Dev tanks

David Rowland said:
I have a couple of the HB combi plan dev tanks which work but I'm not particularly struck on as they take about 30 seconds to fill and empty. I've always been concerned about uneven development...
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I agree that the fill/drain times cause uneven development. It has for me. If you can obtain a third Combiplan tank, this method might solve the problem:


I recently picked up the tanks, but haven't yet processed film to check results.
 
Sal Santamaura said:
this method might solve the problem
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What I have said earlier in this thread.
This principle of processline tank development has been practice for decades to most of our commercial laboratories.

There is no need for using lots of Combiplan tanks; stopping and fixing could be done in simular vessels under dark conditions.
 
Reginald S. said:
What I have said earlier in this thread.
This principle of processline tank development has been practice for decades to most of our commercial laboratories.

There is no need for using lots of Combiplan tanks; stopping and fixing could be done in simular vessels under dark conditions.
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Hence my use of open tanks processing in the dark.
 
Hi All thanks for the tip I had considered this method but I'm moving soon and will loose my darkroom for a while so I'll be using the Harrison tent on the kitchen table for a while. /has anybody us the Mod45 inserts for the paterson tanks I've heard mixed reviews from them ?

Thanks Dave
 
David Rowland said:
Hi All thanks for the tip I had considered this method but I'm moving soon and will loose my darkroom for a while so I'll be using the Harrison tent on the kitchen table for a while. /has anybody us the Mod45 inserts for the paterson tanks I've heard mixed reviews from them ?

Thanks Dave
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I use a MOD54 from time to time, it's a good holder BUT, it is a nightmare with thin films and once or twice I have got corners hooked up on the end plates and had touching sheets.

By far the best available is the 20th century cameras reel. Base price is OK, BUT, shipping costs from either USA or EU are ridiculous and VAT would need to be taken into account. I have asked N&T to approach 20th Century to see if we could get a UK distributor without any luck yet.

I have a little video of loading a 20th Century one, will pop it on YouTube and post the link
 
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Loading a 20th century cameras reel. Yes I always wear gloves. After each sheet just rotate the holder one flat ready for the next.

 
There is a Lock’n’Lock container that’s an excellent fit for the Combiplan film-holding skeleton. As the lid has an airtight seal, it might preserve the chemicals too. Much cheaper and very much easier to obtain than extra Combiplan tanks.
 
Another possibility is to use the washing basket from a film washing system like Gravity Works like this:

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I have a Combiplan and I like it! Yes, leaks a little bit, especially as I mostly use it on its side and fill it through the bottom valve.
Important to have enough developer in it to use it this way up, and to put the film holder in place with the film closer to the bottom. I pre-soak and use loooong development times in weird potions and have not seen uneven development unless the tank is not full enough.
Overall I like it a lot and live in fear of that flimsy styrene top clip breaking irrepairably.
I like the Paterson orbital even more but does not work so well for quarter plate - thats a whole other post!
 
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