Chemistry

CatLABS said:

If you look at it closely enough you will see that USPS will actually allow you to ship pretty much any photographic material, even Pyro and other nasty stuff, and it would be totally legal, with no paperwork or license or fee.

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Exactly, that's the point I was trying to make. The form, quantities and packaging of chemicals that photographers are dealing with are usually OK to ship even when some of the component materials are considered restricted or dangerous. Trying to figure out all the regulations is difficult.

The formulary online shop ships mostly with USPS, and they have pretty much anything you can want, amidol perhaps instead of rodinal?

StoneNYC said:

I refuse to believe there isn't a place in Alaska that sells it somewhere or could get it...

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You'd be amazed. The only "real" photo store that sells chemistry is Stewart's Photo in Anchorage. Their supply has dwindled over the past 18 months (I bought their remaining supplies of D76, Dektol, and Hypo Clear a few months ago when it went for half price). Kodak will no longer ship to them. Ilford; however, does ship a few of their chemicals. Things are getting tough as most everyone is on the digital kick. When my remaining stock runs out, I'll have to buy from the lower 48 all from the lower 48.

Thanks again everyone for the advice. Never really gave thought to making my own, but will be seriously considering it. Did order some Acufine today from Freestyle.

Sounds like you need to come down and visit us in warm, sunny Seattle.

Glazer's Camera is calling.



Ken

akfotog said:

You'd be amazed. The only "real" photo store that sells chemistry is Stewart's Photo in Anchorage. Their supply has dwindled over the past 18 months (I bought their remaining supplies of D76, Dektol, and Hypo Clear a few months ago when it went for half price). Kodak will no longer ship to them. Ilford; however, does ship a few of their chemicals. Things are getting tough as most everyone is on the digital kick. When my remaining stock runs out, I'll have to buy from the lower 48 all from the lower 48.

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Pretty ironic as AK probably has some of the most beautiful land for making photographs.

akfotog said:

You'd be amazed. The only "real" photo store that sells chemistry is Stewart's Photo in Anchorage. Their supply has dwindled over the past 18 months (I bought their remaining supplies of D76, Dektol, and Hypo Clear a few months ago when it went for half price). Kodak will no longer ship to them. Ilford; however, does ship a few of their chemicals. Things are getting tough as most everyone is on the digital kick. When my remaining stock runs out, I'll have to buy from the lower 48 all from the lower 48.

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Believe it or not I emailed them (Stewarts) just to see, he said the supplier wouldn't ship Rodinal anymore

That stink... I'm sure for a price you could get Rodinal somehow... eBay maybe? But it would cost more than DD-X lol

Perhaps ilford is the way to go? ID-11 or Microdol? It's powder so could work if you don't mind powder?

I hate powder but if I had no choice that's how I would go, probably Microdol replenished, seems the best alternative for me, but ID-11 might be better for you.

Good luck sir, I'll be in Canada (Nova Scotia) and if I drive I can make a shipment of something anyone would want but it would cost you and I would have to properly declare it and pay the extra for haz materials etc.

Man, I would freak if I couldn't get Rodinal lol! When the ice melts you should drive to the US pick some up in Seattle and drive back with enough to sell to the other Alaskans... At a premium haha!

RattyMouse said:

Pretty ironic as AK probably has some of the most beautiful land for making photographs.

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This is also true of Australia... Best place in the world for images on Velvia (New Zealand too) and it's 4 times the price for film/chemistry... Sucks....

Ken Nadvornick said:

Sounds like you need to come down and visit us in warm, sunny Seattle.

Glazer's Camera is calling.



Ken

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Beat me to it... I took to long to type! Haha

if it cannot be flown, mix your own;hey I'm a poet.

Nicole handles the film/paper/chemistry at Beau photo. I've found her fairly knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. Expecting a Beau box to arrive today......



Edit, 5 minutes later: It's here!! Off to the darkroom for me!!

