chemical question

jamesj

jamesj

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im really tired of having my film deveolped for me and the negs coming out like crap, so im really considering doing them at home in my apartment. Im looking for sugesstions on chemicals and supplies. Usually i shoot trix, tmax, and hp5 i dont know if one set of chemicals will work for them or do i need seperate chemicals all together. I live in a apartment but im not to worried about it.

so what kind of chemicals do you think i will need? its been along time since i have developed myslef so i have to do some research on what i need i know canisters and reels, and of course the chemicals. am i going to need a dryer or will air drying be alright? if it comes down to it i could use my wifes hair dryer.... 🙂

so help is appreciated...
 
In this case you might look at the Illford or Kodak website where they both have developement tutorials. Check and see if the local community art center has a darkroom or a darkroom class. You could also just get a new or secondhand book or just ask at your local shop.


If you had one question I could try and answer it but this general question is better covered by a book. I made the mistake of getting a copy of the Darkroom Cookbook and now I have all kinds of chemicals from powder to liquid and basicly have gone overtime with the subject. Its much easier to just pick the film you like and then buy the same companies developement products but then I never do things the easy way.
 
You might consider Diafine for your developer - it's what got me into developing my own and it's tremendously forgiving in terms of time and temp.

I did not go the book route myself; I completely relied on the knowledge shared here on RFF. If you're interested, do a search for Diafine and you'll find a couple of very detailed, step-by-step threads.

Good luck!
Duane
 
I like HC110 as a relatively safe, inexpensive, all purpose developer. It's not as kind to TMax, but I don't shoot much of that.

Rodinal is similarly easy to use, and very flexible.
 
I started with Tmax dev but since have switched to Rodinol 1+50 which has given me great results with the Tmax, Tri-X, Pan F and HP5 I've tried it with. I haven't tried it at 1+100 but others here swear by it, so a 250ml bottle would do at least 75 films....cheap. I use Ilford stop & rapid fix....
 
DEVELOPER:
Since you ar eshooting 400speed films I'd reccomend you go for Xtol or DDX
If you decide to go for powdered developer prepare the full 1gallon stock and then store in smaller bottles (250 ml or so) filled to the brim for longevity.

BUT if you only develop 1 or 2 rolls per month get HC110, it lasts forever.

FIXER:
Any rapid fixer will do

Wash Aid:
Photoflo or better yet LFN

HARDWARE:
- develping tank, one or 2 reels
- plastic bottles for chemicals
- measuring cup(s) from walmart, clearly marked for photogra[hy only
- thermometer
- A syringe if you decide to use HC110 or Rodinal to measure directly from syrup
- Kitchen timer or a spare clock radio

Freestyle sells a set of darkroom startup or similar that has almost everything you need.
 
Another HC-110 vote here -- I'm particularly happy with the results for Neopan and HP5+ . The "H" dilution (1:63) is nice when you are just getting back into it because the longer development times are a bit less hectic.

Enjoy,

JT
 
I use HC-110, Arista oderless stop bath, Arista oderless fix, Arista hypo clear. I have three plastic measuring cups (1000ml) from Walgreens and one 500ml measuring cup from freestylephoto.com (where I also get the chemicals, all of them), a plastic oral syringe (Walgreens), and a 50ml graduated cylinder from college, a cooking timer from Walgreens. That's it, it all fits into a 12 bottle wine carton, along with four clothes pins. I have a JOBO tank from Freestyle that holds two rolls, which is just short of 500ml. So, except for the 50 ml cylinder everything from Walgreens or Freestyle.
 
i have been looking at chemicals at freestyle and am still undecided...
im kinda worried about my cat as well as the new baby in april so i might jsut have to stick with paying the money for the film development. Im sure ill probally be to busy to do the developng with the baby around.
 
You will find that there are as many suggestions as there are posts. Everybody usually has their own preference and belief as to what is best.
Here is the easiest and quickest way out. AND it works.
For the b/w films you list as using, good old D76 developer works just fine. You may have to do a couple test sheets to get times right.
Being in an apartment, and having little ones around, skip the stop bath.

Develop time as needed. Usually around 6-8 minutes, with 30-second inversions.
Clear water rinse about two or three minutes. Agitate...
Fix for five minutes.
Rinse for five minutes plus.
Photo-flo if you choose to.
Let dry.

The stop bath is so you don't end up with active developer in your fix.
The hypo-clear, or whatever, at the end, is to make sure you have all the chemicals off .
Water works in both instances.
Anyone that disputes this method has never tried it.
Same goes with your paper developing.
Dektol, water rinse, fix, water rinse.
If you are shooting for museum/gallery 1000 year archival prints, look at pyro dev. If you are developing and printing for own personal satisfaction, use above method. Odors and limited chemicals in an apartment around young'uns works very well with above methods. And you can get all the miscellaneous supplies you need at the dollar store. I used a cat-litter box as archival wash tray for a long time. Rubbermaid shallow pans for dev and fix. You can always find an enlarger for 25 dollars or less, if you wait and keep looking. I purchased a Durst with color-head at a flea-market for 10 bucks. Developing your own is a blast, but does not have to be a high-dollar investment. Spend the extra bucks on film.
 
Put the chemicals is a closed shelf, and lock it. A simple bolt and nut lock is enough for both cat and baby
If you do film development only have no fear.... just do not drink any of the stuff
You may postpone prinitng for later 😉

jamesj said:
i have been looking at chemicals at freestyle and am still undecided...
im kinda worried about my cat as well as the new baby in april so i might jsut have to stick with paying the money for the film development. Im sure ill probally be to busy to do the developng with the baby around.
Click to expand...
 
uh...post re-read.

what did I miss? he asked if he needed separate chemicals, and one of the things the site mentions is no, that the same can be used. And I go over the different chemicals that are needed. I don't get it.

And you're welcome for my posting. (edit of extremely snarky comments)

allan
 
Last edited:
Having 2 cats myself, it is difficult to have all those chemicals around. Babies make it even harder, I am sure. Having said that, I keep everything locked away under the sink in one bathroom - even the tanks and reels. I then clean off every surface in the bathroom (including the floor) with a bleach-based cleaner after a developing session (not surprisingly, I wait until I have like 10 rolls for a marathon session).

It works. And my cats seem fine.

allan
 
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