Developing own BW film? How to get started?

schow

schow

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Hey folks,
from what I've gathered I need:

a daylight tank and a reel.
changing bag to load the film onto the reel.
Some developer, stop, and fixer
A final rinse
A bathroom or kitchen sink.
A thermometer and some liquid measuring devices (graduated cylinders) help.
a few bottles to put working solutions in.
and, I suppose paper.


Someone told me it should be about 50 dollars to start my own operation. Think that's true? Any resources, tips, or help here?



sherm
 
This advice is about 30 years old, but for me it still works. Get yourself a copy of Fred Picker's Zone VI Manual. Use Tri-X and HC-110 developer. Get your film speed tested with your equipment. You can get amazingly good results this way; it will show clearly why you need to do this part yourself.

Thermometer is essential. You may want to final-wash your film in distilled water.

You'll need an enlarger eventually, but they are going cheap these days.
 
schow said:
Hey folks,
from what I've gathered I need:

a daylight tank and a reel.
changing bag to load the film onto the reel.
Some developer, stop, and fixer
A final rinse
A bathroom or kitchen sink.
A thermometer and some liquid measuring devices (graduated cylinders) help.
a few bottles to put working solutions in.
and, I suppose paper.


Someone told me it should be about 50 dollars to start my own operation. Think that's true? Any resources, tips, or help here?
sherm
Click to expand...

That list sounds OK, Sherm. don't forget scissors and a bottle opener to break open your cassettes unless you're bulk loading reusable cassettes.
Stop bath is not essential, you can just use water instead (fill tank, agitate, dump, repeat twice).
When you say "a final rinse" do you mean HCA or photoflo? There's no need for HCA with film while photoflo willl help avoid watermarks.
 
I recommend a plastic tank with plastic spools as they are easier than the stainless version for beginners.

Also, buy scissors wiht rounded tips to avoid puncturing the changing bag and, more importantly, cutting yourself.

And, while not essential because you can (in theory) use your watch, I would recommend a good digital timer that can be quickly reset.

Good luck to you and enjoy!
Alex
 
Today I developed my first roll! Yippeeee 🙂

I'm a pretty systematic type, I collected every little bit that I needed... and was thinking it's the best to start with and use it.... even bulk film and cassettes... and waited for the right time. 🙂

But... my girl intervened, when she figured it out how cool and fun it is.... so we did everything in one hype... improvised dark room in bathroom... loaded some film ....one of 4 exposures 🙂)))) this was the first mistake... I did feel pretty anxious in the dark... 🙂 and another one of 14 exp...

...film is Ilford Pan 400 in Kaiser metal cassettes.

I loaded my 4 (F O U R) exp roll 🙂 in Fed3 with I61, and she used her Nikon F80... (which ripped film at the end, but fortunately unloading was done in the dark 🙂

..and shotted everything in 20min... just so we can get home and mix some chemicals! 😀

Kaiser 2 roll tank was used... Rodinal and Ilford Rapid Fix... timing was imprecise, the whole process was... 🙂 agitation... everything... real mess! :bang:

...and just to mention... everything was done without thermometer... cause I don't have one. 🙄 ...and of course, light metering was done aprox without meter 🙂

so here are few pics

dadafontana.jpg

dizalice.jpg

zeljezo.jpg
 
First if you read all the books it is easy and will work 1st time.

But if you are in hard water area you may have real problems with drying marks, hence de-mineralised water and photo flow suggestions, I moved and bought squegee, you have to avoid tramlines with rubber blades, you wont get scratches you will get tramlines.

The changing bag will work 100% lighttight, but it is easier if you have a washroom without a window or an understair cupboard, to make up an impromptu dark room.

One can bulk load to reduce cost further if you are going to burn film...

There is an option of a scanner or an enlarger.

Noel
 
pshinkaw said:
Freestyle has a packaged kit for film developing plus other kits for printing.

The film kit is:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1464

You can take the list of parts and price them locally and individually to see where the better deal is. The Freestyle kit does not include chemicals or storage containers for the chemicals.

