Darkroom shortcuts

[Oliver]

I've been trying to streamline my film developing and thought I'd throw out for any tips. What do you folks do to cut down on development time? Other than shooting digital or c-41 or slide+ps etc - for the silvers only.

By way of example, today I setup with an 8-reel tank and I used a roller for paper tanks to do my agitating. I cut down the time some to compensate. Am I crazy? Or if you're crazy too, what tips can you give me?

Cheers,
-Oliver

 

[Finder]

I do nothing. Development time is never that long where I feel the need to rush. Since development is so important, doing it right is better than doing it quickly.

 

[back alley]

crank the stereo

 

[photodog]

Run the chemistry at 75 degrees instead of 68 degrees. Water bath is recommended. Use a longer time for large tank.

 

[Oliver]

Yeah, wish I'd done a water bath this run. Negs don't look bad, though, so I'll remember that for next time.

I think I was a bit unclear though, I'm not looking to shorten the developer chemistry time. I'm just ooking for ways to reduce the time I spend on film handling overall while keeping control. I actually ran these at the lower temp to keep the developer time high enough that the pour times wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[tetrisattack]

Re-use your stop and hypo clear, if you're not already doing so. Much faster to just pour the chemicals into the tank 'till it's full rather than mixing up a fresh batch each time.

 

[kaiyen]

There really aren't any ways to streamline the process. You can get rid of the Permawash step if you're doing that, and, as Conor says, reuse the fixer until exhaustion. I also get a big bucket of 68 degree water ready so that I'm not getting water from the sink over and over. Otherwise...

Why are you trying to cut down on time, though? If you're going to go to the trouble of controlling your process by developing yourself, then why try to cut corners?

allan

allan

 

[jano]

The ohers have made great suggestions. I can personally tell you, however, what not to do: do not open the tank until after you are done fixing 😛 But we all already know that 😱

 

[Oliver]

do not open the tank until after you are done fixing

now that would have saved alot of time

I haven't been reusing the fixer, but I'll start doing that. Bucket of water is a great idea.

I wasn't looking to cut corners so much as do things that are acceptible but save time overall. I used to do my film in twos, but I shoot alot at 100 and the 8-tank saved me time on those "in the long run". I guess I was wondering about things like film dryers and whatever else I'm frankly unaware of - how folks like those. The Jobo CPE2 with lift looks nice but seems rather expensive for a basic tub + motor + fish tank heater.

Thanks for the various suggestions 🙂
-Oliver

 

[Rick Waldroup]

I shoot nothing but B&W and I shoot a lot of it. I use Patterson tanks and reels and I try to wait until I have about 16 rolls to process. Then I use two 8-reel tanks at once. It is not that difficult once you get your beakers or buckets of chemistry all lined up. I average shooting about 7-10 rolls a week. So I process film usually about once every two weeks.

 

[kaiyen]

Rick,
I suppose you'd need to build up some serious arm muscles before going to dual 8's, right? 🙂 I have wrist problems when I try to do 2 3-reel tanks at once. But it can be done and saves me time, certainly.

As for film dryers - try building a hair-dryer based one yourself. Just some pvc tubing with a hair dryer aimed down into it. Mine is tabled to a piece of 2x4 with a big hook screwed into one end so I can hang it off of my wall. I put the reels in the bottom, use a piece of plastic-coated hanger wire to hold them up (slipped through holes I cut in the PVC at the bottom of the tube, then turn the hair dryer on high, COLD SETTING, for about 8-10 minutes and its done.

Film is curly, but its dry. Oh, and the curl is lengthwise, whereas sometimes I get widthwise curl when I use my garment bag drying "cabinet."

allan

 

[ruben]

I've been trying to streamline my film developing and thought I'd throw out for any tips. What do you folks do to cut down on development time? Other than shooting digital or c-41 or slide+ps etc - for the silvers only.

By way of example, today I setup with an 8-reel tank and I used a roller for paper tanks to do my agitating. I cut down the time some to compensate. Am I crazy? Or if you're crazy too, what tips can you give me?

Cheers,
-Oliver

In darkroom work, what matters most is the end-result, not prejudices, nor established receipts from self called authorities. But whatever you do you have to be able to repeat it accurately once the results become optimal.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Oliver]

hmm- don't think I can do 2 at once, but I bet I could do start the 2nd after the first one is on the stop. I just don't trust myself to do two time critical tanks at once.

Allan, if you have a pic of your homemade dryer, I'd love to see it. I kinda get what your saying but a bit hazy. 10 minutes is great, though.

edit: actually, I'll just run with the hair dryer idea and see where it takes me - if I fail I'll come begging for a picture later

Thanks all,
-Oliver

 

[kaiyen]

Oliver,
If you do want a picture, just let me know. It's nothing special, and it's very easy to picture if you think about it.

allan

 

[T_om]

Yeah, wish I'd done a water bath this run. Negs don't look bad, though, so I'll remember that for next time.

I think I was a bit unclear though, I'm not looking to shorten the developer chemistry time. I'm just ooking for ways to reduce the time I spend on film handling overall while keeping control. I actually ran these at the lower temp to keep the developer time high enough that the pour times wouldn't be a big deal.

Change to Diafine.

7 Minutes, start to finish. You can mix 120, 35mm, C-41, everything... all in the same tank, all at the same time, all at the same (non-critical) room tempreature.

Tom

 

[Oliver]

Diafine and I never really got on well. I love it for handling, just as you described. I think mostly I like the T-grain films too much. It murders TMY. For TMX I'm going for grainless look, so not the best choice there.

I kept the bottles of A/B though, and I like the thought that at any time, it's just waiting for me to use it - shelf life, temp/time free, speed boost are all very nice features. I used to use HP5 with Rodinal and loved the look. If I were shooting for something similar, Tri-X+Diafine would be hard to beat.

-Oliver