As part of buying out a friend's darkroom, got several stainless steel tanks for developing roll film. Everything seems to fit fine, but after the tank is full and I want to open the top quickly to dump it, the top frequently is stuck on and seems to take a sledge hammer and chisel to get it off. All while the timer is buzzing, of course. How can you make sure these things will come off quickly??

-- John Sarsgard (Endive4U@aol.com), January 26, 1999

Answers

Those plastic tops on steel tanks sure sits tight! I don't think there is a way to get them off quickly. If too much force is applied the lid will be damaged and not seal good enough. Applying grease or something for less friction would probably lead to damage on the film. Unless there is a trick I don't know of you probably have to measure how long time it takes for you to empty the tank and adjust for it in your procedures. I don't think you will get uneven development, unless your development times are very short. You could rotate the tank while emptying it which perhaps will decrease the risk of uneven development.

With my 1-roll tank it takes 10 seconds to empty it. With a two-reel tank the developer will "leave" the reel at the bottom first but that is the same reel that gets in contact with developer when you poor it in so the developing time will be the same for both films in a 2-reel tank. Of course, if you use the method of dumping the loaded film reel into a pre-filled tank I don't know what the result may be.

-- Peter Olsson (Peter.Olsson@sb.luth.se), January 27, 1999.

PS. When all steps are finnished and the fixer is poured out I immediately fill the tank with water before I remove the lid.

-- Peter Olsson (Peter.Olsson@sb.luth.se), January 27, 1999.

I have several SS tanks of various sizes (and vintages.) I found that each tank has a mating top and if you get them mixed up, you will wind up with some tops that won't come off and some that will literally fall off when emptying the developer. (Oops!) I set all the tanks in one row and lids in another. Then, one by one, put them together until they all fit well. Then with a sharp object (an awl) I numbered each combination. Now, about those little caps...

-- Michael D Fraser (mdfraser@earthlink.net), February 04, 1999.

I think the problem is caused by the cap being airtight and there being little air in the tank when it's full of liquid. You have to let some air in to remove the cap. I have a flat little plastic gizmo that I got from new socks or a new tie that I use to pry up on the cap with. It breaks the seal and the cap comes off easily. I've though of drilling a small hole in the cap to let air in and cover it with my finger when agitating but never got around to it.

Cheers,

-- (dkucheran@creo.com), February 05, 1999.

I had a SS top and cap that had this problem. I got new plastic tops and caps. Problem solved!

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@emji.net), February 13, 1999.

Seems the stainless tanks and lids are made for each other. Don't mix them up. The little cap is the same. I can easily pry the little bugger off with another lid. It will fit, the edge, and lift it off. Now getting the big lid off when it is stuck and all the juice is out can be a real chore. Turn the tank upsidedown, hold tightly with both hands and shake as hard as you can, using the reels inside as a hammer. The lid WILL come off. With a bang. Try to do it somewhere the lid and stuff will not damage anything. It works. All the trouble is still worth it. Stainless is the only way too go. Good luck

-- tim swanky (tswanky@home.com), May 03, 1999.

"Prying the little bugger off with another lid" is a pretty good idea. I assume we're talking about the lid that fits over the spout, rather than the entire top. [Plastic caps are better than stainless, IMHO.]

If prying fails, rub some (itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, little bit) ordinary bathroom soap on the outside of the "male" half (spout). Soap has fat in it, is fairly slippery, but unlike grease can be rinsed off easily. Liquid dish soap might work as well.

I've heard that one can wash with it too!

What a wor

-- Benjamin Ogdon (bjammin@cts.com), May 07, 1999.