Film washing with JOBO expert drums

I recently upgraded from a Jobo CPE-2 to a CPP-2. Wow. What a difference in size and capabilities.

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Anyway, for those who use the expert drums, do you use the drums to wash your film? How confident are you? I would like to get away from using a lucite vertical film washer if I can, but I am concerned as to whether or not the jet tube that Jobo makes works ok. Also, how long would you suggest running the washing process?

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Since I bought the CPP-2 unit, a 3006 drum, a 3010 drum and other accessories used, no manuals were supplied with them.

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Thanks in advance for all responses.

Andy, I just started using the CPA/2 drum at my work rather than a

hybrid uniroller and 2500 series and an expert series.

Jobo suggests than one can wash on the CPA/CPP by using ten washes

each 30 seconds long, dumping and puring in new water every 30

seconds. They also suggest you use slightly more water in the rinses

than in the processing.

Since I use 900ml solution in processing b/w film, I cannot add much

more water. But so far the negs look as good as they do when I use my

vertical gravity works washer.

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One problem: Determining the amount of wetting agent (photo flo) is

still a problem. Filling the tank off the jobo is a possibility, but

the water used is quite a bit. I am still experimenting with that,

since if I must unload film and stick them in the washer for photo

flo I might as well use the washer for wash and photo dlo.

Hope this helps.

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Bob

I have stayed with my lucite washer. It is faster. 10 cycles works

fine but just takes some time. The washer lets you go do something

else instead of standing there loading water and dumping ten times.

Also JOBO is very specific about NOT using photoflo in any of the JOBO

equipment. Apparently it gunks it up after after many uses.

I too wash my film out of the drums - once the fix is done, I take

them out and rince them, followed by hypoclear, and then wash in my

8x10 film washer. Better safe then sorry I would say.

If by "jet tube" you're referring to the Jobo Cascade film washer

accessory, it can't be used with Expert Drums. According to Jobo USA,

you would pressurize the drum and blow the cap off, with possibly

harmful consequences.

An additional comment: I have never used photoflo or any other

similar product, should I think about this as an option? If I do,

then I definitely will continue to use my lucite washer.

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Overall, I am not too thrilled with the idea of filling the drum up

with water, dumping it out, reloading, etc. etc. etc. Looks like I

might continue the path that I have been on.

Andy, I have CPP-2 also. Something to think about: You can do the

10 rinses for 1 minute each, instead of 30 seconds each. This will

leave time in between changes to prepare for your next run or to

clean up. You'll have less handling of your fragile negatives if you

rinse film in Expert drum, as opposed to removing them to wash in

another tank or something. At this stage, who wants to play with the

negatives?

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Photo flo or Edwal LPN is next. Clip one corner with the awesome Jobo

sheet film clip, (when you get them, that is). Finally, squeegee the

film: lightly sandwich 4x5 negative between photo-flo moistened

index and middle fingers and then run fingers down the film. Hang to

dry.

I don't know if this is an issue because archival stability was not

mentioned above but the National Park Service/Library of Congress do

not consider Jobo processing archivally stable AS JOBO RECOMMENDS

IT, presumably because washing in the drum does not fully remove

residual hypo from the BACK of the film adequately. Whether this

is true or not I do not know. But they flatly state that Jobo

does not produce archival negatives (I believe it is how you do it,

not what you do it in). This is why I remove my film from my 3006 and

3010 drums after hypo clear and wash in a separate washer. It is a

pain but worth it in the long run. My washer has a separte basket for

holding the film that can be removed from the washer loaded, which I

dunk in PhotoFlo in an old 5x7 processing tank before drying.

Andy,

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I use the expert drums for process my film, and it is a lot of work

doing all of those rinse steps. JOBO is got it right, it is not the

agitaion that is important, but rather frequent water changes. I

use the Gravity Works film washer for my 4x5 film. It can hold up

to 12 sheets. It is an amazing device that removes water and

dumps new water in every 30 seconds. It is lot of fun to watch.

As mention above it does free you up to do other things.

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From all of my testing, it does a slightly better job. Goos luck.

Stephen,

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I picked up a Gravity Works film washer today, the same one that you

just wrote about.

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Wow, what a great unit. After 5 minutes (10 washes), the washing is

complete.

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Thank you all for all of your comments and suggestions.

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Andy

Does Gravity Works make an 8x10 washer and where's a good place to

find one? I have never liked rinsing and dumping with my JOBO,

either.

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many thanks to all

e