35mm Film dev tanks: Patterson vs Jobo?

[dfoo]

I've had 2 2 reel AP tanks & reels for a few years, and recently I picked up 2 5 reel paterson tanks and reels. The AP plastic reels are far easier to load, because they have a large tongue which keeps the film aligned while spooling. I find you have to be far more careful with the paterson reels to ensure the film stays aligned. The paterson 5 reel tanks are awesome however.

 

[tingish]

I use the Patterson for my 120 and 35mm and so far so good. No leaks or such.

 

[Bingley]

I have just bought the 2 roll universal tank but has not used it yet. It's my first go at developing too. Isn't it printed on the tank that for one 35mm roll just use 290ml? and 580ml for 2 rolls? But there is no instruction on whether both reels must be placed onto the centre column even if developing just one roll. Just want to make sure before I use it.

I think Bill's post is correct, that the reason for using two reels (even though developing only one roll) is to hold the reel in place. As for the quantity of developer, I'm out of town and will double-check my tank when I get home, but I routinely mix up 600 ml of developer when I use the two-reel Paterson tank (it's easy to figure out the proportion of developer to add if like me you're math challenged 🙄🙂).

 

[Vics]

Get some Hewes reels for the stainless tank and you'll be happy. I used Patterson for years, and was so happy when I started using SS because the Pattersons were so easily jammed!
Vic

 

[Richard Ross]

To stop a Peterson tank leaking, crack the lid open slightly after the first couple of inversions to release the pressure. My vote goes to Paterson, I can't get on with Jobo reels especially with roll film.

Regards
Richard

 

[sem]

Patterson, because easy to load and fill. But for MF Jobo.
Best regards
sem

 

[gilpen123]

I always put an empty reel on top eventhough I'm developing only one neg. I put in 310-320 ml for single development. tried it many times no issues. The recommended as you can see underneath the paterson tank is 290, I put a little extra to ensure the 1st reel is always immersed. 120 may be an issue though with a 2 reel paterson universal tank. Use the 3 reel instead for 120.

 

[clachnacuddin]

I've used Paterson years ago which was fine, but I use a Photax one now which I find very easy to load the reels onto. Never used Jobo, but if anyone wants to offer me a loan.......!

 

[Rayt]

I can't afford a new Harley to celebrate my mid life crisis but Hewes did satisfy my lust for shiny chrome things. Ahhhh...chrome....

 

[Ronald M]

They both use odd amounts of chems, not the nice clean 8 oz of a Nikkor. a plastic reel is harder to load.

Set up right, either plastic will make flawless negs as will a nikkor if you do things right and have Nikkor or Kinderman reels. The knock off brands I can`t even load in daylight.
For me, stainless is easier to use, but I have had 50 years of practice.

I bought a Patterson and have used Jobo with the processor. For manual processing, I would give the advantage to Patterson. Just use the twist stick for first agitation, pull it out and invert after that. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS and it is fool proof. Do not make up your own way.

 

[presspass]

I've only used Jobo and have had them in use for more than 20 years. They don't leak - at least not much - and the reels can be loaded wet if you have to. Durability is great.

 

[Chris101]

Could we, um, invert "Patterson" and "Nikor", please? Or else go the whole hog and speak of "Jobbo"?

No, I think that when it comes to tanks, Nikor is Nikor, not Nikkor as in lenses.

I could be wrong. But to the best of my recollection, you're dead [w]right about Pa[t]terson.

Cheers,

R.

Right as rain Roger. One k for the developing tank, two for the lens.

 

[newsgrunt]

Jobo 1500 series drums. Takes plastic reels or steel hewes reels, best of both worlds. Inverted or rotary agitation, again, best of both worlds.

 

[flip]

I've got a Nikor stainless, and some other brand stainless, I hear Hughes reels are nice

...

For some reason, I cannot get comfortable with plastic reels, they just seem to take way too long to load.

I used plastic in High School, but sought-out Hughes reels when I recently setup my little station at home. The seller accidentally sent one Hughes and one Nikor. The Nikor (clips) was a drag compared to the Hughes (hooks). I goofed my first rolls out of inexperience and haste, but seem to recall my experiences in high school being similar in ease of loading (if not cleaning).

 

[Photojem]

35mm reels

35mm reels

Instead of starting over with a new plastic tank/reel set, go on e-bay or amazon, or some other site, and get a King Concept (or Hewe's) Stainless Steel Reel. These reels have a sprocket catch which puts a curve in the film and centers it to give you a spin action load that is so much easier to load than plastic. Other things to note: Plastic reels have to be absolutely dry to load, making multiple process runs next to impossible. Plastic also uses more chemistry 10 oz per reel vs 8 oz. and should be tempered with a pre rinse to get everything to temperature, while Stainless adapts to temp instantly. It cleans easier too!

 

[Photojem]

Jobo 1500 series drums. Takes plastic reels or steel hewes reels, best of both worlds. Inverted or rotary agitation, again, best of both worlds.

I have a set of jobo's, as well as a fleet of King Concepts, and have never tried to intermix them. How do you account for the center tube or are you only using the Hewes reels in a Dark only environment?

 

[Ranchu]

I have a set of jobo's, as well as a fleet of King Concepts, and have never tried to intermix them. How do you account for the center tube or are you only using the Hewes reels in a Dark only environment?

Jobo has stainless reels made by Hewes that fit their tanks. freestyle has them but they aren't cheap.

 

[haziz]

KINDERMANN!

For both MF and 35mm. I got into them when my Paterson cracked.

Another vote for a Kindermann stainless steel tank (the cap is plastic) and Hewes Stainless steel reels. The original poll should have included a stainless steel option.

 

[semilog]

Plastic also uses more chemistry 10 oz per reel vs 8 oz. and should be tempered with a pre rinse to get everything to temperature, while Stainless adapts to temp instantly. It cleans easier too!

1. Having used both a variety of metal reels, and plastic, I prefer plastic. More importantly, though, both metal and plastic work just fine.

2. The slightly higher chemistry volume is a good thing if you like, say, XTOL 1:2.

3. Metal is both conductive and has a higher heat capacity than plastic. Plastic is an insulator. No pre rinse is needed, and if your darkroom is significantly colder than 20 C, which mine usually is, it's a lot easier to get by without a water jacket.

Just goes to show that the right tools for the job depend on the job, and on personal preferences 😉

 

[Bill Kapinski]

Another vote for Stainless and it has to be the Hewes reels. It just takes a little practice