Amidol for AZO: PF vs ArtCraft

[gbenaim]

I've decided to give AZO a try, after seeing some of the prints I received from APUG members (thanks to all), and have been looking into sources for amidol. Can those of you who use it tell me why you prefer to buy from Photographer's Formulary or Artcraft? Can the PF amidol for azo package be used gradually, or must it be mixed all at once and used within 8 hours (a big drawback if it's so)? How much do you save by using AC and mixing it yourself? Finally, are there any restrictions on mailing these chems overseas? One more thing, if you wanted to try a pyro developer that'd be good both for enlarging and contact printing, for tray development, which would you choose? Or would you not use pyro for enlarging? Thanks a lot,

GB

P.S. I'd post this on the AZO forum, but it seems especially inactive lately. Anyone know why?

 

[clay]

Maybe because Kodak has discontinued Azo? I think everyone now is just hoping the replacement will really happen.

GB

P.S. I'd post this on the AZO forum, but it seems especially inactive lately. Anyone know why?

 

[Scott Peters]

I would recommend using AC as the Amidol is very easy to mix. The amidol lasts a long time (years) and you can go a whole day of printing (just mix the amount you need for printing that day). Typically, mixing is cheaper, but I have not done a direct comparison with PF. With AZO, pyro works well. I use pyro HD and I would recommend staying consistent with film, paper and chemicals until you get the results you like. In regards to AZO....I am waiting for the replacement paper as AZO is no longer made. I am basically out of AZO 3 and have some AZO 2 left. I prefer the AZO 3 for most of my prints. Some recommend jandc nuance in amidol as a replacement paper (some like the kentmer bromide). I have yet to try either, but may try some nuance soon as a replacement for my lack of grade 3 azo.

 

[Alex Hawley]

I've decided to give AZO a try, after seeing some of the prints I received from APUG members (thanks to all), and have been looking into sources for amidol.

Just to clarify a couple things:

The unmixed amidol powder lasts for years. When mixed with the other ingredients for a developing solution, it will last a little over 24 hours. It loses its developing action through chemical oxidation, not by depletion from teh quantity of prints developed.

Congratulations on deciding to try Azo. I hope you are aware that Kodak discontinued its production several months ago and some mysterious, unamed "investors" bought the entire remaining master roll directly from Kodak. Hence, its very scarce on any market these days.

 

[c6h6o3]

I hope you are aware that Kodak discontinued its production several months ago and some mysterious, unamed "investors" bought the entire remaining master roll directly from Kodak.

How do you know that they were investors and not consumers? It they were investors one could reasonably expect the paper to reappear in the marketplace.

 

[fschifano]

How do you know that they were investors and not consumers? It they were investors one could reasonably expect the paper to reappear in the marketplace.

Not quite yet. There's still some around. Wait until it becomes really hard to get, then jack up the prices. Addicts will pay any price for their particular drug.

 

[ineffablething]

I've been really leery of the PF chemicals for a number of years. I bought some of their alt process kits and the chemicals were OLD and had lost effectiveness. Plus, it seems like 1 out of every 5 kits or chemical I get from them have leaks in the interior bags, or at least some loose chemistry in the box. I was riding the rails through Montana a number of years ago and thought it would be a kick to stop into PF. When I saw what appeared to be high school kids scooping ammonium dichromate into bags without wearing masks, I was a bit put off. Maybe things have changed...

IT

 

[Formulary/Bud Wilson]

Dear ineffablething;
Excuse me! You did not see high school kids scooping ammonium dichromate into bags and you know it. You also know that if you have a problem with any Formulary product, we stand behind our offerings and will replace any leaky bag or kit and we do not sell old chemicals. If you are leery from buying from Formulary please buy elsewhere but you do not need to put blatant misinformation out like you have done here. Come out from behind your ineffablething disguise. If you have a problem step up to the plate and lets deal with it. Formulary is 28 years old. A company doesn't get to that age without taking care of business.
Thanks
Bud Wilson
Photographers Formulary

 

[Photo Engineer]

Having been to the Formulary, I can say that a casual visitor cannot get into the chemical mix / prep area due to safety precautions. Also, none of the employees that I ever saw there was of high school age.

Having been invited in to view the operation, I was quite impressed by the concern for quality shown by Bud and every one of his employees. I got a kit once that seemed to be missing one packet of chemicals. I reported it to them, and they were very diligent and concerned in their follow up. As it turns out, one packet had dropped out of the box when I was checking it and had fallen under something on the floor in my home.

The only high school people I ever saw there were assistants working in the kitchen.

If you mean that you were riding the rails literally, the nearest train station is about 80 miles from the Formulary, in Whitefish. That is a long trek for a casual visit.

This is not a paid political advertisement! It is just a common courtesy comment on what I have observed.

PE