A forgotten joy

OurManInTangier

OurManInTangier

An Undesirable
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Oct 31, 2006
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I've just processed my first roll of film in about eight years!!

Since I got rid of my darkroom and went digi I haven't processed my own film at all - even when I got back into film a few months back I'd send it off to be processed by someone else.

After too many delays, general long waits and often disappointing results - incl cooking two films completely - I bought some gear and chemicals. I left the bathroom two hours ago with the grin of the village idiot on my face.

I had two cats trying to help and a friend I haven't heard from in months ring up while I'd got my hands stuffed inside a changing bag but eventually I hung the film up to dry and could take my first real peek.

Just need to get my home scanner up and running as I can't scan at work much these days!

Ilford FP4 in Ilfosol S ( cheap stuff.)
 
It IS fun, but it is also the only solution to the feared eventual demise of film and processing labs. Now fill the freezer with rolls of film, and buy lots of developer with a long shelf life!
 
OurManInTangier said:
Thanks Steve - I'd also forgotten how long it takes to get rid of the smell of the dev from your hands!!
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You can get disposable nitrile gloves off ebay. Cures this. You can pick up a box of 50 pairs for a fiver or so. I need them now because I have developed a skin complaint with some developers.
 
mrtoml said:
You can get disposable nitrile gloves off ebay. Cures this. You can pick up a box of 50 pairs for a fiver or so. I need them now because I have developed a skin complaint with some developers.
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You can also get the same box from Home Depot or Lowes or something for about the same price. Saves the ebay hassle.
 
Marigolds generally or just for processing? ;-)

I tried gloves when I used my old darkroom but I just found them annoying. I think the answer for me is to simply try and be less messy!!

Had a look at my negs with through my loupe - seem to have some good stuff but MUST get some wetting agent to avoid all the drying marks.

Its really bugging me that I can't upload any of them. Maybe I can find some time at work
 
I sit using my changing bag in front of my laptop (my phone is next to the laptop, always).

More often than not I get an instant message, an email, or a phone call, as soon as the film is out of its shell! Earlier I almost fobbed a sheet of 4x5 going to click on the mouse, forgetting my hands were holding a double dark slide :bang: !
 
iml said:
I wear Marigolds. Yellow, not pink.

Ian
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Apparently this is not good practice as they do not prevent certain chemicals from passing through. I use pyro based developers which are quite toxic and absorbed through the skin. Nitrile gloves are safer.
 
I use standard Ilford chemicals (fix, DDX, stop, hypo) & diafine - what can the chemicals do to me? I don't use gloves and get splashes on my hands and arms (pretty sure I get a few drops in my tea when I'm pouring out diafine).

Is it akin to a rash , or a long term problem that's going to manifest it self in a few years when my limbs fall off?
 
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kully said:
I use standard Ilford chemicals (fix, DDX, stop, hypo) & diafine - what can the chemicals do to me? I don't use gloves and get splashes on my hands and arms (pretty sure I get a few drops in my tea when I'm pouring out diafine).

Is akin to a rash , or a long term problem that's going to manifest it self in a few years when my limbs fall off?
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I used not to bother with gloves and for years had no problems with Ilford chemicals (even with tray developing of sheet film). Then I suddenly developed a reaction to developers. I think metol is well known as the main culprit. It can have no effect for years and then all of a sudden you get extremely unpleasant rashes, flaking skin and itching which lasts for days and prevents you from doing any more developing as it's too painful. I switched to non-metol based developers and the problem receded.

Pyro developers are supposed to be much more toxic than the ones you are using (I'm not sure about diafine) so now I wear gloves. Nitrile gloves are ridiculously cheap and it's not worth the risk (about 10p per pair tops). It also prevents your hands stinking of fixer.
 
kully said:
(pretty sure I get a few drops in my tea when I'm pouring out diafine).
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Got to be better than using Aspartame as a sweetner?!

I'm using pretty bog standard Ilford stuff at the moment - I bought a 250ml bottle of Ilfosol S just to get started but know nothing about it, anyone had any experience with it that can give me a few tips.

My local shops don't stock much either so if anyone knows some decent UK based internet stockists I'd appreciate any info there too.

Cheers
 
OurManInTangier said:
Got to be better than using Aspartame as a sweetner?!

I'm using pretty bog standard Ilford stuff at the moment - I bought a 250ml bottle of Ilfosol S just to get started but know nothing about it, anyone had any experience with it that can give me a few tips.

My local shops don't stock much either so if anyone knows some decent UK based internet stockists I'd appreciate any info there too.

Cheers
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I get my supplies from www.monochromephotography.com
and www.retrophotographic.com

Diafine can be got from MrCad.

Jessops online also sometimes.
 
mrtoml said:
Apparently this is not good practice as they do not prevent certain chemicals from passing through. I use pyro based developers which are quite toxic and absorbed through the skin. Nitrile gloves are safer.
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One of these days I will have to PM you for advice. It is one of my goals to use it with 4x5 or 8x10 and contact print. Do you contact print and if so, what do you use?

For everyone else, I obviously am not doing pyro now, but have a good book on it. There is mention of the chemicals absorbing so fast if you put your bare hands in it that you almost immediately find a distinct taste in your mouth from the pyro. Also, long term effects were mentioned with continued use without some form of protection. Not what I would look forward to.

Simon, welcome back to the ranks of home developing. I haven't done any lately myself, but always enjoy it. And I wouldn't admit this anywhere but here in our 12 step program meetings, but I like the smell of developer. (gasp, I'm sorry! But I just had to let that out.)
 
Retrophotographic looks like a good find.

I may have to get back into the swing of home processing ( particularly the getting comfortable whilst kneeling beside the bath bit ) before I delve too deeply into the finer chemistry, though I'll put the site in my favourites anyway.

I try to steer clear of Jessops - too many bad experiences down the years!!


oftheherd - we all have our kinky sides🙂
 
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Thanks Mr Tomi - for the safety advice and the monochrome photography link - hadn't been there before.

Simon, Jessops shops sell DDX cheaper than anywhere else in the UK (£10.99) and they'll order it in for you (takes about 1.5 weeks). They have a lot of stock in their warehouse some of it is cheap.

Other online places are:

www.silverprint.co.uk
www.thedarkroom.co.uk (Fancy 1000Ft of OOD HP5+ for £60)
www.7dayshop.com (for film/paper)
 
Kully - I'll change my ways and go to Jessops, I can handle a weel or so's wait for cheap but good chemicals. I've had a quick look on the darkroom.co.uk and had thought they have some good prices and delivery times.

May have to check out the film too - FP4 or Delta 400 is about all my local store handles!
 
oftheherd said:
One of these days I will have to PM you for advice. It is one of my goals to use it with 4x5 or 8x10 and contact print. Do you contact print and if so, what do you use?
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I never tried pyro with sheet film. Pyro is something I discovered relatively recently and have been using it mainly for medium format and 35mm (I use Prescysol EF).

I don't contact print either, but I've always fancied having a go. I scan the (4x5) negatives and print large on a wide format Epson printer (7800).
 
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