Is it ok to use used stainless tanks?

iamzip

iamzip

Ambitious, but rubbish
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I purchased a couple of used stainless steel tanks & reels from a guy on my street who has yard sales sometimes (got an Argus brick for $3.00 too!). So, is it ok to use these tanks? Or is there any possibility of a problem?
Thanks!
 
It's perfectly OK to use stainless steel tanks and reels - just make sure that the tanks don't leak and that the reels aren't bent.
 
It's perfectly ok to use the SS tanks but the learning curve is quite stiff in terms of spooling the negs to the reel. I use plastic reels and tanks effortlessly.
 
I think the original poster's concern was about using old ones that may be contaminated by dried chemicals. Yes, its fine to use them, just clean them with soap and warm water first. Make sure you rinse them very thoroughly to remove the soap. If there are dried chemicals on them, you may need to soak them in water for a few days to soften it. All of my SS tanks were bought used, most of them are the old Nikor tanks with metal lids. I much prefer them to the newer ones with rubber lids.
 
SS tanks are the best, the don't crack. But you need Hewes reels. Take it from someone who learned the hard way.
 
gilpen123 said:
It's perfectly ok to use the SS tanks but the learning curve is quite stiff in terms of spooling the negs to the reel. I use plastic reels and tanks effortlessly.
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That's funny... I always had problems with the plastic reels, but once I used a stainless reel, I never went back!

Just goes to show you how all our advice stems from what each one of us finds useful for ourselves. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

Your used stainless tanks and reels should be fine. If the tanks are in good shape, the lids fit tight, and the reels aren't damaged, you should be good to go. I would highly recommend you shoot a few test rolls, and then use the tanks with these test rolls to ensure the tanks are light tight before sticking anything important inside of them. The instructions for the old Nikkor tanks (with the metal lids) stress that the lids are each fitted to each particular tank, and shouldn't be switched... so being sure the tanks/lids are indeed light tight isn't something you should overlook.

I'm using the same Nikkor tanks/reels that my grandfather used in the 1960s, so these aren't really the kinds of things that wear out! Then again, I'm still using his Nikon F from time to time as well! 50 years of dependable service isn't anything to sneeze at!
 
Melvin said:
SS tanks are the best, the don't crack. But you need Hewes reels. Take it from someone who learned the hard way.
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Well, I have one stainless tank that might make you rethink this. It's strange, it looks like the tank has a bunch of tiny cracks along it's entire exterior, and when filled with developer/fixer, the liquid actually sweats out of these little cracks. It's the only stainless tank I've ever seen like this, and I don't know what in the heck my grandfather did to it...
 
Ditto the heavy duty Hewes reels (the kind with prongs not clips at the core). They are the most durable, trouble free and easiest to load. Drop a cheapo SS reel and it's toast. I've also had good experience with Kindermann brand replacement covers and caps for standard SS tanks. The typical plastic lids that come with generic SS tanks have a limited life span before they begin to leak, and generic replacements are more of the same. The Kindermann ones fit tighter, last longer, and don't leak -- buy them new and you won't have to replace them for ages.
 
+1 SS tank and Hewes reels. I started with this set up, messed up the very first roll, after that, never missed once. With some practice, putting a 35 roll on to reel will take 10 seconds after opening the canister. ;)
 
Original Nikkor reels are also fine. The knockoffs made in the 1970`s were junk.

There are different grades of stainless steel depending on nickel content of the alloy.
All are not suitable for photowork although tanks were made from it.

Nikkor brand is best. Been using mine 5 decades now.
 
When I first considered doing my own developing it was reading a thread similar to this that convinced me to go with SS tanks and Hewes reels. Now many rolls of 135 and 120 later without question I made the right decision as I continue to read threads about difficulties loading plastic reels.

It seems like the tanks will last forever and spare lids are cheap if they have problems over time.
 
Stainless steel tanks might be more difficult to load in the beginning but you have less problems with build up of residuals and the flow of chemicals during developing is better (less material that disturbs laminar flow). So after a good cleaning and checking if they are tight (and the reels not bend) you should have no problems at all. :)
 
I don't think I've ever had new SS tanks. I have a couple of Nikors from the 60s, and they're OK, but my Kindermanns are better. And (as everyone else has said) Hewes reels are easily the best: better than vintage Nikors.

Cheers,

R.
 
Nikor tanks, not to be confused with Nikkor lenses.

Can be hard to get the lids and caps off vintage Nikor tanks because of metal-to-metal friction fit.
 
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