.

Fill the tank all the way up.

Then if you feel it's too much buy a stainless steel tank.

 

[pentaxuser]

The "plastic" alternative so to speak is a Jobo single 35mm tank or the Durst single 35mm tank where there is no question of the reel sliding anywhere. The Durst even had a loader which feeds the film into the centre of the reel where by feel you place it under a sprung metal tongue and then simply wind the film on. The Dursts have what must be the lowest amount of liquid for either 135 or 120 film, using the inversion method( they are not designed for rotary processing). Filling and draining is slighly slower than Jobo but I haven't noticed any problems with it. My tanks are completely leak-proof no matter how much or how vigorously they are inverted

pentaxuser

 

[russell_w_b]

My Paterson tank is a newer one and works a treat - never had any slippage yet. The spiral is a stiff push-fit on the column with no detent other than friction. It takes 2 x 35mm films or 1 x 120 film. You could always cut the end off a film canister and slide it over the column between the spiral and the funnel, but cut notches in it at the end so it doesn't act as a liquid trap.