So I bought one of those Jobo 3110 Expert Drums(10 sheets of 4x5). I was wondering what are your recommendations for hand agitation. I will probably end up getting a tupperware container and aquarium heater for my processing. However how do I rotate the drum? I might want to pause in between agitation cycles. Or do I have to constantly turn them? I know that getting rollers or wheels and putting them on a board is the most likely solution. However do you know of any better methods to do this by hand rotation. I will be calbrating FP4+, HP5+ and T-Max 400 bathed in PMK Pyro and Xtol. Thanks.

-- David Payumo (dpayumo@home.com), April 21, 2000

Answers

You cannot stop turning the drum. Also, the chemicals should be poured in while the drum is turning. You can get a funnel with a flexible tube for this at an autoparts store. Instead of hand turning, use the drum on a Unicolor or Beseler motor base. A used one is less than $50.

-- William Marderness (wmarderness@hotmail.com), April 21, 2000.

you must rotate. I rotate about 40 rpm. get a rhythm going. the 3010 has water channels built into the drum, so it needs to be partially immersed in a constant temp water bath. I just use a JOBO tray, and do not use any temperature control. it seems to hold temperature for eight minutes just fine. you do need to rotate whilst pouring, as my studies showed partial uneven development if merely poured in using stock developers.

I have not confirmed this, but I was told that the Beseler and UniColor base drives cannot be submersed. I use the JOBO roller assembly for the Expert Drum which was relatively cheap compared to the drum.

-- daniel taylor (aviator@agalis.net), April 21, 2000.

I second the use of the Uniroller drum. I use one with the 3010 all the time for B/W film and find it useful. The drum may tend to walk along the uniroller. I have found that either rubber bands or velcro attached to the drum at strategic points reduces, stops the walking. I always prewet the film at temp for 5 minutes and find in my darkroom in my home--central heat/air that i naver have problems with temperature. So I don't know whether you will need to temper the drum at all. If you prewet at temp, the drum itself should keep the film and the chemistry at correct temp. You can test this. Prewt at proper temp for 5 min. then pour and "develop" with h20 at proper temp. At end of time check temp. You can adjust for drift with higher/lower water bath. Bob

-- Bob Moulton (bobmargaretm@home.com), April 22, 2000.