Developing sheet film

Kenj8246

Kenj8246

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Noob question here about home developing 4X5 sheets. I tried the taco method with marginal success. I only used two sheets and, I think, I'd have been better served to put three sheets in the plastic two reel tank, as suggested by the video(s) I saw.

Any of you develop your own? What method? Any ideas appreciated.

Kenny
 
Simma Roller drum with a motor base. Holds 4 sheets of 4"x5" or 2 sheets 8"x10". Easy, reliable and efficient. Plus you don't need a lot of chemicals, and your hands stay dry.
 
I have modified a Jobo 4530 tank by gluing in strips of plastic from a model supply store to make additional clips. It can now take 8 sheets of 4x5 or two 8x10s. I don't have a roller base, so I just roll it gently back and forth in my bath tub.
 
Paterson Orbital ... recommended to me by Roger Hicks and he has some info on his website about the system. A little hard to find but worth the effort because it uses so little chemicals to do four sheets at a time.

I was using a Combi Plan which was a total heap of crap IMO! Slow to fill, slow to empty and leaked like a sieve ... not to mention a litre of solution to do six sheets.
 
Jobo for me with manual rolling agitation.
I only develop B+W to this point although, with no one left in town to do E6 and a few hundred sheets in the freezer…On the look out for a system :p
 
I happened to win one of these a few years ago and at a very decent price...
It uses a liter of chemistry to develop 1 or all 12 sheet that it can hold, so you're better off going with as many sheets as possible...
There is a company that makes an insert for Paterson tanks that holds 6 sheets...
nikor_4x5_01.jpg
 
I use the Paterson tank meant for two 35mm or one 120 roll for my 4x5 film/paper. I place two in there, one on each side of the middle divider.

It requires a full tank of developer to properly cover the film or papers completely but I've not had any issues either with coverage, film/paper overlapping and not allowing proper development or similar thus far.

I tried to do the taco method but this kept the funnel lid from fitting in the tank. So I've stuck to this until I can find a better means to do it.
 
I've only used the small trays and 1/2 litre of chemicals does 4 sheets,cheap,easy and it's worked fine from the get go. It also allows you to vary the time for each sheet.
Peter
 
I use the a Patterson tank (3x 135) and the plastic insert that holds 6 sheets a 4x5. I also have a Combiplan tank including washer but as Keith mentioned above it is less than ideal for various reasons (however, works)
 
Is this a Nikon tank ?

nikon_sam said:
I happened to win one of these a few years ago and at a very decent price...
It uses a liter of chemistry to develop 1 or all 12 sheet that it can hold, so you're better off going with as many sheets as possible...
There is a company that makes an insert for Paterson tanks that holds 6 sheets...
nikor_4x5_01.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Until recently I developed all of my 4x5 in 8x10 trays - no problems. Now I've started to use one of the 4x5 Nikkor tanks as shown above. Seems to be fine and easier b/c I no longer have a darkroom. (load at night with all lights in the apartment off). I bought mine on the classifieds of APUG. Doesn't have the outer springs, but I use a rubber band.
 
I use a Jobo 2521 with the 2509n 4x5 reel that takes 6 sheets. I now go to a friend's house to use his Jobo Processor and it works very nicely but I've also just rolled the drum on the table in the past and that worked, too. I would only use it for rotary processing, though, as the inversion method takes way too much chemicals.

I would love to have a Jobo Expert drum but they're rather pricey.
 
Combi-plan tank here. Keith's description is pretty good, but until I can find an Orbital cheap (and they never are these days), I'll stick with the Combi-plan. They do work, but they can be a little messy. And they need 1050ml, not one litre, or you get a strip at the top not developed properly. Ask me how I know.
 
I've been using trays for quite a while, but one of those Nikkor tanks look nice. My darkroom is light tight for paper, but it takes extra effort for film. I tried one of those Yankee tanks but promptly sold it.. that thing have me so much trouble!
 
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