-Paul
Click to expand...

Does anyone know whether the tank that comes with this kit will work with 120 film?
OR
All dev. tanks are the same size (standardized) so this is not an issue?

Also, is there any difference between the amount of developer for 35 vs 120 films?
 
shadowfox said:
All dev. tanks are the same size (standardized) so this is not an issue?

Also, is there any difference between the amount of developer for 35 vs 120 films?
Click to expand...

Nope, tanks that accept a single 35mm reel will not work for 120 roll film. Each reel of 35mm requires approximately 290ml of solution. A Universal 120 tank will hold two 35mm reels. Each 120 reel requires about 500ml of solution. Hope this helps.
 
The kit is available 2nd hand in good condition, thermometer, tank, enlarger, a vintage photo store will see an new B&W photog like manna from heaven, to shift some otherwise unsaleable kit.

If you are going to go mad, you can get a universal (i.e.x2) but need a multi x5 or several x5 etc... When you came back from holiday or week end trip the multi will save time.

Noel
 
nikola said:
Today I developed my first roll! Yippeeee 🙂

I'm a pretty systematic type, I collected every little bit that I needed... and was thinking it's the best to start with and use it.... even bulk film and cassettes... and waited for the right time. 🙂

But... my girl intervened, when she figured it out how cool and fun it is.... so we did everything in one hype... improvised dark room in bathroom... loaded some film ....one of 4 exposures 🙂)))) this was the first mistake... I did feel pretty anxious in the dark... 🙂 and another one of 14 exp...

...film is Ilford Pan 400 in Kaiser metal cassettes.

I loaded my 4 (F O U R) exp roll 🙂 in Fed3 with I61, and she used her Nikon F80... (which ripped film at the end, but fortunately unloading was done in the dark 🙂

..and shotted everything in 20min... just so we can get home and mix some chemicals! 😀

Kaiser 2 roll tank was used... Rodinal and Ilford Rapid Fix... timing was imprecise, the whole process was... 🙂 agitation... everything... real mess! :bang:

...and just to mention... everything was done without thermometer... cause I don't have one. 🙄 ...and of course, light metering was done aprox without meter 🙂

so here are few pics
...
Click to expand...

That's awesome 🙂 It is amazingly easy to get good results. How did you estimate development time without having any idea of the water temp?

Save up for a cheap thermometer from the drug store or one from a photo shop - it makes it much easier to repeat your good results 🙂
 
Last edited:
The Freestyle kits (all three of them) are double roll capable. However, the stainless steel one comes with only two 35mm reels. the buyer will need an additional 120 reel in order to do 120/620 film. Those with plastic reels look like reproductions of the old Jobo tanks. The reels telescope out from 35mm to 120 size.

There are some plastic tranks, notably the Patterson ones which come in single 35mm reel size, but look big enough for a 120 reel. Those don't accept 120 reels. The Patterson sets are terrific, but don't assume that what you are buying will really handle double 35 or single 120's without investigating first.

-Paul
 
The washroom door need to fit well and you need to wait until night so there is no light outside the door, pull drapes/blinds. I had to black out a window in the corridor outside the bathroom.

The dark room will be a lot more comfortable than a changing bag.

Noel

Edit dont use fluro tube lights they will glow for a long time afterwards, mine + 5mins
 
Last edited:
I have a black cloth drape hung above and on the inside of the bathroom door. It covers the top and sides of the door. I then lay an old towel across the bottom top block the light.

Once I was in the middle of loading a reel when I noticed light starting to seep in under the door. It seems that my dog became curious and grabbed the towel from the other side. He was puling the towel under the door! Yelling at him only made him hurry-up.

-Paul
 
you know, the changing bag is not so bad. Practice loading a few rolls first so you get the feel of it. It is just for a few minutes as the rest can be done in daylight since the tank is light-tight (mine is). It is great fun.
 
Wayne-- thanks for that heads-up, my changing bag drives me *nuts* and that Photoflex tent looks much better!

Darn, guess I have to drop by B&H 😉 .

JT
 
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