Caffenol

[Donald Qualls]

we are probably still experiencing the aftershocks.

No doubt about it. Seen any Velvia lately?

 

[Tel]

During the pandemic I wasn't doing any photography so I never felt the shortages but I bet it was a tough time for photography. And we are probably still experiencing the aftershocks.

For me it was a question of priorities. When everyone was panic-buying toilet paper I stocked up on chemicals.

 

[BAC1967]

I’ve been developing with Beerenol for several years now and I like the results. As some have said already, anhydrous sodium carbonate is important for good results. I spread it out on a flat pan and bake it in the oven for about 2 hours at 250 F. Then store it in air tight containers, it will re-hydrate from moisture in the air. Also, iodized salt as a restrainer helps with fog.

I don’t get good results from is Tri-X, I’m not sure why. FP4+, HP5, Pan-F, Acros 100, Panatomic-X, all give me good results. I havent had any luck with infrared films.

Beerenol

Beerenol Recipe

 

[pentaxuser]

I checked my grocery store, to buy the ingredients you need for the simplest caffenol you need at least $18 worth of products, provided they are going to work properly. You can get a bunch of different conventional developers, such as D76, XTOL, Clayton F76 Plus, Arista Premium, etc., which are guaranteed to work properly. I'm all for experimentation, but the cost argument doesn't really work in caffenol's favor, unless you already have these ingredients at home.

It seems to me that if you already have the ingredients at home then the cost argument still doesn't work in Caffenol's favour in that you have to go out and re-purchase the ingredients you use for Caffenol to restock what you originally had bought for whatever purpose or purposes you had bought them for

So in reality the cost argument never works

pentaxuser

 

[aparat]

It seems to me that if you already have the ingredients at home then the cost argument still doesn't work in Caffenol's favour in that you have to go out and re-purchase the ingredients you use for Caffenol to restock what you originally had bought for whatever purpose or purposes you had bought them for

So in reality the cost argument never works

pentaxuser

Yes, I came to the same conclusion. I've been meaning to try it but I never have all the ingredients at home.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have not seen any Arm & Hammer washing soda in any grocery or supermarket in the Vancouver and surrounds for a few years now. A victim of covid or has this stuff been banned in Canada??

 

[VinceInMT]

I have not seen any Arm & Hammer washing soda in any grocery or supermarket in the Vancouver and surrounds for a few years now. A victim of covid or has this stuff been banned in Canada??

A search online turned up a few places that indicate they have it for pickup such the Soap Dispensary, 3718 Main Street Vancouver, BC

https://www.thesoapdispensary.com/p...2&_sid=d8f055c52&_ss=r&variant=35014933643398

 

[BAC1967]

I have not seen any Arm & Hammer washing soda in any grocery or supermarket in the Vancouver and surrounds for a few years now. A victim of covid or has this stuff been banned in Canada??

I just purchased 2 boxes from Amazon, don’t see it in the grocery store much anymore.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

A search online turned up a few places that indicate they have it for pickup such the Soap Dispensary, 3718 Main Street Vancouver, BC

https://www.thesoapdispensary.com/p...2&_sid=d8f055c52&_ss=r&variant=35014933643398

Great! Thank you!

 

[ChrisLLUK]

I'm not doing it to save money but rather just to have fun.

That sounds expensive. Here in the UK, I can get 100g Vit C for about £5 off Amazon, 1 Kg of washing soda for about £1 and a jar of cheap coffee about the same. Both from my local supermarket.

 

[relistan]

I just purchased 2 boxes from Amazon, don’t see it in the grocery store much anymore.

I see you are in the PNW. Fred Meyer usually has it, at least in their Oregon stores. May not matter now that you have two boxes. But in case it helps.

 

[ChrisLLUK]

It seems to me that if you already have the ingredients at home then the cost argument still doesn't work in Caffenol's favour in that you have to go out and re-purchase the ingredients you use for Caffenol to restock what you originally had bought for whatever purpose or purposes you had bought them for

So in reality the cost argument never works

pentaxuser

The cost argument does come into play if you don't shoot all that much. Most developers, though not all, have a limited shelf life, especially when diluted. The powders for caffenol last pretty much indefinitely and I just make up enough for a film or 2 as and when required.

 

[BAC1967]

I see you are in the PNW. Fred Meyer usually has it, at least in their Oregon stores. May not matter now that you have two boxes. But in case it helps.

Thanks, I didn’t know that, I have found it at Walmart in the past. Two boxes will last me a long time.

 

[tahomaphoto]

I have not seen any Arm & Hammer washing soda in any grocery or supermarket in the Vancouver and surrounds for a few years now. A victim of covid or has this stuff been banned in Canada??

I can get it pretty regularly in Massachusetts

 

[tahomaphoto]

No doubt about it. Seen any Velvia lately?

Velvia 50 is in stock at B&H and others. Velvia 100 is a different story; Fuji stopped producing it in 2021 due to a (mis) understanding about proposed rules from USEPA controlling "phenol, isopropylated phosphate".

 

[ags2mikon]

I bought 15 pounds of it at a pool and spa supply store for 35 dollars last year. They call it pool ph-up. I use it in the darkroom and also for cleaning steel and iron parts with electrolysis. It was 100% sodium carbonate. CAS 497-19-8

 

[tahomaphoto]

I bought 15 pounds of it at a pool and spa supply store for 35 dollars last year. They call it pool ph-up. I use it in the darkroom and also for cleaning steel and iron parts with electrolysis. It was 100% sodium carbonate. CAS 497-19-8