What rotary processor should I get?

edbuffaloe · Dec 14, 2008

I'm experimenting with a developer that requires long development times and I've decided I need to finally get a rotary processor. I want something simple and cheap, if that's possible. Does anyone have any recommendations? Do you have one you want to sell?

MikeSeb · Dec 14, 2008

I use a Jobo ATL-1500, and previously its little brother the ATL-1000. They are no longer made and are not in plentiful supply in good condition. Some of the other Jobos, the CPP and CPE series (I think they are) are possibly more available, though also no longer made.

There is a Sprint automated rotary processor also. I have no experience with it.

None of these are cheap, and cheap isn't part of the equation if you are talking about automated rotary processing.

doughowk · Dec 14, 2008

Even on the used market, fully automated systems are too expensive for my wallet. I get by with whats available on CraigsList. The Uniroller motor base & drums can often be found for $50 or less. I use them for 8X10 and larger negatives. I use slings to keep the tubes/drums from walking off the base.

cdholden · Dec 14, 2008

If you're after something inexpensive, get an old roller base... Beseler and Jobo made them. I'm not sure who else offered them. I've read where people use an Cibachrome/Ilfochrome tube and roller kit or these bases with Jobo tubes, even homemade PVC tubes. You can get the roller bases on the auction site for dirt cheap.

df cardwell · Dec 14, 2008

Can't beat a King Concepts.

If you can find one....

Larry Bullis · Dec 14, 2008

df cardwell said:
Can't beat a King Concepts.

If you can find one....

Was that an internal drum type? I'm wondering if that is what we had at Rapid Color in SF in the 60's.

I have a Merz, speaking of what you can't beat! It needs some work on its bearings, and a replacement condenser. I have a ton of the drums and inserts for it. I loved it and made a lot (well, a lot for me) of money with it. A stupendous processor, 12 8x10's at a time if you want. Built a lot like a Mercedes Benz - no kiddin'. It was State of the Art in the 1970's and I really don't think you could possibly do better. I don't have the computerized parts that run it for you, but who needs that?

I may want to keep one 8x10, maybe one 4x5 drum and the 70mm drum because I also have the tabletop model, which I think I'd rather keep. I'll think about it. What good is the unit with no drums?

I also, very carefully made yogurt in it and used it to rise my bread. Makes superb yogurt. So when they quit making film it will still be useful. Great temp control with water bath.

If you are interested, give me a pm. I don't know what "cheap" means, but storage is costing me something. Buy me out of indentured servitude and it's yours. I hope you are somewhere near Anacortes Washington (how likely is THAT?)

It might be worth a trip. The volume of stuff would take a medium u-haul trailer.

jeroldharter · Dec 15, 2008

For what format film and for what budget?

jd callow · Dec 15, 2008

jeroldharter said:
For what format film and for what budget?

a good place to start.

You might also tell us how many roll's/sheets you need to process at a given time.

edbuffaloe · Dec 15, 2008

I just need to process a few rolls of 35 or 120. Just something that goes round and round will do.

edtbjon · Dec 15, 2008

The Jobo CPE2 with a lift should be nice. These units doesn't take the Expert drums and thus are not as expensive. With a bit of patience they could be found really cheap.
With all the Jobos with a lift you get temperature control and the convenience of the lift for changing chemicals.

//Björn

removed account4 · Dec 15, 2008

hi ed

unicolor drums are cheep and work well,
but sometimes the reels are broken, don't
spool the film and / or are hard to find.
if you have metal film reels they fit in,
and / but rattle around a little bit.
patterson, yankee and other plastic reels can
be too big and don't fit in the tube ...

there is usually a thin gasket that is pronged/star shaped
to keep it from leaking ALL your chems out, smear a little
vaseline on the gasket and the receiving end of the tube ..
that will help.

you could also do greywolf's DYI which includes
a bead of caulk / sealant. i wish i had the link
to his page ...he had pictures ...

john

Lee L · Dec 15, 2008

I don't have enough space to permanently leave my Jobo set up, so filling, heating, and subsequent clean up and drying take more time than they're worth for just a few rolls of roll film. I also need a 5 minute pre-soak for good negatives with my Jobo tank and reels, adding to processing time. My darkroom is heated, so things would be different in a colder darkroom, which is what originally drove me to purchase the Jobo. I'd also probably use it differently in a darkroom with enough space to leave it permanently on a sink or counter.

I sometimes run my stainless steel tanks on a Beseler roller base for the constant fixer agitation. (In single direction mode with 35mm Hewes reels so that the film doesn't jump the hooks and slide out of the reels.) I have no clue if that would work with developer, but it could be worth a test roll or two.

Lee

jeroldharter · Dec 15, 2008

Any of the Jobo's would work. A lift is a necessity once you have used it.

For occasional use, especially for Black and white, you could get a jobo tank and reels with a capped lid (i.e. not a cog lid). Then you can manually spin the tube in a tempered water bath (a plastic tub with an aquarium heater will do). You could start with that and then decide if the expense of the Jobo is worth it. If you do a lot of film, you will opt for the Jobo.

