Hi all- Was interested in your ideal storage container for developer and fixer. I don't use my darkroom constantly, so storage for long periods of time (up to a year, usually) is important. My biggest issue is trying to keep a botle "fully stoppered". Certainly, the collapseable containers seem ideal, but some say they leak and the seal at the opening is not tight. So? What's an occasional photobug to do?? Thanks. Deb

-- Debra Rozin (PhilnDebra@aol.com), December 19, 1999

Answers

Use chemicals that can either be made up as small batches such as Kodaks HC110, Naaco products, Ilford developer, and liquid fixers. That way you make only what you need. James

-- Mr.Lumberjack (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), December 19, 1999.

Deb,

Use smaller packages and mix as needed. Use liquid developers and kfixers, again mix as needed.

Get a BUNCH of small GLASS containers. 4 and 8 ounce ambers. You fill each one to the very top, cap and refrigerate. This will extend the life by both chilling and by excluding oxygen.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), December 20, 1999.

See what I say at http://www.aseonline.net/~brownt/darkroom.htm

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), December 22, 1999.

Ilford sells 600mL packages of ID-11 developer. That's perfect for four rolls of b&w film in most manual tanks.

T-Max concentrate lasts for 3-4 years without noticeable degradation. Rodinal seems to last for a couple of years.

XTOL supposedly keeps in stock solution form for many months when it's in a stoppered, full bottle. Buy collapsible bottles. 1L of XTOL should be able to be used up in a few months at most, even if you shoot little film.

Stop bath lasts forever.

Fixer's good for a year when mixed. Pitch it every New Year's. :)

As for print chemicals, Dektol will keep for six months in stock solution; Ilford Universal and Multigrade developer will keep a couple of years in concentrate form. Pitch the diluted developer after every session; it only keeps a few hours.

Jim

-- Jim MacKenzie (photojim@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.