IMPROVEMENT TWEAKS TO MY LAB-BOX DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Attach the spool clip squarely onto the negative and leave it sitting like this until after you have added the developing liquid.

Developing film in my Lab-Box has generally gone well, although there have been a few problems along the way.  Bit by bit I've found ways to overcome them and nowadays each roll develops pretty much perfectly.

One problem I had was in the film occasionally catching itself together at the sides as it wound onto the spool, thus not allowing the developing liquid to flow evenly through the slots of the spool and encasing the negatives. I was getting a few ruined negatives, with black or white blotches, over the frames, where the negatives had caught together.

My solution has been to attach the end of the negative to the spool clip, and not wind it onto the spool until the developer is in the tank. I clip the end of the negative to the spool clip and leave it high as shown in my photo above.  The film itself is still safely encased in the film housing so the light won't get to it. At that point I pour in the developing liquid and then I put the lid on the Lab-Box.

Now I carefully wind the film onto the spool and the developing liquid acts as a lubricant to stop the film from sticking together at any point. The key is to make sure the film is clipped squarely onto the spool winder - it must be absolutely square on. I'm finding this method to be successful and have not had any problems since following it.

After pouring in the developing liquid, put the lid on the Lab-Box and slowly roll the film around the spool. Then continue the developing process in the usual way.