Jobo 2509n reels: 4 or 6 sheets of 4x5?

I'm using these reels with my 2551 multitank. I wrote about foaming problems on

4x5 B&W negs in an earlier post.

I tried a practice session following that post-- I made a conscious effort not to over-

agitate, and I made sure to vary the rotation direction more frequently. The bubble

situation greatly improved, but they were still there, faintly, in all corners of the negs.

I shot 4 negs of dark wall placed Zone-V. I loaded up the reels-- 2 negs per reel,

filling the empty slots with some older undeveloped film.

I used Tmax 400 and 24oz of Ilfosol-S at 1:9 dilution, one of my main combos. I used

a fresh batch of Kodak Indicator Stop Bath diluted 1oz to 64oz water, and fixer. I

washed with water and Permawash. No wetting agents were used, and I had

vigorously washed (and dried) the tanks with hot water prior to use.

Since the bubbles are still there, I'm thinking now that maybe I have a bad batch of

Ilfosol, or maybe the sheets are mis-loaded in the reel. A photo.net user mentioned

earler that Jobo has amended their recommendation for the 2509n reel to 4 sheets

max. 4x5 instead of 6, which they recommended earlier. I'm wondering if this might

not be the problem.

Will do further testing on this. In the meantime, any insights on the 4 vs. 6 sheets

issue would be appreciated. Thanks, John

I haven't seen this change from Jobo. The older 4x5 reels had this suggestion but supposedly the 2509n reels were designed for six sheets. You could check with Jobo's tech support department. They used to be pretty good about answering questions but it seems they've had some staff turnover.

How are you agitating? I'm guessing not with the processor. Sounds like your not using a motorbase either? Are you doing this by hand? A $10 motorbase will give you a repeatable system.

Have you tried more than one developer yet to determine whether it is a developer-related problem? Some developers do indeed foam up more than others, depending on agitation.

I've never had such problems with Ilfosol-S but I develop only 35mm and 120, usually in full tanks so there's virtually no airspace for bubbles to form.

I get near-perfect film from my Jobo tanks and reels, same ones as you have, six sheets to a reel. On the motor base, the reels move fast enough so that there�s no way a bubble could leave a mark.

Is there some possibility that these marks are put on the film at the time of exposure? It�s a long shot, I know.

Are you using distilled water? Is anyone taking a bubble bath near by? I�m out of brilliant ideas.

Well I bit the bullet and purchased a motorized rotating base. Didn't set me back too

much. I now have a backlog of stuff to develop this weekend. I'll do further tests, and

I'll take the suggestion of trying out another developer for good measure. Thanks for

the advice.

<p>I rechecked Jobo USA webiste, and yes the 6 sheets are only

a problem with the older 2509 reels (the non "n" version).

See:

</p>

<a href="http://www.jobo-usa.com/jq/jq9603.htm#A2963">http://www.jobo-usa.com/jq/jq9603.htm#A2963</a>

If you need to, you can solve foam problems by adding a drop or two of Edwal LFN to the developer. But that should be a last resort.

I don't think the 2509 reels would work very well with any other than constant rotary agitation.

I have to respectfully disagree with John's advice. Adding a wetting agent, even a low foam wetting agent, can only increase the risk of foaming. Unless Edwal's LFN is specifically recommended by the manufacturers of LFN, your developer and your film I'd say the addition of yet another unnecessary element to the process invites more problems. Keep in mind that many films have already been pretreated by the manufacturer with what may be wetting agents to reduce or eliminate the need for presoaking.

While we're on that subject, if you're not doing so already you might consider presoaking your film and see whether pouring off that effluence reduces the apparent foam/bubble marks.