Film Developing Tanks & Reels?

[IkarusJohn]

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Inevitably, I took my freshly exposed rolls of Tri-X to my local photo shop (where I bought the film), and they don't process. There is basically one processing shop here, and they process on Tuesdays & Thursdays. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

So, processing my own film.

 

I found some good discussion on the forum, thanks to you all. I could find little that is recent on developing tanks and reels. I favour the idea of stainless steel, and the Hewes reels look good. I have found these available on Adorama, but I have also heard some indifferent reports about Adorama (probably unfair).

 

Does anyone have firm recommendations about developing tanks and reels, and advice on where I can source these online?

 

I'll also need a change bag - there was a recent discussion on this.

 

Cheers

John

[sm23221]

I just bought 2 Hewes stainless steel reels today at a local camera store (Samy's) along with a Kalt developing tank. It appears to be of very good quality that will probably last a very long time. I'm not a fan of plastic reels and tanks.

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[Allen in Montreal]

John,

 

Hewes may very well be the best reel made.

It is said that some Kindermann reels are Hewes, just rebranded. The key is the thickness of the stainless, the 2 finger loading and the finish of the stainless that makes rolling the film so smooth, the cheaper reels have a more "satin" feel to the stainless than Hewes.

The real Hewes say Hewes Britsih Made on the tongue in the center of the reel.

 

If you do not plan on running a motorized Jobo, skip the plastic!

 

With tanks, the only thing to watch is the lids. There are 4 types of lids, all with pros and cons.

 

1 and 2 are good lids, but they can stick and be a SOB to get off if banged around a little or mis-matched with your tank. Not an issue of you are buying new, but if you buy of the Bay, it could be an issue. 1 obviously requires total dark to change from dev to stop etc.

 

3 is the most common, they can pop off during inversion, keep one finger over the lid while rotating.

 

4 is not meant to be used for inversion agitation.

You lift the rod and lower the rod (recommended by the tank maker).

or lean the tank on a 30 degree angle or so and shake (a shortcut used by many)

 

 

 

As far as Adorama goes, I have never had an issue with them when buying in NYC, but they suck at shipping over borders and no longer ship to Canada so B+H gets the business now.

B+H shows them in stock.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/714526-REG/Hewes_EKC009_35mm_Stainless_Steel_Developing.html

 

I hope that is of some help.

I always like to see people starting to process at home, the more the better.

 

(sorry for the cell phone pix).

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Edited March 14, 2011 by Allen in Montreal
B+H link added

[MPerson]

John - I run all stainless steel tanks and reels due mainly to developing 12-20 rolls of film (35mm & 120) a week. Plastic reels tend to crud up even though I tried to keep them clean. However, you can get Hewes stainless reels to fit Paterson and Jobo plastic tanks. That keeps costs down as you can grab good used plastic tanks and invest in stainless reels for longevity.

 

Hewes Stainless reels for plastic tanks Need to scoll down.

 

With regards changing bags I have three, in different sizes, from Roger Luo, These are good quality heavy cotton bags so no static or sweaty/damp fingers when trying to load:

 

Roger Luo on EBay

 

Delivery costs may impact your choice of suppliers though.

[earleygallery]

I found stainless reels tricky to load, ended up with film too tightly wound on a couple of occassions which spoilt it during processing.

 

That said, the plastic reels are sometimes difficult too, 36exp film often gets stuck near the end and need to be rewound/reloaded.

 

Whichever you try, use an old film to practice loading with first, in daylight and then in the changing bag, until you get the hang of it.

[Caterman]

Stainless is the only way to go, stress free:)

Otherwise, using plastic you're the one that will end up in a darkened room;)

I can recommend for reels going straight to Hewes at

Hewes Products Home Page

For tanks RK Photographic

RK Photographic Online Shop: 35mm STAINLESS DEV TANK

Beautiful stainless steel developing tank.

Excellent craftsmanship.

Made in Japan.

No longer being manufactured so get them while they last!

[IkarusJohn]

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Thank you all for the helpful advice.

 

Cheers

John

[Xmas]

The easiest way of doing film handling is in a dark room, as a changing bag is an invention of the devil...

An understair cupboard or washroom with no windows is easy to make light tight.

In a dark room you can load 220 film into a Patterson tank without stress marks every time, 35mm you can drink beer at the same time as singing Swanne, just like Al J.

Having loaded the tank you can turn on the light and more to the wet area for processing.

That is the easy way.

Got most of my Patterson tanks for free as people went to digital, got some stainless to but sold them for charity...

 

Noel

[IkarusJohn]

Stainless is the only way to go, stress free:)

Otherwise, using plastic you're the one that will end up in a darkened room;)

I can recommend for reels going straight to Hewes at

Hewes Products Home Page

For tanks RK Photographic

RK Photographic Online Shop: 35mm STAINLESS DEV TANK

Beautiful stainless steel developing tank.

