Are you "afraid" of the chemicals.?

[Canuck]

I respect chemicals and haven't had any problems except with Kodak's CD2. Went from tongs (still use them for selenium toning) to print clips via a Nova vertical developer. Ingestion or breathing in BW chemicals, IMO, are way worse than the occassional skin contact.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Most photochemicals should not be ingested [some use coffee to develop film]. Gloves are needed for some developers [pyro] and fixers [TF4 and TF5]. Tongs are optional HOWEVER if one wants to bleach and tint photographs gloves and tongs are strongly advised so that stains can be avoided.

TF4 is quite safe with a bit of acid to neutralize your hands after "dipping" and TF5 is totally safe with just a wash after use.

PE

 

[CMoore]

TF4 is quite safe with a bit of acid to neutralize your hands after "dipping" and TF5 is totally safe with just a wash after use.

PE

Wow.....i do not think i ever noticed. You live in Rochester.
Did you work for Kodak at some point.?
Thank You

 

[mshchem]

My newest attempt at keeping my hands out of the trays . I put an oversized chemical resistant glove on my left hand, with my right (I'm right handed ) I handle the exposed dry print. I start the timer, toss the print into the developer and use the gloved hand to slosh the print around and rock the tray. I use my right hand, ungloved, with tongs, to transfer the print into subsequent trays. Always using the gloved hand to slosh the print around in the solutions. My hands just get desiccated from the basic black and white chemicals. I'm not allergic, just get dry chapped hands.

 

[darkroommike]

My first job after college was a lab tech where I developed a pretty unhealthy disrespect for chemicals. I've used my mouth to pipette strong acids, never used gloves or barrier creams. The only thing I was moderately careful with was handling hydrofluoric acid. I'm over 70 now so it didn't do me too much harm.

Plus one on hydrofluoric acid, fortunately it's use is practically nil in the darkroom.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Wow.....i do not think i ever noticed. You live in Rochester.
Did you work for Kodak at some point.?
Thank You

Yes, I did, for 32 years.

PE

 

[Peltigera]

Many years ago, I worked for Rio Tinto Zinc. We used a number of chemicals to separate minerals in flotation systems. We added a small amount of sodium cyanide and then, later in the process, copper sulphate. People were terrified of coming into contact with the slurry after the cyanide was added on the basis that it was poisonous - which it is. But they had no qualms with having prolonged and copious contact with the slurry after the copper sulphate was add even though copper sulphate will kill you as dead as cyanide will and much more unpleasantly.

(I know it's not then same - I was addressing people's fears of chemicals).

 

[NedL]

No fear, but I think it's good to develop good habits. Use a dust mask when working with powders, use eye protection when working with silver nitrate or strong acids, wear nitrile gloves when working with something you don't want on your skin ( silver nitrate, acids, tannins ). After doing something hundreds of times without incident, the danger is becoming complacent and then the one time you do spill or sneeze or slip, not being protected. Three or four times in the past couple months I've caught myself working with silver nitrate ( coating a paper, or adding it to developer ) and when I was done I realized the safety googles were on my forehead and I had forgotten to put them down over my eyes. So that habit still needs to be ingrained better.

 

[Luckless]

I try to minimize contact and fumes on the simple basis of wanting to minimize future sensitivity risks. I'm not really worried about any of the photo chemistry I'm using currently, but why allow more exposure than needed and risk developing a sensitivity to it that would reduce my ability to enjoy my hobby in the future?

I am also the kind of person to look both ways while crossing one way streets.

 

[winger]

when I was done I realized the safety googles were on my forehead

My organic chemistry professor said foreheads and necks were the most protected parts of the body in a typical lab.

After years in a forensic lab, darkroom chemicals aren't that tough to deal with. We had a bottle of picric acid in the fume hood - our safety person always wanted to get rid of it, but we needed it occasionally for one specific test. When we needed it, we needed it. We also used liquid nitrogen on a regular basis and the scheme for solubility of fibers used some pretty nasty stuff. That said, when I do Mordançage, I do it outside. I do NOT want to inhale the air above that tray. It uses cupric chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid - not the weak kinds.

 

[CMoore]

Yes, I did, for 32 years.

PE

Do you have any pictures of Kodak that you want to share.?
Did you work at that beautiful Kodak Tower.?
Thank You
I am still Flabbergasted, and if that is not a strong enough word...Gobsmacked...at what has "happened" to Film in general and Kodak in particular.

 

[Photo Engineer]

CMoore, lets take this to a PM if you want more. I worked in Research.

PE

 

[CMoore]

10-4.....sending a PM now.
Thank You

 

[David Brown]

Wow.....i do not think i ever noticed. You live in Rochester.
Did you work for Kodak at some point.?
Thank You

You're new here, aren't you?

