Developing on the horizon

My equipment for developing film turned up last night; I am now the proud owner of:

• A Paterson system 4 universal developing tank;
  

• Ilford developer, stopbath, fixer and wetting agent;
  

• A spirit thermometer;
  

• Various graduates and a mixing jug.

Add to this list a mixing stick (freed from the work coffee bar), scissors, a water supply, stop watch and a very dark place and you have all that you need to start developing your own film :)

The hardest part of the process, so I’ve read, is getting the roll of film onto the spiral (which sits in the light-tight developing tank and holds the film so that it isn’t in contact with itself anywhere along the roll). This is complicated by the fact that you have to do this part in complete darkness. Pre-empting potential problems with this process I spent a good hour yesterday using a sacrificed roll of film to make sure that I could get the film on the spiral, firstly with my eyes open in the light, then with my eyes closed and finally with the lights off. It wasn’t quite as hard as I anticipated but it could be a different story when it comes to doing this with a roll of film with precious shots on it!

I plan to develop my first roll of film properly this weekend; I’m sure that will be an experience I’ll never forget…