work flow for black and white in paper drums

[Paul Howell]

Started using paper drums for black and white and still working on the work flow. I use a Durst 8X10 drum on a Unicolor motor base, 2 oz chemistry per 8X10. Finished the last of the Ansco 130 now using Dektol 1:2, 2 mint for RC, 4 mint for FB, use once discard, use indicator stop bath, I can get 2 8X10 per 2 oz, the 2 fixs, use standard fix, 1 mint fix one, which I discard, then 1 mint fix 2 which becomes fix one for the next print, then wash. FB, use a tray for hypo clearing toning and bleaching.

Any other approaches?

 

[mshchem]

Cibachrome work flow. Re-use of chemistry: after you dev, bleach, fix etc. Dilute the used solution 50:50 with new. It's like working with a seasoned replenished tank.

You might consider a pre-rinse with the fiber base. This is the old Kodak method for fiber base color paper with their drum and tube machines.

Tubes seem kinda silly, but if you want a nice repeatable process it's hard to beat. I've used Jobo drums to do what you are doing.

I've even done ring around 8x10 test prints 5 at a time in the 3005 expert drum.

I agree with your HCA and washing method. Tubes work great for toning prints that you need extended times. Kodak Blue toner (Gold) requires 10 to 50 minutes depending on temperature.

This goes off tubes, but I have Kodak Rapid color (drum not tube) processors, they work great. But even the small one requires a decent sized kitchen sized sink to use. One shot wonder.

 

[MattKing]

Started using paper drums for black and white and still working on the work flow. I use a Durst 8X10 drum on a Unicolor motor base, 2 oz chemistry per 8X10. Finished the last of the Ansco 130 now using Dektol 1:2, 2 mint for RC, 4 mint for FB, use once discard, use indicator stop bath, I can get 2 8X10 per 2 oz, the 2 fixs, use standard fix, 1 mint fix one, which I discard, then 1 mint fix 2 which becomes fix one for the next print, then wash. FB, use a tray for hypo clearing toning and bleaching.

Any other approaches?

I think you may be discarding your chemicals too quickly. Have you calculated the capacity using the manufacturer's recommendations.
When I do this, I use two sets of graduates - one for each chemical in each set. I usually mix up something like 8 ounces of each chemical. One set of graduates is used for holding the chemicals before adding them into the tube, the second is used for pouring the chemicals out of the tube, and I use two smaller, 60 ml shot glasses for the actual measurement of the amount going into the tube (one for developer, the other for all the rest of the chemicals).
Once I have emptied the first set of graduates, the second is now full, and I switch them - that second set now supplies the chemicals for the next set of prints.
Each shot glass is rinsed fully after each use.
I rely on the indicator in the stop. Everything else is tracked using the capacity recommendations.
I only do this with RC. I use a tray for washing. I am lucky to have multiple tubes, which means that after each tube is emptied and rinsed I only need to give it a quick wipe with the towel and then let it air dry until I need it again. I find that four tubes works really well.

 

[Paul Howell]

I tested the fix after the 2nd use and could just start to see the white cloud form, so maybe another use, just decided to error on the side of caution, I calculated that I get 128 8X10 prints from a gallon of dektal, could not find the data sheet, so not sure how many square inches per gallon Kodak lists for Dektol. When I finish the Dektol will move to Polymax 1:9.

 

[MattKing]

Here is capacity data for Kodak chemicals: https://125px.com/docs/techpubs/kodak/e103cp-2017.pdf
Kodak Alaris has two links on its site for similar tables - one for film processing, the other for print processing, but they both re-direct to the film processing matrix.

 

[Paul Howell]

Looks like 2oz of both dektol and polymax per 8X10 is very close to what Kodak recommends. I could use another 8X10 drum, I just a Besler drum which turned to be new old stock so I will keep that drum for color. Drums have gotten expensive on Ebay, will pick another. I have a Unicolor 5X7 and drums for 11X14 to 16X20 which I guess I could clean and use for both B&W and color. Not sure how to best clean a drum.