 

[Bob Carnie]

I am not afraid of chemicals, but I have a healthy respect for them... I am very grateful to many here , PE , Gerold, Ian , Doremus, Vaughn and many, many others who over the years have helped me and
as well offered very good advice on this forum.. We are lucky to have them here to help us workers not grounded with a good background in Chemistry, I have learned so much.

I still cannot get my head around blue toner, but now with Phalo Blue pigment on Watercolour I do not care.

 

[Soeren]

CMoore, lets take this to a PM if you want more. I worked in Research.

PE

Aii nooo don't cut the rest of us out

 

[CMoore]

Aii nooo don't cut the rest of us out

He told me HE ran the entire place.....virtually taught George Eastman everything he knew.

 

[Bob Carnie]

He told me HE ran the entire place.....virtually taught George Eastman everything he knew.

He also keeps on correcting me on solarization...geeezz

 

[MattKing]

I'm just disappointed we didn't see PE in his flight suit!
I guess that was his former employer.
Bet the private conversation didn't mention the K-14 related Kodachrome patent.

 

[trendland]

I am taking a Beginning Photo class at my local college.
And i AM a beginner, but i took this class in 1978 when i was in high school.....and i have used a few darkrooms over the years. So i have SOME experience, it is not all new to me.
I do not think there is another student in the class that is within 30 years of my age. This stuff IS all new to them. It has been a joy watching "Young People" see the magic of the darkroom for the fist time.
I am all for safety and clean living...the less chemicals the better. There is no need to Bathe In The Developing Chemistry.....

Anyway.......the students have been told (rightly so IMO) that the chemicals in the trays are not good for you, that they should use the tongs to grab the paper and move it from one tray to the next. The teacher warned them that some people MIGHT be super sensitive to the chemicals, and to be aware the first day or two in case one of them might have a reaction.

A young lady was having trouble moving her 8x10 from Fix #1 to Fix #2.
So, with my bare hands, i picked it up out of the sink for her and gently dunked it into the tray for Fix #2.
I did it instinctively...not trying to be a darkroom bad-ass.....not trying to a darkroom James Dean.
I use the tongs 97% of the time...but sometimes it is easier to just grab the paper with bare hands, if you know what i mean.
The students that saw me do that were kind of shocked. For the looks on their faces, you'd have thought i just stuck my hands in battery acid.
I realize times have changed. We are all more aware about Smoke/Chemicals/Food Additives/Etc etc etc. I am not making fun of anybody or anything.
Do you Guys/Gals stick your fingers in The Trays when the "opportunity" presents itself.....or do you use the tongs 99.9% of the time.?
Once Again...Not a "Macho" thing.....Just kind of curious is all.

Yes I realy can imagine this horror of younger people.
And it may be indeed a terrible experience if they want to reach an age of min. 112 years.

Often it is not realistic - and when the doctor has to come in many years from now - then. .......IT MUST HAVE TO DO WITH CHEMICALS FROM DARKROOM.
Sure it can't be caused from drugs,alcohol,zigarettes,fast food,no sports,no enough sleeping,workoholics.
And in this same way the todays total danger is better identifyed in darkrooms.

And not anywhere else! .......

with regards

 

[Photo Engineer]

Ok, the conversation is nothing more than I've posted over and over, but here is the "flight suit" photo after a mission over the East China Sea!



PE

 

[trendland]

Ok, the conversation is nothing more than I've posted over and over, but here is the "flight suit" photo after a mission over the East China Sea!



PE

Ok - nice picture.

"read you 5 " PE.


with regards

 

[trendland]

Forget to say : Nice Sabre behind you.
WITH tipical markings of this period.

with regards

 

[NedL]

Ok, the conversation is nothing more than I've posted over and over, but here is the "flight suit" photo after a mission over the East China Sea!



PE

See!!!! If you're not paying attention to the "less specific" threads on photrio, you'd miss the BEST stuff!

very cool.

 

[trendland]

Ok, the conversation is nothing more than I've posted over and over, but here is the "flight suit" photo after a mission over the East China Sea!



Can't identify squardron of the background Sabre because of unclear tail markings.
Can you help PE ?
It seams to be (from type) a F86L-55-NA
the unit is obviously an ANG conformed squardron (but not Michigan Air National Guard ........ )
Do you remember a second unit based at your airfield too ?
If it belongs to the same unit as yours you sure know.
But I also gues you did not serve air reconaicannce in this type (one seater) ............!
fabulous shootings could often have been interrupted by an other type
(Mig 15........) therefore better hands of from 4x5 cameras in a Sabre Cockpit.
May be I am right - may be I am wrong.

with regards



PE