Kodak Hard Rubber Tanks (4x5)

[bobwysiwyg]

Having only recently gotten my feet wet in LF with a used 4x5, I went with a Combi tank for development. Seems to work fine, or it did for me. As an aside, however, today I was given two, unused Kodak 4x5 hard rubber tanks. One is still in the original box and sealed. It's funny what shows up on your doorstep when folks hear you are "back" into film photography.

I'm curious as to how one used them. They have "floating lids?" It would seem, whether with the lid or without, developing with them is strictly a total darkness function given the gap around the lid edge?? Can anyone enlighten me on how they were used? Thanks.

[reellis67]

Total darkness only, sorry. I've have three, and wish that I had another one (or two), but that's neither here nor there. I prefer them to trays when I'm developing a large number of sheets, but prefer trays for developing 8 or fewer sheets due to the volume required. The floating lids work fairly well if you wish to leave the chemicals for an extended period of time, but I would not recommend storing them in the tanks using the lids - they're more of a short term thing as I understand it, at least for most developers.

- Randy

[Photo Engineer]

You use stainless steel hangers that could hold 2 sheets of 4x5 film (if lucky) or 1 sheet if you are like me.

The hangers were suspended in the tank and the floating lids were only used when the tanks were filled and sitting idle for a day or two. You used a replenisher with this type of system, or you dumped after each use wich wasted a lot of developer.

PE

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks for the confirmation on darkroom only use and an explanation of the "floating lid." Now if only the gift had included hangers.

[Photo Engineer]

Use a wood dowel with mini spring loaded clothes pins attached at the right height. Kodak mini clips with the rounded ends fit over a dowel or SS rod and do this job just as designed.

They work just like hangers.

PE

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks for the idea, may give it a try.

[DaveOttawa]

You use stainless steel hangers that could hold 2 sheets of 4x5 film (if lucky) or 1 sheet if you are like me.
PE

Do those Kodak hangers work w 2 sheets (back to back)??
I'd never thought of doing that but obviously it saves time if it works. I'm going to try it anyway but if there are any tricks to it please share!

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks for the idea, may give it a try.

For the heck of it, tried the Combi sheet holder in the Kodak tanks and it fits nicely. I guess I can use them for subsequent processing steps, though they (Kodak tanks) require more juice.

[Photo Engineer]

Do those Kodak hangers work w 2 sheets (back to back)??
I'd never thought of doing that but obviously it saves time if it works. I'm going to try it anyway but if there are any tricks to it please share!

They do work, but you gotta be good or the backing materials don't wash off properly and sheets can stick together. If you separate them properly during the prewet, things work out ok.

Also, developer tends to collect in the buckle between sheet backs and therefore carryover is higher.

PE

[PHOTOTONE]

Stainless steel film hangers for 4x5 were made in single sheet format, to fit a 4x5 hard rubber tank, and a 4-sheet format to work in the common 3.5 gallon Kodak, Cesco and other brands of tanks designed to work with 8x10. In fact if you have the 3.5 gallon tanks, with appropriate film hangers you can process 8x10, 5x7 and 4x5 sheets (4x5 on 4-up hangers). 5x7 film hangers were made in singles and doubles.