Tank Processing for 8x10

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Has anyone used drums as developing tanks for 8x10 sheet film? I ask because I'm not keen on the idea of continuous agitation for drums, and have been considering the use of PVC tubes. It just so happens that the light safe lids to 35mm developing tanks snaps tightly onto 3" PVC pipe. So I was thinking about making a tank from this PVC pipe, adding the light safe lid, and pouring chemicals in an out.

So I'm wondering who else processes in this way, with a drum but without machine agitation.

-- Jonathan Smith (jonathan@musicstudents.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

i use tubes, i guess you could call them drums, to process 4x5 and 8x10 negatives. phil davis' has plans for making these in his book, "beyond the zone system". i have measured the edge to edge eveness of the negatives developed in this matter, and they are excellent, plus you can do all your work in the light. rolling the tubes is very easy. there are instructions on the web site of the view camera store. howard

-- howard schwartz (howards@ameritech.net), May 07, 2002.

Use black ABS plastic pipes or some other material you know to be completely opaque!

-- Eric Pederson (epederso@darkwing.uoregon.edu), May 07, 2002.

For 8x10 negatives I use Unicolor and Beseler drums that were made for developing color prints. Using a drum roller, I have continuous agitation.

-- Louis Jensen (jenluc@ix.netcom.com), May 07, 2002.

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