Accordian bottles?

Bob F. · Jun 17, 2009

I am reliably informed (and experience agrees) that of developer, stop and fixer, the only one that needs protection from oxygen is the developer so save your best for that; the rest can go in any old bottle you have lying around. However, the accordion bottles are made of a somewhat oxygen-porous plastic compared to the fizzy-pop bottles so my advice would be to use pop bottles for developer and restrict the accordion bottles for use with stop (which after all is only a weak acid) and fixer.

I keep developer in the pop bottles in a cupboard so it is out of direct lighting but I am not sure how important that is - probably not very I suspect as developer is usually supplied in clear or white translucent bottles by the manufacturer...

Allan Swindles · Jun 17, 2009

I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned yet! Glass (or plastic) bottles and use glass marbles to take up air space.

Sirius Glass · Jun 17, 2009

Allan Swindles said:
I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned yet! Glass (or plastic) bottles and use glass marbles to take up air space.

Marbles in glass or plastic one gallon bottles get real heavy and hard to handle.

Steve

bill spears · Jun 17, 2009

Just picked up this thread and after reading all the posts I feel like I should trash all my 'Used for 10years with no problems accordian bottles' !!

arigram · Jun 17, 2009

I also use them as they came with my first dakroom gear but have bought new ones as well.
I am not sure how long does a chemical inside of them suppose to keep, but I have used different ones after months with no apparent exhaustion. Well, at least one that I can blame specifically on the bottle and not just the months passed in a non regulated environment. Can you keep chemicals in glass bottles for years with no deterioration? I imagine not.
I would have liked some hard info on the matter. Considering I have to order my most "exotic" chems (such as toners) I would have like to be able to keep them longer when I mix them. I mean, how much can I use a red or blue toner for?
Only developer I have found for it to last no more than a few days, all the others, even fixer checked with hypo checker, still work fine for much longer.
But yes, they are hard to completely clean, the fixer leaves residue and they are not perfectly airtight.

wogster · Jun 17, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Marbles in glass or plastic one gallon bottles get real heavy and hard to handle.

Steve

The solution there obviously is to get 4 1qt or 1L bottles, when you mix a gallon of developer pour it into the 1qt or 1L bottles,
pour right to the cap, with no room to spare, until the last one, which may not fill completely. Top up with the marbles. Much lighter weight, easier to handle, and you don't need as many marbles, because it's only the bottle that is in use that needs them.

dancqu · Jun 17, 2009

PeteZ8 said:
Thanks for all the replies. I'll skip on them for now,
seems they can cause more problems than they solve.
Seemed like a great idea at the time Pete

Wise decision. Bought one of those accordions and knew
right away it would not do. Number 1 problem, Opaque.
How is one to know what lurks inside. What ever you
settle on be sure it is crystal CLEAR.

My choice, an ages old lab standard, amber and colorless
CLEAR glass Boston Rounds. Inexpensive, narrow or wide
mouth, a selection of sizes, and a variety of caps. Dan

Wade D · Jun 18, 2009

Brown glass bottles can be obtained for free or cheaply from a local pharmacy in various sizes. They are required to dispose of them when the medicinal contents have been used up. A thorough wash and you're good to go. I have 20 or so (overkill, I know) in sizes from 1 quart to 1 gallon that have served me well for the last 30 years. The smaller ones get filled to the top then capped and if the last one needs the marble treatment that's what I do. Just don't drop one on a hard floor, it makes a really big mess.

fotch · Jun 18, 2009

Wade D said:
Brown glass bottles can be obtained for free or cheaply from a local pharmacy in various sizes. They are required to dispose of them when the medicinal contents have been used up. A thorough wash and you're good to go. I have 20 or so (overkill, I know) in sizes from 1 quart to 1 gallon that have served me well for the last 30 years. The smaller ones get filled to the top then capped and if the last one needs the marble treatment that's what I do. Just don't drop one on a hard floor, it makes a really big mess.

I did this 50 years ago and wish I would of kept all of those bottles. I threw them out in favor of the new plastic ones. Since I am going back to glass I asked my local pharmacy and he said everything he gets now is in plastic. Is out west that much different?:confused:

Wade D · Jun 19, 2009

fotch said:
I did this 50 years ago and wish I would of kept all of those bottles. I threw them out in favor of the new plastic ones. Since I am going back to glass I asked my local pharmacy and he said everything he gets now is in plastic. Is out west that much different?:confused:

You're probably right about everything being plastic these days. Like I said my bottles are 30+ years old and I didn't think to check what the pharmacies are using now. I wonder if apple cider (the really good stuff) is still put in brown glass jugs?

