2 Down 15 to go - Reduce the backlog to zero!

[marcr1230]

I've managed to build up a backlog of 17 rolls of unprocessed B&W from the last 4-5 months
including last weekend's RFF Euro meet up.
Got back yesterday night and today at 6:00 a.m. started on my mission to get back to zero.
Did 2 rolls Neopan 400 in TMAX, they are hanging now

15 to go...

 

[Ljós]

Good for you! I know what it feels like catching up this way... once I had a backlog of 45 rolls, took me many weeks to get down to zero while the "new" rolls exposed during the time also had to be developed. But it feels real good once you catch up 🙂

Also, with underexposed film it is a good idea to not to wait too long - I never did scientific comparisons, but I had a couple of "pushed" rolls that had sat for two years, and they came out usable, but not as good (I think) as if I had done them rightaway.

Greetings! Ljós

 

[Photosynthetech]

Ha I'm surprised at the timing of this thread. Today is the first day of summer for me, as I finished my exams yesterday. So I'm also trying to get my back log down to zero. Right now I'm at 32 rolls. Most are from a year ago, as I have been keeping up with my most recent stuff. I wish you happy negatives!

 

[marcr1230]

4 down 13 to go

so happy , must post a progress report:

 

[filmfan]

That's nothing. I have had a backlog of 180 rolls once. I am currently working on only 65 and it feels like I am all caught up.

 

[marcr1230]

4 more done this evening. down to 9 left

I tried out Hewes reels today, I have to say they load unbelievably fast.
The downside is that the tank I have uses approx 460ml of liquid, which is not easy to mix directly from concentrates. I end up mixing 500ml (1:4 ratio of TMAX developer) and throwing out 40 ml. Also - the reels leave marks occasionally on the area near the sprocket holes. Nothing that impacts the image area, just right where the real itself holds the film.

The other annoying thing I learned, is that the new ClearFile archival negative files, stated and sold as 7 rows x 6 frames, hold just under 6 frames, about 5.9, but a small bit of a frame sticks out and isn't completely protected.

 

[Chris101]

...

Do you realize that with 9 rolls to go, using rapid fixer will trim off about half an hour of agitation time.

 

[sanmich]

3 x 5 rolls tank,
I preload 15 films, then soup all of them.
done in a couple of after work eves...

 

[marcr1230]

I have a 2 reel tank that I am using
4-5 reel tanks would be impractical for me as I usually dont have that many rolls all requiring the same time/temp

The fixer is from a purchase last year when both Central camera and calumet were out of liquid fixer. I'm actually using ilford liquid fixer now - 5 minutes per tank

 

[FrankS]

I have a few 2 reel tanks but I usually wait to process 5 (135 format) films at once in a 5 reel tank.

 

[marcr1230]

Update on the "All about me, weekend developing marathon" 🙂

12 down 5 to go
The Hewes reels are amazing. they are like a film magnet. I just place the film next to the Hewes, and it spontaneously jumps onto the reel.

Now the sticky part, I have 5 rolls left, 3 Tri-X, one Neopan 400, 1 TMAX 100
I never like to develop one at a time, so I need to finish their mates up so I can do a pair together. I've started loading 2 tanks of 2 reels at a time (Jobo and Hewes) and then processing them in succession. I really need some kind of insert to use the Jobo Tank with steel reels. Also tried the Ilford wash method, it sure removes all the anti-halation layer.

Ran out of distilled water for final rinse - need to run to the store today

This afternoon - the scanning begins!

 

[marcr1230]

Scanned a couple rolls - scanning sure is time consuming.
I'm still getting fine scratches on the negs from the "archival" storage pages:

 

[sanmich]

I'm still getting fine scratches on the negs from the "archival" storage pages:

I don't think the pages should scratch the negs.
I woul dcheck the camera if I was you...

 

[marcr1230]

@Michael - definitely the pages -> see this link:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73872

I tried both before and after inserting in the sleeve, I've used different brands too.

 

[sanmich]

@Michael - definitely the pages -> see this link:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73872

I tried both before and after inserting in the sleeve, I've used different brands too.

You're right, I see that.
The thing is: the CS5000 is incredibly unforgiving about scratches, even the thinest of them.
I think it has something to do with the type of light used.
At any rate, my take on this is the following: this level of scratches is unavoidable.
I get those even from the tip of the film touching the back of another portion of film.
As far as I know, it doesn't show on wet prints.
I use the scanhancer to tame the rendering of small defects on my Nikon scanner.
Here is a link but I think they are out of business (not sure though, worth a try...)
http://www.scanhancer.com/index.php?art=22&men=3

Best

 

[lordvader]

I've been working through 72 sheets of 4x5 E6.

... and given that I can only hang 6 at a time for drying, and it takes about 2 hours to dry (and process takes about 2 hours ... given time to get the temps stableised), and I can MAYBE get through 12 per day (if I don't want to do anything else!).

It is fun working through a backlog. It's a trip down memory lane!

 

[_larky]

I've decided I either need to get 2 5 roll tanks or not let this happen again... 😉

 

[marcr1230]

Continuing my quest. I did 2 more rolls this morning.
now only 3 left, singles. Need to finish up their mates so I can do 2 at a time.

Big order of film came in the mail yesterday. now I can start building the backlog up again 🙂

Any the there's printing, I'm thinking of getting the darkroom set up tonight for a printing session. Talk about a backlog...

 

[jpa66]

Good for you, Marc. It seems to be going well with multiple rolls of film in tanks. I have several two, ( and one five roll ) tanks , but I find that when I develop two rolls at a time, I sometimes get uneven development, especially when developing 120. Things appear to going well for you, though.

You've inspired me to begin working on my backlog this weekend, which was only about 6 rolls, but has recently multiplied into about 40!

Jan

PS. We should start to think about another Chicago meet up sometime in the near future.

 

[_larky]

I'm now down to 3 rolls of 35 and 1 roll of 120. It's not going down, I'm shooting as quickly as I can process. I need another tank.