Paul Howell · Dec 15, 2008

jnanian said:
hi ed

unicolor drums are cheep and work well,
but sometimes the reels are broken, don't
spool the film and / or are hard to find.
if you have metal film reels they fit in,
and / but rattle around a little bit.
patterson, yankee and other plastic reels can
be too big and don't fit in the tube ...

there is usually a thin gasket that is pronged/star shaped
to keep it from leaking ALL your chems out, smear a little
vasaline on the gasket and the receiving end of the tube ..
that will help.

john

I have a unicolor drum that I used occassional with a Bessler motor base. I made a replacement gasket from for the thin gasket from a sheet of gasket material I found at an auto part store, but now my drum leaks from the larger O ring type gasket on the other end which moves in and out to adjust for the number of reels. So far I have not found a replacement, but then again I have not looked very hard. Prior to the new leak the Unicolor drum worked rather well.

removed account4 · Dec 15, 2008

Paul Howell said:
I have a unicolor drum that I used occassional with a Bessler motor base. I made a replacement gasket from for the thin gasket from a sheet of gasket material I found at an auto part store, but now my drum leaks from the larger O ring type gasket on the other end which moves in and out to adjust for the number of reels. So far I have not found a replacement, but then again I have not looked very hard. Prior to the new leak the Unicolor drum worked rather well.

paul

the vaseline thing works on that o-ring gasket too ...

john

Venchka · Dec 15, 2008

For 35mm and 120 and 4x5 if you ever move up...

Jobo 2551/2553 (same tank-different Jobo drive which you don't care about) tank and 1-5 adjustable reels. The reels adjust for 35mm or 120 size film. Each reel can hold 1 roll of 35mm or 2 rolls of 120 or 1 roll of 220. The tank will also hold up to 2 2509 reels for sheet film up to 4x5. If you shoot the same film in multiple formats and develop for the same time, you can mix and match 35mm, 120 & 4x5 reels.

Rotation: Either the Uniroller or Beseler motor base. Works just fine.

My longest time so far with the 2553 & Uniroller was 19:50. Is that long enough?

Photoe · Dec 16, 2008

Patterson drums and reels work quite well on a rotaton direction reversing base. Besseler in my case

Bob Carnie · Dec 16, 2008

Phototherm in New Jersey is still making rotary processors.
Unit is called a side kick
If you can find a used one, you are safe for parts and service,
Jobo's are on the market but starting to get hard to find parts and service.

Larry Bullis · Dec 16, 2008

Bob Carnie said:
Phototherm in New Jersey is still making rotary processors.
Unit is called a side kick
If you can find a used one, you are safe for parts and service,
Jobo's are on the market but starting to get hard to find parts and service.

Interesting. I have one of those, never have used it. I didn't realize they were still in business.

Chazzy · Dec 16, 2008

Bob Carnie said:
Phototherm in New Jersey is still making rotary processors.
Unit is called a side kick
If you can find a used one, you are safe for parts and service,
Jobo's are on the market but starting to get hard to find parts and service.

Do they have a website? Are their products comparable to Jobos?

AgX · Dec 16, 2008

MikeSeb said:
I use a Jobo ATL-1500, and previously its little brother the ATL-1000. They are no longer made and are not in plentiful supply in good condition.

Yes, Jobo stopped production of all their processors, but still the ATL-1500 and the CPP2 ore offered by them new out of their stock.

Larry Bullis · Dec 16, 2008

Chazzy said:
Do they have a website? Are their products comparable to Jobos?

http://www.phototherm.com/

Bob Carnie · Dec 17, 2008

I have had the owner of Phototherm at my shop this past summer, we spent the morning discussing the pros and cons of his unit vs the Jobo's I have on site.
Apparently sidekicks are used for stem cell research and his vision is not even in the photo market.
We left the meeting with an agreement for him to produce a viable design for 8x10 film and as well a design for a very large drum to produce large , large negatives from my Lambda.
I believe the sidekick design is very good and will indeed move to their product for all my processing needs in the near future.
I was extremely pleased to find out that he does not rely on our photographic market to keep his product going out the door, which means ,long term support , parts and service in NA.
For me it is worth having a sidekick modified for my needs and I should have the results within the next few months.

If anyone contacts phototherm , mention APUG as they were delighted to find out there may be a market beyond stem cell research.

Bob

Chazzy said:
Do they have a website? Are their products comparable to Jobos?

eclarke · Dec 17, 2008

AgX said:
Yes, Jobo stopped production of all their processors, but still the ATL-1500 and the CPP2 ore offered by them new out of their stock.

Interestingly I got this cryptic P.M. at LFInfo a couple days ago...

" jobo
jobo cpp-2 units new are available....in germnay and can be made for USA current....write to know more." Robert Lyons

What is anyone's take on this?? My CPP2 is ancient...Evan Clarke

AgX · Dec 17, 2008

What is cryptic about that?

Either Jobo or the one importing them makes them fit for US voltage.

What rotary processor should I get?

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