michael_harris14

Thanks. I'll probably get around to trying it over the weekend when I'd have time to work it out if it goofed me up. I've thought about picking up one of the proper solutions, but new they are more than I should really spend on it, and I don't know whether it would be worth it with the monitor I have (ASUS VK278Q if I recall). I have seen them cheaper used on ebay. I may do that.

I want to try to calibrate my monitor to see whether using the tool in windows will give me some improvement. It is blocking me from doing this because the monitor is "mirrored" on my TV, so that I can use the computer for streaming (Amazon, etc.). I assume if I turn that setting off it would allow me to use the color calibration feature, BUT... Does anyone know whether those settings will hold true once I reconnect the TV? Will the new settings somehow prevent me from reconnecting the TV? (I know this seems unlikely, but I better ask.) Mike

Well that didn't take long. Several of you said to hold out for a steel tank; I walked into Goodwill tonight and there was this: Two 35mm reels inside. Looks like I'm ready to start, just need chemistry (and a roll of shots I'm not in love with!)

For the low price of .99 it has already followed me home, but it sounds like I should definitely keep my eyes open for a steel tank. Thanks for confirming that this one needs an o-ring if I'm going to use it. I may, even against advice, get that seal and give this thing a whirl. If not, it can always find its way to eBay. Thanks all.

I found a "Yankee" daylight tank while thrifting yesterday, and want to be sure I have everything before trying to use it. It will be my first try at home developing. There's a tank, a lid, and an adjustable reel. I assume that I will need some sort of stopper for the lid--will just any cork or rubber stopper suffice? Also, is there supposed to be a gasket between lid and tank, or is that just going to be leaky? It seems like a rubber gasket would fit in it and seal better.

Thanks for these replies. Sounds like I don't have to worry too much. I was taking a look at it open this afternoon, and it looks like I have a shutter blade hanging occasionally. Hopefully just running through the shutter speeds a few times will loosen everything up, but if not then I may be in for more extensive cleaning than I'd planned!

Hello all. I am looking for safe cleaning practices for the various windows, whether they be glass or some plastic. I picked up an Aires 35 IIIL this past weekend, and want to get it cleaned up, at least anexterior cleaning. Everything seems to work, but it's a little dirty, especially the front windows. My question is how to go about cleaning them, and what cleaning solution is ok to use. If they are just glass, I guess I can use anything safe for glass, but I recently did a number on a plastic knife handle by getting alcohol on it, so I'm a little gun shy. Did they use plastics in 1959 or so? What would be safe to use on them? I have to use something--they are too dirty to just brush off. Thanks for the help.

Thanks for the quick replies! Allan, thanks for the clarification. Somehow that design possibility hadn't occurred to me. Makes perfect sense though. And Craig, it sounds like we suffer from the same sort of paranoia. I'm pretty sure Murphy was glaring at me the whole time, so I bet I use some of your techniques. (I'd already decided I'd do it in a darker location, even though not total blackout. Electrical tape is definitely going on the checklist!)

I'm so new that I haven't actually started processing at home yet, but in considering doing so, I've been trying to learn enough about the equipment to choose what I'd prefer. I think I lean towards a steel system over plastic, and the used Nikor sets are pretty cheap on eBay, but I don't quite see how they are light-proof. I see how the Paterson has a center tube, which blocks light through the top. Do the Nikor sets have anything similar? something else to do that job? Or are they not actually for daylight processing? I've learned a lot reading these forums before joining! Thanks for your help. Mike