Develop Sheet Film In Rotary Drum?

[greg_whitten1]

I bought a dark room set up (used) that came with a rotary drum

processor for color printing (he was using the dichroic head, I am

using the condenser for b&w). I would like to shoot some 4x5, and

was wondering whether I can develop, fix and wash the film in the

rotary drums (i.e., the drums sold for developing color paper). This

would let me process the sheet film more like roll film (using a

daylight developing tank).

 

Am I off the mark? Is anyone doing this? Seems easier than tray

processing.

 

Thanks.

 

Greg

[matt miller cambridge, ia]

I am doing this, in fact a lot of people are doing this. There is plenty of information in the archives about this already. Try searching there & you will most likely get answers to all of your questions.

[__jon__]

Greg,

 

You might want to check the archives and search on google.com before you ask, as there have been many that have asked the same question. Here is a good site:

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/unicolor/

 

I'm using that system for B/W. If you have any specific questions, send me an email.

[michael erlich]

Drums designed for paper processing will usually cause problems with sheet

film because the solutions cannot get to the back of the film to wash off the

antihalation layer. Try loading some 4x5 negatives into the drum and see if

the film is held away from the drum or if it sticks tight to it.

[__jon__]

The Unidrum Print drums have ribs to keep the paper/neg. raised above the inside surface of the drum.

[tom_raymondson1]

I do this with one modification. I found that my negs were fully and very evenly

developed but not fully and evenly fixed. So now I pull them out of the tube at about

the half-way point for fixing and continue the fix in a tray (with the lights on). This

works so well that I just bought another Beseler tube (new old stock) on eBay for $11

including shipping. I would never go back to tray processing.

[leonard_evens]

I use a Beseler drum. I can develop up to four sheets at a time. Usually they come out perfectly developed, but occasionally I have problems because I haven't placed the film correctly. I don't have any problem with the back of the film.