the_macman Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 I'm looking for a great development tank. I already own three models (double- reel Paterson 4 and AP, and a 4-reel no brand one). The problem is they all leak at the lid. I need something super-tight, with a screw lid or something conceived in a way that it would not leak at all as I shake. I saw this Samigon steel tank on B&W. I just can't imagine how is it made. Is that a clip-on lid just like crappy Paterson? Is there any chance it would leak? What would be the mother of all development tanks? I don't mind the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans_beckert Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 The leaking of Paterson tanks is not a problem for me. I simply accept it. I place a towel beneath the tank to absorb spillage. I have used metal tanks and hate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_mann Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Take a look a JOBO tanks, they have a very tight fitting lid, mine has had no problems with leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 2, 2004 Author Share Posted January 2, 2004 Yeah, I also have to grab it using a towel. Then it gets completely soaked of by the end of development. Having to use half a roll of paper towel per roll of film kinda puts is back 40 years or so. Not to mention that I mix 50ml more just in case it runs out enough to soak below the film level. BTW... Hydroquinone found in many developers is a suspected carcinogen and while I didn't take the time to go one by one, I suspect there is a whole bunch of them that you don't want to have on your skin. Of course, I could bother with gloves but then thanks to the solution the tank gets pretty slippery. I hope that there are some 3-digit IQ engineers out there who conceived a tight tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 2, 2004 Author Share Posted January 2, 2004 BOB: Interesting. How tight? Clip-on or screw? Is that folding plastic or rigid? Paterson 4 is also tight, it sounds tight and it clips tight... not in a homogenous way obviously :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syed_shah Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Kindermann steel tank and Hewes Stainless reels will convert you to be faithful follower with journey to eternity and no looking back. Enjoy the Darkroom while you can.!:) Syed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans_beckert Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Macman: My drippings are fairly minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_p._dimor Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 The Omega tanks have a lid with an O-ring. The lid is threaded and it screws on.<br> Mine does not leak at all. The tanks are pretty nice.<br> Almost as fast filling and pouring as the Paterson tanks.<br> Regular Paterson reels and center-cores fit in the Omega/Beseler tank just fine.<br> If you do shoot for a used Kindermann tank off of e*ay, and the<br>lid/cover is stainless steel..<br> MAKE SURE IT'S THE ONE THAT FITS.<br> I bought a 'Kindermann' tank with 4 matching reels. The cover and<br>reels are Kindermann.. The tank itself is 'made in Japan'. <br> Needless to say, they do not fit.<br> The reels however, are pretty sweet so I wasn't too pi**ed.<br><br> Just so you know what I'm talking about... <a href="http://porterscamerastore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=22-1310&Category_Code=D1Q">Beseler Developing Tank</a><br> Neither B&H nor Freestyle list it on their websites. My semi-local shop (Hunt's) carries these for about $14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 There are some Spanish-made plastic tanks that are compatible with Paterson reels. Instead of the pop-on lid these have screw-on lids. They'll still leak a bit with inversion agitation but I prefer to use the twist paddle method with these tanks. No mess at all. Some folks claim twist paddle agitation is inferior to inversion agitation. Nonsense. I've used both, still use both and see absolutely no difference in my negatives. As I understand it the twist paddle agitation method is an option with Paterson tanks. Dunno. I have only one Paterson tank and it lacks the light baffle/funnel doodad so I've never had a chance to try this tank. It is possible to get a reasonably leak-proof fit between steel tanks and the inexpensive plastic lids. The trick is to match a well-fitted lid to a certain tank and keep 'em together. Steel tanks and steel lids are pretty much hopeless and always have been. I have a couple of those now and they're as leaky as I'd remembered from years ago. Good for stand development, tho'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard_wiessner Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Lex has said it all.I use a plastic tank with a screw on lid that has a twirling stick.I can invert or twirl.All the negs look the same.In fact,I find it easier to control agitation with the stick. Good Luck and Happy new Year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timothy_nolan Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 A corrolary to the question: I have and effectively use my 2 reel patterson, but is there a similar, nay, identical tank that pours out chemicals faster? I have waits of up to a minute to completely clear developer and fixer out of the tank, which concerns be from a timing/consistency of results perspective.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_hicks1 Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Dear Macman, I'm with Syed Shah. My Kindermans have stainless steel bodies and plastic lids. They simply do not leak. The two oldest are around 30 years now but I also have a couple of newer ones. Then use Hewes spirals -- nothing better. Cheers, Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_mcbob Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 I use a Paterson tank, and I can't say I've ever had any problems with it leaking. The only time it leaks (very minor leaks) is when I'm washing film and it gets completely soaked. This isn't really a problem for me, since it's in the sink anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth_harper Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Don't trun it upside down and it won't leak. Agitate the film by using the wee twirly thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_hicks1 Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Another trick with the sort of stainless steel tanks that have stainless steel lids is to cut a wide 'corset' from a motorcycle inner tube (ask at a bike shop) and seal the lid to the tank with that. Just wrap it round the outside like a big rubber band. A strip about an inch/25mm wide should do it. This and many other useful tricks (such as drying film diagonally) appear in my books... Cheers, Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 3, 2004 Author Share Posted January 3, 2004 >>>> Don't trun it upside down and it won't leak. Agitate the film by using the wee twirly thing. That's definitely an inferior agitation method. I stand by inversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 3, 2004 Author Share Posted January 3, 2004 >>>>> Just so you know what I'm talking about... Beseler Developing Tank That's exactly what I have. It's labeled AP, obviously a shared model. It does leak from the red lid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Macman, on what basis do you claim that twisting the reel is "definitely" inferior to inversion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans_beckert Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Inversion is superior. By-products of development are heavier than the developer and tend to sink. Inversion redistributes these by-products evenly throughout the solution. Twisting does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_p._dimor Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 mr. macman, i'm somewhat surprised to hear that yours leaks. Perhaps self-sealing tape wrapped around the lid? *shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted January 4, 2004 Share Posted January 4, 2004 Hans, which byproducts of development do you refer to, and why would you want to redistribute them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 4, 2004 Author Share Posted January 4, 2004 http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001KBr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_de_fehr Posted January 4, 2004 Share Posted January 4, 2004 Macman, thanks for the link. I read the thread, but found nothing in it that supports your conclusion. According to many experts, random rotary agitation is the best possible for contrast control and even development. When one rotates the the reel in the tank by the spindle key, that's exactly what occurs; random rotary agitation. Hans, Have you determined which development byproducts are heavier than the developer solution and should be redistributed? Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans_beckert Posted January 4, 2004 Share Posted January 4, 2004 Bromide is heavier than developer. That is why bromide streaking occurs in vertical stand development. Inversion is better for this reason: it redistributes the bromide evenly throughout the solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_macman Posted January 4, 2004 Author Share Posted January 4, 2004 The link of the thread I posted has KBr (potassium bromide) at the end. Is that a coincidence or a name given on purpose? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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