Mixing Chemistry in Metal Containers

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo - Film & Processing : One Thread

I recently mixed some D-76, Fixer, and Hypo-clear using a metal pot. After completing all three, I was told that these chemicals could react with the metal. Can I still use them, or do I need to start over using a plastic container?

-- Andrew Melton (agmelton@lycos.com), November 30, 2000

Answers

Andrew, If your pot was stainless steel or enamel coated, no worries, (just use plastic next time). I think aluminum would probably be all right too with just the basic B&W chemistry. If you used a cast iron pot, do some tests and see if the results are all right. (Tests wouldn't be a bad idea in any case: "When in doubt, test!"). A tip: for mixing large quantities of chemistry, get a large plastic bucket with liter/quart/gallon markings on it. Calibrate the volume scale if you need to. Even if you are off a few ml every 4 or 8 liters, you are well within working tolerances. Regards, ;^D)

-- Doremus Scudder (ScudderLandreth@compuserve.com), November 30, 2000.

If you use these pots to cook with then I would seriously consider finding something to use for mixing chemicals only.

-- PJ Taylor (pjt_123@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.

Any bare metal pot, other than stainless steel (and even some of them) can react with photo chemistry. Use plastic or glass.

As to whether the current batch is OK, the hypo clear is probably fine. The developer is testable. Just shoot a test roll of film and see how it comes out.

As for the fixer, why chance it? With my luck, the best picture I ever took, or the picture that would make me a millionaire would be the one that got messed up because of bad fixer. To me, it just isn't worth the potential problems.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), November 30, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