I rotate from fingertip to heel of hand for 1 minute then heel of hand to fingertip for 1 minute switching hands as I go.
If developing time ends in 30 seconds that half minute does not affect results. My casual rotation speed is 50 to 60 rpm.

Quote:

I think I am going to "expose" 2 sheets and leave the lens closed, pull the dark slide and shine a flashlight all around the outside of the camera near the film holder then develop it and see what happens.

In total darkness remove the lens board, extend the bellows to maximum, put a 40 watt clear appliance bulb in a single socket lamp with a small diameter column or a clamp on work light https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-8-1-2-in-150-Watt-Aluminum-Incandescent-Light-Fixture-with-Clamp-277894/202847393 (remove the reflector), and insert through the throat of the bellows. No bellows leaks detected install a film holder in the back, check the holder to back light seal, pull the darkslide and check the darkslide light seal, the most common cause of a light leak. Anything other than black is a leak. LED lights are directional and not as effective unless shined directly at the seam to be checked. Light from the outside of the camera is not as effective at showing a light leak.

I haven't done the test with the light yet...

I've been researching the roller base for the jobo and found videos like this
using a product from beseler to rotate - looks like it only goes one direction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFH5wzTH1ZI

In searching those products, there are some but they are old and beat and are typically @$200

Since we have young kids we watch lots of PBS and Molly of Denali had an episode https://pbsinternational.org/programs/molly-of-denali-ep-107/
where the kids needed $$$ and found agates and put them in a rock tumbler, I'm thinking they are quite similar and quite a bit less $$$ and If I don't hack it up, my kids could also use it to tumble all their treasures that they find on the beach.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Advanced-Grade-A-Professional-Rock-Gems-Tumbler-Kit-with-Polishing-Timer/353094678402?hash=item5236153782:g:G8QAAOSw6fle1l5R

to solve the problem of spin direction, I could swap the side of the rollers which it is spinning on, it wouldn't happen every spin but I could probably do it every 30 seconds and be fairly consistent.

It's $100 for the non-motorized jobo roller, $130 for a decent rock tumbler

thoughts?

The Bessel motor base came in two versions a single direction for B&W prints and a Bi Directional version for color prints that switches direction every rotation. Like all film equipment the profiteers are milking ever penny out of every thing they sell.

A single direction motor base can be used provided the rollers can be put close enough to fit the tank as the lid edge is larger diameter than the tank and will cause the tank to run uneven if the roller runs on the tank lid edge.

4 of these https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-Soft-Rubber-Rigid-Caster-with-90-lbs-Load-Rating-49481/203661068 and a piece of 1x8 or 2x8 so that when the casters are mounted so that the tank sits in on the wheels so that they are 1/3 the way up the side of the tank. The JOBO rollers are nylon, 3/4 inch wide,3/4 inch diameter and 4 inch on center apart each direction for a 2521 or current 2500 tank. Some hardware stores may have smaller diameter casters.

I finally got a few shots which are well exposed and developed properly and it took a bit to get there....

lessons learned from B's developing reel:

a. needs the center insert from patterson tank installed
b. needs excessive washing to get halation layer off, 10+ min and some aggressive shaking
c. needs excess of fixing (relates to B)
d it scratches the negatives
e b,c, and d are related to the back side of the negative being in contact with the reel

here's a shot from a building in Essex MA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wazJiaY8B9fD1dX6A

side note - if you ever want the best Fried Clams, Woodman's is 1/2mile down the road from this building
https://www.woodmans.com/