AREA NEWS
PERCENTAGE SOLUTIONS GEORGE SPARKES (Area 22).
It saves time if certain chemicals are made up to 10% or 20% strength solutions. However, one should NEVER make up percentage solutions of developing agents (Phenidone, Metol, CD3 etc.) since all these quickly oxidise. Also Sodium hydroxide solution will not keep longer than six months and it changes slowly into Sodium Carbonate. Sodium sulphite`s life is somewhat shorter, changing into Sodium sulphate. A 20% solution can be made of Calgon, Potassium Thiocyanate, Potassium Bromide and Tri-Sodium Phosphate. Some chemicals really need to be made into percentage solutions such as Benzotriazole, where the working concentration is 1%. Another difficult one is Potassium Iodide, where 0.1% is required.PINK CAST BRIAN SAVAGE (AREA 14).
Two of my members have had trouble with a "pink cast" on Fujichrome, using the Club Formulae. Both of them are experienced workers and one of them is a very experienced weigher and mixer. Just what the trouble is I don`t know. It would be interesting if there is anyone using Fuji with NO problem.
(Brian`s address can be found in the Club Handbook).
HANGING THE pH GEORGE SPARKES (AREA 22).
The pH of a developer may be changed by adding weak acid or alkali to the solution. Lower the pH by adding either 10% Sulphuric acid or 10% Glacial Acetic acid. raise the pH by adding 10% Sodium hydroxide. In each case add 5ml at a time and read the modified pH.DOES THE FRIDGE LIGHT GO OUT? GEORGE SPARKES (AREA 22).
Some people worry that when the fridge door is closed the light may not go off. How do you check this? A keen photographer will know. He sets the self timer on his camera, sets exposure at around 1/15 sec. at F2.8 (100 ASA film) and minimum focus. The camera then placed in the fridge facing a pound of sausages, where the bangers will receive illumination from the fridge light. The timer is tripped and the door closed. If on processing there is a close-up of the sausages the fridge needs attention. (This works equally well with pork chops or yogurt).USING A JOBO PROCESSOR HORACE TELLING (AREA 20).
I use quite a bit of black and white film and for these I operate at 68F and do not bother with the processor - I can do a film in the time that it takes to set it up.
But - E6 is a different story. When I started colour reversal work, it was with the original Ferraniacolour. The required temperature was 68F and the time longer, which made slight errors less critical.
Over the years there were changes. My first developer was simply "Amidol Bromide and Sodium Sulphite". Compare that with the latest E6 formulations. (Although the worst formula to me were the short lived E4 process).
Why did I buy Jobo? basically because I wanted constant agitation and temperature control. I set the capital cost against the wear and tear on my nerves over the years. I know that many people can make devices to do this work, but I am not a qualified electrician or even a skilled Do-it-yourself. I needed something safe and reliable, likely to continue in production and with spare parts avialable for repairs.
On the question of cost, my philosophy is that camera systems come and go and people spend hundreds of pounds on the latest marvel, only to change it for another marvel (more hundreds). To me, as long as the camera is efficient, it does not matter what it is. Better to spend the money on a good tripod, an enlarger with a good lens and a processor.
Anyay, I set the Jobo up on the kitchen table. fill it with water at 40C apprx. and make sure that the thermostat is set at 38C.
All my E6 work lately has been with the Photo-technology E6 kit. This has a very good instruction leaflet, covering both hand processing and small processors. With the processor there is a 5 minute DRY warm-up on the loaded tank. Originally a 1 minute wet run was used, but this was found to lead to over development. Also for processors, colour development is cut to four minutes only. The first developer and the bleach are made up to 150ml each. The colour developer has 30ml of solution A and 15ml of solution B but is only made up to 140ml.
Having processed one film I put a second through with increased development nd then discard the solutions. I have pushed more through and paid penalty in green shadows.
I keep a bucket full of water on the kitchen sink behind me. This starts at 100F and is kept up to temperature by addition of hot water at intervals. This is not difficult as the film tank is constantly in the processor maintained at the correct temperature.