Proper film Chemistry for PET based films-from a Lab-Box with D96 user

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

The question is exactly what it appears to be. It's a plea for help! 😉

I have a Lab-Box and I've developed a few 35mm and even 120 films in it. I have developed a few rolls successfully. But I have struggled with PET based film. PET based 120 film won't even load, and the 35mm film doesn't seem to work well, compared with say, Kentmere 100 or 400 film.

I suppose my question has 2 parts.

Is there something I can do prior to starting the development process using D96 to improve my results with 35mm film. Likewise with 120 film.

Barring that, is there a simple relatively stable combination of developer/stop bath/fixer that I can use other than D96 that will work well with PET based films.

Before I had an even an inkling of developing film at home I kind of went in big and bought Fomapan and Arista film because it was just like me, cheap! 😉

Can anyone offer any suggestions to help a brother out?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[Freakscene]

Is your problem loading the films or the development?

PET base has nothing to do with development characteristics, so if your problem is with how the films are turning out, maybe tell us what film you are using and what the problem is.

Or do you mean DF96, the Cinestill monobath?

If the problem is loading the lab box, it may be that the PET base won’t grip enough for the box to pull it in, although I haven’t found that to be a problem in my lab box.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Is your problem loading the films or the development?

PET base has nothing to do with development characteristics, so if your problem is with how the films are turning out, maybe tell us what film you are using and what the problem is.

Or do you mean DF96, the Cinestill monobath?

If the problem is loading the lab box, it may be that the PET base won’t grip enough for the box to pull it in, although I haven’t found that to be a problem in my lab box.

Dear Freakscene,

The problem is two-fold.

120 PET based film simply won't load properly in the Lab-Box. It just sort of separates from the paper backing and jams up. It's been a commonly reported problem even on the Lab-Box website.

35mm PET based film is very hard to cut with the Lab-Box film knife. Not impossible to do, but definitely a struggle that doesn't always end well for me.

Many years ago, before I even thought about developing my own film I posted here asking if anyone had a few spare rolls of 35mm B&W film they wanted to part with. A kindly board member from Vermont who is a "film tone and not a noun", made me a sweet deal for several rolls of Washi-50. All of those rolls have been developed perfectly in the Lab-Box.

I am just looking for any options to use my PET based film in my Lab-Box without struggling so much.

I suppose I may have not thought my questions out properly. Thinking about what I asked with what I am using to accomplish the task makes it pretty much impossible, especially with the 120 film stock I have on hand.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[agentlossing]

Tim, I'm not reading anything about the chemistry going wrong specifically, is this correct?

I've developed a fair amount of PET films with my Lab Box and, as you say, it's hard to cut the 35mm, but not impossible. Aside from that I've noticed no real differences from celluloid.

 

[Freakscene]

Dear Freakscene,

The problem is two-fold.

120 PET based film simply won't load properly in the Lab-Box. It just sort of separates from the paper backing and jams up. It's been a commonly reported problem even on the Lab-Box website.

35mm PET based film is very hard to cut with the Lab-Box film knife. Not impossible to do, but definitely a struggle that doesn't always end well for me.

Many years ago, before I even thought about developing my own film I posted here asking if anyone had a few spare rolls of 35mm B&W film they wanted to part with. A kindly board member from Vermont who is a "film tone and not a noun", made me a sweet deal for several rolls of Washi-50. All of those rolls have been developed perfectly in the Lab-Box.

I am just looking for any options to use my PET based film in my Lab-Box without struggling so much.

I suppose I may have not thought my questions out properly. Thinking about what I asked with what I am using to accomplish the task makes it pretty much impossible, especially with the 120 film stock I have on hand.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

A lot of the lab boxes won’t load PET base films, particularly 120. Mine does, but a lot of them don’t grab it enough and/or won’t feed it through reliably onto the reels. I have no solution for this except to maybe contact lab box and ask. You could buy a dark bag and regular reels and a developing tank too.

Edit: Also, Foma/Arista EDU Ultra 35mm film is on a TAC base, not PET. The 120 is on a PET base. The 35mm should load ok. Have you tried other kinds of film? Maybe there is a problem with your lab box?

 

[agentlossing]

Make sure the 35mm reel is clean and dry. Otherwise it's more likely to feed incorrectly and you end up with bunched up, ruined film.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

The more I think about the troubles I am having the more I'm convinced there is no problem with the Lab-Box. The problem is with the operator! 😉

Unfortunately, I am not a very patient man. No doubt that is a contributing factor with my struggles. I will have another go at it once I finish another roll of film. I had hoped to finish a roll today but it's so dank, dark, gloomy and foggy everything would just be gray anyway! 🙂

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[agentlossing]

It took me quite a few rolls to iron out the potentially persnickety aspects of the Lab Box, you are not alone!