From: Rod Fleming (rodfleming@sol.co.uk)
Date: 06/11/00-04:13:48 AM Z
HI gang
I thought you might be interested in this...........I like to develop 10x8
by inspection in PMK Pyro, but have always had problems with trays-
oxidation too quick, and I'm afraid that even with the finest vinyl gloves I
find it very hard to handle the wet film. (I've tried the Jobo, which works
fine, but no inspection.) This has been exacerbated over the last 6 weeks
after I trapped a nerve in my stupid neck, leaving me with very reduced
sensation in my left index finger and thumb.
Anyway last week I took delivery of a device from Nova in UK called a
"Monochrome" processor. It's designed "specifically" for doing conventional
b&w prints. I had sketched up a similar device but bought theirs, even
though it's a bit pricey, just because I am very busy at the moment. The
device consists of 3 vertical 11x9.5 inch slots formed from a clear
dimple-surface acrylic material in an acrylic frame. Each slot holds just
under a litre of solution. It has three drains, which are badly placed, but
never mind. Like all of these Nova slot processors, it depends on a very
cleverly designed clip to hold the film.
Well, it works a treat. Your hands stay dry, so no health & safety issue
from the pyro, you can see the image coming up through the clear wall of the
slot, and the whole will sit in a simple tempered water bath. The surface
area is very small relative to solution volume, and I have had no difficulty
processing 4 10x8 sheets consecutively in one charge of dev, which means
that it's an economical and environmentally friendly process. Agitation is
performed by sliding the clip, and thus the suspended film, from side to
side, so no aerial oxidation. (Nova suggest agitation by picking the whole
thing up and giving it a sort of circular rotation...mad as hatters, they
are, and it's unnecessary.)
I've got nothing to do with Nova, and as I said the thing is overpriced for
what you get (I can write it off against the business, obviously), but the
principle is sound. If you had a bit of spare time you could rattle up
something very similar yourself from acrylic sheet. The main thing would be
to buy the Nova clip, which holds the film right at the edge, on the
unexposed part.
Here's Nova's URL- there's a picture somewhere
Best
Rod
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 07/14/00-09:46:44 AM Z CST