Stop Bath---basics.

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Did I read somewhere that the Stop Bath can be replaced by additional film washing after bw. developement.Just querying before I go out and buy developer and fixer.

Thanks,

Brian.

 

[erikhaugsby]

A stop bath is used primarily to halt development of the film, but also to reduce the quantity of developer on the film (the developer reacts with the fixer and reduces the fixing capacity).

A water stop bath, as opposed to an acid stop bath, will work fine for rinsing of the developer and the fixer does stop development. The acid bath just works quicker.

 

[Xmas]

You need a stop bath only for prints e.g. to reduce the risk of stains, tempered water is ok for film.

You can buy the powder/generic chemical rather then an expensive photo bottle, as they are orgainic acids.

Noel

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

You need a stop bath only for prints e.g. to reduce the risk of stains, tempered water is ok for film.

You can buy the powder/generic chemical rather then an expensive photo bottle, as they are orgainic acids.

Noel

Hi Noel,
Is it citric acid --as per my home winemaking days?

 

[erikhaugsby]

Hi Noel,
Is it citric acid --as per my home winemaking days?

Acetic acid, the same stuff as found in vinegar. Kodak sells it as a 28% concentrate, to be diluted roughly 1+19 with water for a working solution.

 

[oscroft]

Acetic acid, the same stuff as found in vinegar

Some acid fixers use citric acid, so I guess you can use either as a stop bath (but as others have said, a couple of water washes is all I use)

 

[rich815]

I too use only water. Stop bath can sometimes cause pinholes in some emulsions and is not worth the risk, nor necessary. Yes, it stops the development quicker but only marginally so, and plus consistentcy is what's important not how fast you (within a few seconds) can stop development.

I use the money I save on stop bath and use an alkaline fixer however.

 

[RayPA]

I prefer to use a stop bath for film whenever possible. However, I started using a fixer that requires a water bath, so I'm currently using water. No big deal it just has to work.

🙂

 

[jobo]

Is it citric acid --as per my home winemaking days?

Yep, at least my stop (Amaloco S 10). The concentration needed is quite weak, I use roughly 1/200.
2c, /Jobo

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Thanks everyone!🙂
I also see a lot of discussion on this and other Stop Bath/Fixer topics on alexz's thread from 6 days ago.
RFF.never fails to hit the bullseye!

Brian.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have never used a stop bath while developing film just water...prints are a different story...After the stop bath I rinse the print in water (a few seconds) and then into the fixer...

 

[RML]

When I first started out dev'ing my own b&w film, I was told to get some stop bath (S10 in my case). I used that but subsequently found out that vinegar can be used, and that a water bath works equally well. I now go for the cheap solution... the water bath, for 1.5 minutes before emptying the tank and filling it with fixer.

 

[drewbarb]

I have been using distilled white vinegar diluted to about 1:20 or slightly higher for film and prints (RC and Fiber) for years with no ill effects.

Using an acid stop bath in film processing is only really neccesary when using very short processing times where the action of the developer needs to be controlled precisely. That said, I almost always use a stop bath- partly out of habit, and partly to extend the life of my fix (it does this in both film and paper processes).

That said, I wouldn't buy a photo product stop bath when vinegar provides acetic acid in similar concentration, has many more uses, and is so dang cheap. It even smells the same.