Paterson Tank Disaster

[KenD]

Tonight while processing (luckily) a single roll of 35 in a Paterson System 4 tank, I had a disaster that I hope is a rare fluke. After taking off the cover to pour out the developer and tipping the tank over the sink, the funnel/ light trap fell out, with the reel of film following into the sink. Hopefully the sensitivity was low at the end of developing, I will know in a few minutes. I have never had this before over maybe a few hundred rolls in the System 4 tanks. I am so far considering it operator error.

Has anyone else ever had this happen?

KenD

 

[Keith]

It can't have been located properly for that to happen surely?

My Paterson incident was banging an early model tank down on the bench to knock the bubbles out of the solution and having the bottom of the tank fracture and dump developer all over the show! 😱 😀

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Something similar has happened to me but thankfully on the wash cycle of development. I wash with the Ilford method and during a fill up I did not latch the light trap funnel into the rest of the tank. When I poured the water out everything came out with it. Now I always grip the funnel and tank together whenever I turn the tank upside down.

 

[sanmich]

You do know that there is a "lock" when you turn the funnel into the tank, right?

 

[retro]

I always hook a finger over the edge of the funnel when pouring
out just in case.

 

[El Jonbre Grande]

You do know that there is a "lock" when you turn the funnel into the tank, right?

I can't imagine my Patterson tank funnel coming unlocked once it's clicked into place. With wet hands at the end it actually requires some force to unlock - no way it could just come undone!

 

[Pablito]

I always hook a finger over the edge of the funnel when pouring
out just in case.

yes, this is a good idea. No harm in doing it, and could save your film.

 

[imokruok]

I always hook a finger over the edge of the funnel when pouring
out just in case.

Ditto. Before I tip, I make sure it's still locked and I put my finger over the edge - even push a little bit in the direction of the lock. Also paranoid about cracking the tank, so I only tap it on a towel on the counter.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hi. I developed around 58 rolls of film since end Jan, and had 2 development disasters:

the first was what you described above, the funnel came off when i poured the developer into the sink which then exposed light into the film. Lucky it was test reel to find out which of my lens was back-focused.

The second was more insidious, I placed the film into the upper reel and added 300ml of chemicals to process one reel in a 600ml tank. Rodinal Stand Development. This resulted in massively underdeveloped picture.

No amount of Chirs Crawford's 3 curve layering technique could salvage the picture.

I didn't dare to go back to ask the nice barn owl girl to pose for me again.

raytoei

 

[tj01]

Don't have experience using Patterson tanks, but my AP tanks have not failed me before ( touch wood ), and I can't imagine the top coming off because it's screwed tight. I also was made to understand the plastic reels of AP tanks are of better quality and the ball bearings don't get stuck as much as Patterson. However, these are just my humble 2 cents.
Worth investigating if AP tanks are available in your area.