PROCESSING PITFALLS
George Sparkes (Area 22).
After reading of our editor`s processing problems in the Oct. CRCN I thought of all the things which had thrown a spanner in the works since I first started nearly 20 years ago. Learning from frustrating experience I have developed a fairly rigid system which minimises the possibility of disaster.
WEIGHING AND MIXING
1. If at all possible make up the solutions when the rest of the family are out as distractions are a major cause of problems.
2. Keep the list of formulae in a clear sleeve and tick off all the stages in weighing and mixing with a coloured grease pencil.
3. Use an LPL Agitator, or similar, (two D type batteries) for thorough mixing while the next solution is being weighed.
4. Use glass and plastic containers of different shapes and put two labels on each container and one label on the lid. Colour code the solutions. (e.g. Red for First Developer). The main labels should indicate the date made up and how many 36 (or 20) length of films have been processed.
5. Check solution pH with meter if available. (Pocket CPI Meter or similar). A good reading gives confidence but if it is well out then something is wrong.
PROCESSING
Start the procedure the day before by moving solutions into a warm room and filter any that appear cloudy. On the day start the warm-up well before process time by standing containers in a bowl of hot water and check temp. at intervals. have two thermometers ready in case one is dropped on the floor.
7. never process holiday or important films in suspect solutions or solutions not previously used. Instead shoot off about six frames and process these first. (Keep a reel of test film shot in sunlight and snip off a few frames when required).
8. Once again, if possible process in an empty house and, unless expecting life or death phone calls or visitors, ignore interuptions during important parts of the process. Such an interuption can be lethal.
9. As before, use a grease pencil to tick off all the steps. Don`t get worried if the starting temp. of a developer is too hot or cold but adjust water-bath temp. to take the solution temp. The opposite way so that the average is within official tolerance. (e.g. 39C at the start and 37C at the end is spot on 38C).
10. Chemical Reversal can cause trouble unless newly mixed so reconsider using the ancient but very reliable reversal by photoflood or bright sunlight.