RE: [APML] Paterson Tanks

["Richard Klappal" <klappal@xnet.com>]

Back before a flood filled my basement and destroyed my darkroom, I took my
film reels down to the hardware store and picked out some appropriate PVC pipe
and some caps and built my own tanks. Then calibrated them myself for chemical
volumes.  Plastic water supply pipe, intended for faucet supplies on
lavatories/sinks were used for center tubes, with plastic clothespins for
'shaft locks'.  "Fender washers" were used with a couple of stainless steel
reels that would otherwise drop of the bottom of the tubes.

Since I didn't make top caps for the tubes, I had to develop, thru the fixer,
in the dark, but I just arranged and sequenced all supplies ahead of time so I
could work by feel.

For washers, I drilled some small holes in the bottom of one tube-set and ran
water into the tube through the center tub.  By letting water out both the top
and bottom (filled faster than the bottom holes would drain),
"heavier-than-water" chemicals were flushed rapidly, and the upflow was good
at removing chemicals from the film.  I manually rotated and/or lifted &
plunged the film reels to insure plenty of scrubbing action during the wash.
It also freed the bubbles from the film that seemed to sometimes appear from
dissolved air in the water.

At the time, I think it was less than $20 for Dev/Stop/Fix/Wash tubes that
would take up to 4 rolls of 120/220 film (5 or 6 rolls of 35mm, I forget...).

Rich


-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org
[mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]On Behalf Of Thom Iwancio
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 05:09
To: 'Discussion of Film Astrophotography'
Subject: RE: [APML] Paterson Tanks


George, Andrew and Frank, thanks for the info.  This is exactly what I
was looking for.  I was really surprised that Paterson didn't offer
on-line manuals or data sheets for there products.  I guess I am just
getting spoiled from all the companies that do.

Thom Iwancio
Elgin, SC
www.machunter.org

-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]
On Behalf Of Andrew Schott
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 7:47 PM
To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
Subject: Re: [APML] Paterson Tanks

Well, since no one else is speaking up, I guess I'll blunder into this
topic myself.

The Patterson tanks that I've bought all came with a little clip ring
that can be used to clamp the spool(s) and keep them from sliding up the
agitator shaft while pouring/agitating.  It looks like it's made out of
the same stuff the spools were made out of and you just clip it on and
slide it down.  One reel in a 2 reel tank, two reels in the 5 reel tank,
no problem.  The tanks all have instructions for estimating the fluid
capacity for each reel printed on the bottom.  It just takes a little
foresight to remember to look at the chart before you fill the tank:-)

Keep in mind, I bought my last Patterson tank about 18 years ago (they
just don't wear out!) so they might not include the little clip anymore.
I would suppose you could rig some little ring or a piece of tubing,
maybe a fat rubber band that would keep the reel from climbing out of
the chemicals.

As to the matter of whether or not one or two reels being developed at
the same time has any effect on how the film develops is completely in
the eye of the beholder.  I've never been able to tell any difference.
As long as the chemicals completely cover the reels, it doesn't matter
how many reels there are.  (I'll probably get all kinds of argument from
that.)





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