70mm. HSIR processing "on the cheap"

[PeteScherm@xxxxxxx]

Ever since I saw an item from Ron Aavang in IR Digest #255 about low-cost 
plastic reels for developing 70mm film, I became aware of the possibilities 
for cheap processing of 70mm HSIR.  George Ling and I have exchanged a few 
e-mails on the subject, and this is where we stand now.  A Rubbermaid 3-qt. 
cylinder-type "Servin' Saver"(TM) (George's idea), is the perfect processing 
tank for the large $7.50 Henken Industries plastic reel.  George has measured 
the reel's capacity at 12 feet, so the 15 foot 70mm cartidges would have to 
be loaded accordingly.  I have been experimenting with the pre-loaded 15-foot 
Tri-X cassettes/cartridges (?) I bought from B&H.  I picked-up a 70 back for 
my Hassy last year from Jack's Camera, for $195, including two empty 
cartridges.  It has worked fine, no light leaks after an hour in the bright 
sun with the dark slide pulled out.  I have been testing short lengths from 
the spool, about 12 exposure's worth, to get comfortable with the handling of 
the cartridges, processing, etc.  So far, so good.  By the way, I have been 
using a heavy-duty black plastic 11x14 enlarging paper bag to enclose the 
clear Rubbermaid tank.  Fold over a few times, put on a clothespin, and you 
can process in the light.  George recommends double bagging for my first try 
at the real stuff - HSIR, in case the single plastic layer is not IR-proof.

Now, I will be faced with the storage and handling of 70mm negatives.  There 
are 70mm negative sheets available, 3 x 3, but they are 50% more costly than 
the same sheet of regular 120....and the fine print says that I will need 8 
1/2 x 11 paper to make contacts.  Then, we come to the enlarger negative 
carrier.  I have an Omega DII, plus extra odd-sized carriers.  So I could 
easily create a 70mm-one (I've done this before, for other specific uses).  
Then I sez to myself, why not cut-off some of each sprocketed-edge (HSIR may 
only have one) and make the film the same size as regular 120?  It would fit 
in the file sheets (probably no fun inserting them, though), could be 
contact-printed on 8x10, and would "fit" in a regular 120 negative carrier.

Is this what all of you 70mm HSIR aficionados out there do???

Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts
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