Excellent craftsmanship.

Made in Japan.

No longer being manufactured so get them while they last!

 

Looking at the ISE tank, I assume you can add and drain chemicals in daylight? They are lightproof? Seems an obvious question, but it's not apparent from the picture.

 

Cheers

John

[andybarton]

I have tried loading a stainless reel in a changing bag and PITA doesn't come close.

 

Plastic reels need to be renewed regularly as, even with carefully rising, washing and scrubbing, they get sticky after a while.

 

Loading 120 film in a changing bag is a sure fire way to ruin your negs. I need to find a better solution for the coming months if I am to persevere with 120 black and white work. I am thinking along the lines of a black-out tent arrangement, rather than a bag as my understairs cupboard is only large enough to store a hoover and a gas meter.

[timd.]

With regards changing bags I have three, in different sizes, from Roger Luo, These are good quality heavy cotton bags so no static or sweaty/damp fingers when trying to load:

Roger Luo on EBay

 

just got one in february -really great stuff!!!

once you've tried it, you won't go back to plastic...

[cbretteville]

I now put 35mm film on Hewes reels all the time in a changing bag as I no longer have a completely dark room I can use. I took a some practicing to get comfertable loading the SS rells, but if you do it is just as quick as a Paterson reel.

 

Here is a thread on photo.net with good illustrations on loading 120 onto a plastic reel. I added to that an illustrated how-to for 35mm onto Hewes reels.

 

Urgent Question about reels - Photo.net B&W Photo - Film & Processing Forum

 

I recently exchanged my polyester Paterson changing bag to one made in cotton. Makes a huge difference to my hands that would sweat rather easily when inside a polyester bag. This is the one I bought, came very quickly, less than a week until I had it here in Oslo: Anti-static Heavy Duty Darkroom XL changing bag LF 10x8 on eBay (end time 25-Mar-11 21:09:20 GMT)

 

In the last week I've also souped three rolls 120 film, with the first one was slightly heavy handed and the films show this, but the second and third rolls were OK. Working from the thread linked above I put all the roll, reel and tank in a developing tray inside the bag and use the tank to make a small tent is you will. That makes it easier (not that I wouldn't prefer a proper dark room to do it in, but it works so far.

 

Carl

[andybarton]

Thanks Carl

 

I will persevere with the stainless reel and the 120s...

 

[Xmas]

Thanks Carl

 

I will persevere with the stainless reel and the 120s...

 

 

220 is twice the fun

[Stealth3kpl]

There's an interesting technique at 3mins 30secs here

Pete

[cbretteville]

Thanks Carl

 

I will persevere with the stainless reel and the 120s...

 

 

I didn't say explicitly in my previous post, but I use SS reels for 35mm (except Rollei ATP) and plastic for 120. Putting the tray (one that holds 20x30 cm prints) in the bag helps, I wouldn't have thought it mattered, but it does.

Carl

[Caterman]

Looking at the ISE tank, I assume you can add and drain chemicals in daylight? They are lightproof? Seems an obvious question, but it's not apparent from the picture.

 

Cheers

John

 

Yes the tanks are light proof as are the ones with a plastic lid.

The lid has a riveted in matt black metal baffle system.

They fill nice and quick if you tip slightly to one side as it helps with avoiding air locks.

I have a two reel SS tank with the plastic lid also.

Only had the need to buy 2 SS spirals as even if you have a load of films to do, you can always load them even with the spiral still wet - no difference.

When you start out with spirals if you don't feel that confident you can always use a film extractor and cut the film leader off perfectly square before you put in the change bag. You could even put the film on the loading pegs before bagging but its so easy really.

I would recommend you check out the videos on youtube showing you how easy it is to load a stainless steel spiral.

[guywalder]

I moved to a changing tent, having got fed up with a bag. Mine came from Calumet (much cheaper in the uk than in Germany for some reason).

I find that not having material resting on the back of your hands, and having a flat base help.

A huge help for 35mm film has been a Hewes loader, you can set up in daylight, pop the primed loader in the tent and wind the film onto the reel in seconds. Put that reel in the tank, lid on, and set up the loader with the next film.

The loader for 120 film is not quite so successful, but still a help

[IkarusJohn]

I will hold off on the change bag/tent, I think.

 

Curiously, RK Photographic allows for international orders, but not to NZ. I have sent them an email.

 

Anyone know of other online retailers who stock the ISE tanks?

 

Cheers

John

Edited March 14, 2011 by IkarusJohn

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[MPerson]

John - try Calumet UK. Here in the UK they do good S/S tanks. Not sure about the US Calumet though.