Problems with Paterson tank

KaiKlindt · 2013-11-08T18:23:30+00:00

Liebe Leute, ich habe mir vor kurzem eine Paterson-Entwicklungsdose zugelegt und war anfangs ganz angetan, wie einfach sich der Film hier einspulen lässt (i...

KaiKlindt

Hi everyone, I recently bought a Paterson developing tank and was initially quite impressed by how easy it is to load the film into it (compared to Jobo). However, it seems that the film spool slides upwards when the tank is tilted during development, meaning the film is no longer completely covered by the chemical solution. In fact, I’ve noticed that haze often forms at the edges of the negatives (both 35mm and roll film). It’s very frustrating. I assume the Paterson tanks are technically sound, so I’m at a loss: how can I ensure the film spool stays in place (i.e. at the bottom of the tank)? I’d be grateful for any tips...

klausdoblmann

The simplest solution: fill the top with empty reels until the tank is at maximum capacity, so nothing can move around. Although I have to say that I never had that problem with my Patersons back when I used them more often. The old Jobos used to have clips that prevented exactly that, but as we all know, everything was better in the old days :D

KaiKlindt

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately, however, this doesn’t quite solve the problem either: even with roll films that are supposed to fill the can completely (there’s no room for another reel), the reel slides upwards during development.

klausdoblmann

In that case, there is a very simple solution: simply overfill the tank by 50–100 ml beyond the mark on the bottom. It is advisable not to always fill to the absolute minimum anyway, as this encourages clouding caused by foaming developer, since the foam is located near the top spiral. If you overfill, the foam is one or two centimetres higher up in the tank and causes no problems.

KaiKlindt

I’ll take that on board. Thanks for the helpful advice.

Rolf70

Hello, I’m new to the forum and had the same problem. My solution: get some O-rings with an internal diameter of 25 mm (you can find them on eBay if necessary). Before loading the film, place the single developing spiral onto the spindle tube and slide an O-ring onto it as far as it will go. The spiral will no longer slide upwards when the tank is tilted. By the way, I can highly recommend that medium-format photographers use a Paterson canister with AP spirals for the development of roll films. Loading the film is much easier and more reliable than with Jobo spirals, which I struggled with for decades.

musikbaer

Kai Klindt wrote Hi everyone, I recently bought a Paterson developing tank and was initially quite impressed by how easy it is to load the film into it (compared to Jobo). However, it seems that the film spool slides upwards when the tank is tilted during development, meaning the film is no longer completely covered by the chemical solution. In fact, I’ve noticed that haze often forms at the edges of the negatives (both 35mm and roll film). Very annoying. I assume the Paterson tanks are technically sound, so I’m at a loss: how can I ensure the film spool stays in place (i.e. at the bottom of the tank)? I’d be grateful for any tips...

Hi, I use my Paterson either for two 35mm films or for one medium format film. The tank is filled with 500ml, or even 510ml for a 50+1 process. In my tank, the reels (one or two) are well covered, so the films are thoroughly washed with the developer. For a single 35mm film, I prefer to use a small Jobo tank. I know it won’t help much, but something must be different in your setup!

Hans3799

Hello fellow darkroom enthusiasts, this is my first post on the forum. To introduce myself, my name is Hans and I’m a keen DIY photochemical formulator. My old Paterson developing tank came with a clamping ring. Last week I treated myself to an AP developing tank for 2x135. This also came with a clamping ring and a rotation shaft. Thanks to these clamping rings, I’ve never had a problem with the film spool slipping upwards. Also, for your information, the AP developing tank for 1x135 requires a minimum of 375ml. In my opinion, a little extra chemical isn’t a bad thing.I hope I’ve been able to provide some useful information. Kind regards Hans