Re: sheet film

I'm not trying to start an argument but if one does tray processing reasonably carefully there
is little risk of scratching film. It is possible, but I don't think I've ever scratched film
tray processing 4x5. I've developed 100's of sheets of tri-x and have never noticed any
scratching. Maybe I'm not paying attention. Maybe tri-x is indestructable.

I have scratched film once getting it out of a home made tube - I hadn't sanded the edges of
the tube down. The edges were rought and scratched the film.

I do use tubes for processing larger sheets of film. I've used a camera that takes a 12x18
inch negative. Used a tube for this. I eventually want to make a very large panoramic camera.
I'll likely process the film from this in a tube.

The problem I have with home made tubes is that it can be really difficult to get the caps on
and off in the dark to pour the chemistry in and out. Even the "check" caps that aren't meant
to be put on permanently are awkward to get on and off. Compression and threaded fittings can
be really hard to get on and off - if you put them on tight enought not to get leak they are
hard to get off. I've ended up overdeveloping film when I've struggled to get the end caps
off.

When I use tubes I use the check caps and don't put them on really tight. I get some leakage,
but I live with it.

I've been meaning to try a comprimise. Open ended tubes. One can put a reduction fitting on a
one end of abs tubing and a cap on the other. This would create an opening in one end of the
tube but would still allow and inch of solution to stay in the bottom of the tube when it was
lying flat.

This would allow you to process the film by rolling the tube on its side and pour the
procesing solutions in and out without having to pull fittings off.

Chemicals would be poured in by holding the tube upright with the cap end down. Would have to
make sure the volume of chemical would not overflow the tube when it was lying on its side.

The comprimise is that it would still have to done in complete darkness. You would have to be
carefull not to tip the tube the wrong way and pour all the chemicals out when you are moving
the tube around.

Gord

> I strongly recommend tubes. Very cheap to make, don't have to be used in
> complete darkness, and pretty much impossible to scratch the film (which can
> be a problem with trays). See http://people.smu.edu/rmonagha/brontube.html
> for how to make a light trap for them. If you don't want to go through the
> trouble of making a light trap, just a piece of abs pipe with 2 caps will
> work just as well, but you will have to change the chemicals in the dark.
Received on Wed Jan 23 10:30:11 2002