traveling with development tank

[Macpod]

is that the proper name? anyway. im just getting into b/w developing and have found some reasonably prices patterson tanks in shanghai. they are around 15US D for a 2 reel tank. the price in austraia would be atleast double if not triple. plus i would like to give it a go as soon as possible and not have to wait until i ge back.

this brings up the question of bringing stuff back. would i have trouble when customs in either shanghai or sydney scan my bags? the tank is plastic so im assuming they'll see theres nothing inside, but maybe its too thick?

I also want to bring back some assorted unexposed film. whats the best way to go about this? theres some cheap ilfords and velvias here.

obviously, i realise chemicals are a big no no.

 

[Macpod]

went back to the store to check. the tank is actually 'AP' branded and not patersons. the only other brand they have is the JOBO and it was twice as expensive. so ill probably just get the jobo two reel from BH along with my films.

the question about fiml still applies though. im thinking of bringing back as much film as i can afford. so it would be a disaster if they all get ruined. on the same subject. if i have BH send film over from the states, would they have to go under the X'ray as well? might be mnore random checks but its still a risk, no?

i cant decide between the jobo or the paterson. which is easier to use for a beginner? the jobo has all these cog and magnet accessories which i dont need. is it still good for simple inversion like the paterson?

 

[Jerevan]

I would take the film in the bag I take onboard with me. Ask for a hand inspection if you feel worried about it. The x-rays will not damage your film if you do it like this. If you need to ship the film in a box, it would run the usual risks as any package would, but I know several people who has bought film from overseas and had no problems with shipping.

The Jobo tanks (with magnets and stuff) are usually for using with machines which holds temperature and does constant agitation. I don't think those would leak, but if you are going to do simple inversion, I'd go for the other tank. The AP branded ones works as well as any brand would do.

 

[Ash]

I had a package sent to England from the states, and Britain is god-awful for their customs. Everything gets checked or ruined or undelivered. I had no problems. The film is fine, and didn't get ruined.

Make sure they write PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DO NOT X-RAY and fill out a form if its being sent from another country. If you're bringing film on a plane, pack it seperately in a little bag. remove it from the rest of even your hand luggage, have it inspected and you shouldn't have any problems that way.

 

[kaiyen]

Well, lots of stuff here.

1 - don't worry about x-rays. bring on your carry-on bags, not in your checked luggage. hand check if you can, but don't worry if you can't. you'll pick up more radiation in the air than in the carry-on bag scanner. so no worries there.

2 - if the jobo is a lot bigger than the AP one, then don't get it. it's for the jobo machines as pointed out earlier. no good, or at least not necessary.

3 - even if the jobo is the same as the AP, then get the AP and you'd be fine. The APs are copies of the older paterson tanks. They leak a bit more than th current ones but are otherwise just fine. And if they came with AP style reels, those are better than the paterson reels, actually.

4 - don't worry about x-rays of your tanks. you can leave those in your checked bags. it's just plastic.

allan

 

[Macpod]

great. thanks guys. ill go buy the AP tommorow and start developing.