Adrian Twiss · Jun 19, 2009

I found them a complete waste of time. I used Air Evac bottles in the late 70s early 80s and found that they let air in and "Re-Extended" themselves within 24 hours of sealing. They were also difficult to clean.

Better to use glass bottles and Protectan spray.

dancqu · Jun 19, 2009

Wade D said:
You're probably right about everything being plastic these days.

NOT so. Search Google for Boston Rounds. Clear or amber,
wide and narrow mouth, and a selection of caps. They are
not expensive. The Polyseal or Polycone caps must
provide a best seal.

Although they are specified in ounce sizes, all but the 1oz hold
some multiple of 1/16 liter; so 62.5ml, 125ml, etc. Dan

Akki14 · Jun 19, 2009

Going back to the wine-in-a-box solution, I've noticed on homebrew websites in the UK, you can purchase DIY box of wine kits now. I think even Sprint chemicals can come in these containers now? Not sure since they're a US company but I thought I remembered hearing of it.

wogster · Jun 19, 2009

Wade D said:
You're probably right about everything being plastic these days. Like I said my bottles are 30+ years old and I didn't think to check what the pharmacies are using now. I wonder if apple cider (the really good stuff) is still put in brown glass jugs?

Some of the European spring waters like Perrier are put in dark green glass bottles, so you could pick up a couple of those, drink the water then use the empty bottles.

Silverhead · Jun 19, 2009

wogster said:
Some of the European spring waters like Perrier are put in dark green glass bottles, so you could pick up a couple of those, drink the water then use the empty bottles.

Or you could use brown beer bottles as well--the big European ones with stoppers attached. That way you can store your chemistry and have a good old time before you get in the darkroom too

bobwysiwyg · Jun 19, 2009

I've tried the accordion bottles. Though I didn't have any problems with sealing, I found them very awkward to use.

fotch · Jun 19, 2009

dancqu said:
NOT so. Search Google for Boston Rounds. Clear or amber,
wide and narrow mouth, and a selection of caps. They are
not expensive. The Polyseal or Polycone caps must
provide a best seal.

Although they are specified in ounce sizes, all but the 1oz hold
some multiple of 1/16 liter; so 62.5ml, 125ml, etc. Dan

I think this refers to free pharmacy bottles. I ended up buying several hundred (don't ask why) smaller wide mouth Boston rounds and did get some larger ones free from a friend who is in charge of a local University chemistry dept. Problem with these is how to clean them out.

I have run ads here for the smaller bottles here and have sold a bunch. Most of the cost was postage. Still have a few hundred if anyone want any. I plan to mix developer and fill to the brim (no gas or marbles needed) and use one shot.

Sirius Glass · Jun 19, 2009

I have had accordian bottles leak and I have had to take them back to FreeStyle. Some of the bottles have worked well.

Steve

PeteZ8 · Jun 19, 2009

Silverhead said:
Or you could use brown beer bottles as well--the big European ones with stoppers attached. That way you can store your chemistry and have a good old time before you get in the darkroom too

That's usually the first chemical to get opened in the darkroom

RJS · Jun 19, 2009

Has anyone else had the delightful experience of spilling all those wonderful marbles on the floor and then trying to explain to the orthopedic people why in the world you did that?

PeteZ8 · Jun 20, 2009

RJS said:
Has anyone else had the delightful experience of spilling all those wonderful marbles on the floor and then trying to explain to the orthopedic people why in the world you did that?

I've had enough people tell me I've lost my marbles over the years that the doctors would just be happy I found them!!!

Monophoto · Jun 20, 2009

Pete -

In general, I don't bother with accordion bottles.

The theory behind accordion bottles is that some chemicals (especially developers) will oxydize when left in contact with air, and an accordion bottle allows you to squeeze much of the air and minimize that problem.

For the last few years I've been using liquid concentrate in one quart bottles - they don't come in accordion bottles and seem to last reasonably well as long as I keep up a reasonable rhythm of darkroom work. By the way, the plastic that is used to make the bottles that concentrates come in is much heavier than the plastic used to make accordion bottles. That tells you something.

I think there would be more of a problem with working solutions, but my approach is to use those as one-shot solutions.

By the way, if you think that you have a problem with oxidation, there are three other tricks that you can consider. One is to squirt the gas that is used to prevent oxidation of wine into the bottle before closing it. Another trick is to simply drop glass marbles into the bottle to displace volume. And if you are concerned about oxidation, you need to store the solution in a glass bottle rather than plastic.

Accordian bottles?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency