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Response to Cheap Rotary B/W Processing

from John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net)
Unicolor print drums on the Unicolor roller work very well for 8x10 film. These are only available used now.

You can use a single 8x10 drum for one sheet or an 11x14 drum for two sheets. Presumably a 16x20 drum could be used for four sheets but I haven't had the nerve to try it.

The Unicolor drums have ribs that allow solutions to bathe the base side of the film, thus removing sensitizing dyes etc; if you use a smooth-walled drum or one that has few ribs you'll need to remove the wet film from the drum for a second fixer rinse, HCA etc for dye removal.

If you buy Unicolor drums, check around the upper edge for sharp spots and remove any roughness or mold flashing with an emery board.

Also, when buying used Unicolor drums, be sure you can return any that have serious leaks; they all dribble a little but well-used ones have compressed rubber seals, worn gaskets etc. I've heard of worn gaskets being replaced by truck oil-filter gaskets but haven't had to try that yet.

The Unicolor drums are of course not temperature-regulated; if you really need precise high-temperature regulation then you'll have to go with Jobo.

(posted 8958 days ago)

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