Caution

I work for the USPS. While it is true most photographic mixtures are mailable, I would not attempt it with any ORM-D chemicals, nor in liquid quantities over one pint. I have studied the rule book myself for my own knowledge as a photographer and it is of little use. The one pint restriction is clear however. The best guide might be to see the MSDS for the product in question and compare it to the USPS hazmat charts, the one with the actual hazmat classes listed. The MSDS should give the various shipping restrictions. I am very sure Rodinal is unmailable, same with acetic acid stop baths. Same for products like Drano and Clorox. Rodinal definitely falls under hazard class "corrosive" on its MSDS and that class is completely unmailable according to the chart at work. Since 9/11 we are instructed to err on the safe side. I have seen packages with perfectly safe contents get kicked back by the TSA because they did not think it could go on a plane. If they find a gallon of Rodinal the G men might just pay you and me a visit.

Gee

"G-Men", "warm and sunny Seattle," boy, these posts are hilarious. You are keeping me entertained. But I sympathize with those who have trouble with getting what I would look on as basic supplies. They say the world is shrinking but for some of us it is getting more complicated. Hang in there!

sly said:

Nicole handles the film/paper/chemistry at Beau photo. I've found her fairly knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. Expecting a Beau box to arrive today......



Edit, 5 minutes later: It's here!! Off to the darkroom for me!!

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I agree about Nicole.

Her email is film@beauphoto.com.

But the telephone may work better: (604) 734.7771

37th Exposure said:

I work for the USPS. While it is true most photographic mixtures are mailable, I would not attempt it with any ORM-D chemicals, nor in liquid quantities over one pint. I have studied the rule book myself for my own knowledge as a photographer and it is of little use. The one pint restriction is clear however. The best guide might be to see the MSDS for the product in question and compare it to the USPS hazmat charts, the one with the actual hazmat classes listed. The MSDS should give the various shipping restrictions. I am very sure Rodinal is unmailable, same with acetic acid stop baths. Same for products like Drano and Clorox. Rodinal definitely falls under hazard class "corrosive" on its MSDS and that class is completely unmailable according to the chart at work. Since 9/11 we are instructed to err on the safe side. I have seen packages with perfectly safe contents get kicked back by the TSA because they did not think it could go on a plane. If they find a gallon of Rodinal the G men might just pay you and me a visit.

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Really? Even for checked baggage? That stinks, there goes my travel plans to fly around the country developing film and using turbulence for agitation....

StoneNYC said:

Really? Even for checked baggage? That stinks, there goes my travel plans to fly around the country developing film and using turbulence for agitation....

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The rules for mail and passenger baggage vary widely. For example you can mail a bottle of Poland Spring but you cannot take it as a carry on. You might try the TSA website as to what chemicals you can fly with as I have done, but in the end I gave up trying to develop any film on vacation because the TSA rules are just so vague. From some of the hangups we see at the post office I think they just make the rules as they go along, at the USPS and the TSA. And despite the one pint rule, the Formulary and Freestyle and BH still ship one and even five litre jugs of allowed chemicals Priority Mail. Maybe commercial mailers can? I don't deal with that end of things so I wouldn't know. Even stranger are the parcels from overseas containing stuff Americans cannot mail, yet US Customs passed them with the contents clearly declared on the outside. I would not try it, but maybe one could order Rodinal direct from Germany. Parcel Postage over there is surprisingly cheap and fast. It used to be exorbitant, like ours today, and yet the German PO of today is turning a 2 billion dollar profit every year. I'm working for a dead horse.

The problem with carry on is you would be expecting highly untrained staff to distinguish carbonate from anthrax. There are reasonable limits and I agree with them.

The problem I have is when CD-4 is shipped from a reputable source, why not just let it go through? If I order a product that contains CD4 it doesn't have a problem. This is the type of situation that I usually run into and defines what I actually do in photography. It's not based on what I can do, it is always down to what I can get.

Sadly I horde.