Cheap Chemical Storage

I used to manage a photo lab, and we always had empty chemical bottles left over after mixing C41 & RA4.
I kept quite a few of these - the bleach came in brownish plastic with blue screw tops. Cost me zilch and are still going strong.
I made sure they were thoroughly rinsed out with hot water and now store various developers etc.

If you wanted opaque bottles but didn't want glass, perhaps a visit to your local Walmart or local photolab could help out. Plus they can never be mistaken for soda bottles by anybody - most have labels that won't come off easy with warnings on them.

I also use emptied chemical bottles for small print runs - mix as I use and store the rest in a variety of the types I listed above.

Works for me.

- Nanette
www.nanettereid.com

Whatever is used be sure it is clear. One good look will
tell if the solution has formed any precipitate, changed
color, or become cloudy. Also when cleaned, how
clean will be easy to determine.

My storage consists of the time tested clear amber
glass bottles. A chemistry lab standard. Very affordable.
They are available in clear or amber, narrow and wide
mouth with a variety of caps/lids. Dan

I still have a few hundred Amber Glass bottles available if anyone is interested. Search Classified for Amber Bottles.

2F/2F said:

I don't paint bottles myself any more, as I have pretty much been convinced that it is not necessary. However, I have lost only a flake here and there off of the bottles I still have. Hardly a nuisance to me.

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Maybe the type of paint matters. I used a flat black spray paint, but I don't recall the details beyond that. It could also be that paint adheres better to plastic than to glass (assuming you painted plastic bottles).

Like you, I no longer believe dark storage is necessary for most chemicals, so I don't bother.

If you aren't supposed to use HDPE then why do all the camera shops sell "chemical bottles" made of the stuff? I've got a dozen sitting in a box! Can I use them for all the other chemicals, stop bath, fixer, ect?

JRieke said:

If you aren't supposed to use HDPE then why do all the camera shops sell "chemical bottles" made of the stuff? I've got a dozen sitting in a box! Can I use them for all the other chemicals, stop bath, fixer, ect?

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Some bottles may in fact contain more then one plastic, there may be a very thin layer of another plastic on the inside. Maybe pick up a couple of brown glass bottles with wax seal metal caps for developers and use the HDPE bottles for other chemicals. Last I looked Perrier water came in dark green glass bottles, if the 1L bottle is glass, then pick up a couple of bottles of that, probably the cheapest source of colour glass bottles. Drink the water, it's not suitable for photographic use