P3D Re: RE: From Bob Porter: Home Brew E6

[Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank-you all for your comments.  I just got back from a short
unscheduled trip to Las Vegas (father in the Hospital, but getting
better), and have read the comments "all at once".

The Tetenal chemistry I ordered hasn't arrived as yet, and so it'll
be a while before I try even a test run or two to find out.  Reading
the prolific instructions on jobo's site has been encouraging, however
(they're the tetenal importer as well).

Greg Tank wrote:

> I have done considerable processing at home including the old transparency
> process which had a light reversal. In all my photo engineering classes they
> drilled these four variables into your head:
> TIME

This variable is the "manual" one in my "plan".  I'll make a timing-tape
(original being on the computer so times can be changed easily if/when I
need to) that plays and tells me "ten seconds to next pour-out..9...8..." 
etc.  Old method,... new method of generation.  :-)

> TEMPERATURE

Unit is a temperature controlled bath with a color thermometer for exact 
setting  of the approximately-calibrated dial.  All of the chemicals (and 
some of the wash water) sit in the bath as well so all are at the processing
temperature (100 deg F).  Along with the processing tank too of course.
One suggestion given was for it to be a metal tank, while the JOBO
tanks are plastic.  Because the chemicals are already at processing 
temperature it seems that plastic might help in "holding it there" (in
addition to being bathed in process temp water while running).

> AGITATION

JOBO suggested times are a bit shorter than hand-agitated times because
it's probably more vigorous -- but this should help with consistency.  
It rotates two rotations (one rotation per second) then reverses and goes
two rotations back (etc).

> CHEMICAL STRENGTH

>From what I've read from Jobo (and from Kodak's site), using 
chemistries on a one-shot basis is supposed to provide 
consistency because all batches should be identical within manufacturing
limits of the maker (not maintenance of the operator, me).  I do have
to very accurately dilute their chemicals however.


Anyway, should be interesting.  Only time I did slide film myself in the
past was more than 20 years ago in a sink full of water in a light-reversal
process (and actually, it worked well, still have the (2D) slides around
somewhere).  Just was a pain.  Hopefully the JOBO processor will cut down the
pain part (like watching temperature, etc).

They give times for pushing up to three stops, which should be interesting
as well.  :-)

Time will tell....

Mike K.