Chems and aluminum?

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
183,208
Messages
2,540,483
Members
95,768
Latest member
kim in
Recent bookmarks
0

Flotsam

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2002
Messages
3,221
Location
S.E. New Yor
When trying to get my film developing solutions to temperature, I put them in a dishpan of water of the correct temp. The problem is that the plastic bottles and graduates that I have my stop, fix and wash aid in don't transmit heat very well so it takes quite a while for the solutions to stabilize at the proper temp. I would love to find some stainless steel beakers to measure my solutions into just prior to use but they are very expensive.

Now my question. I ran across some inexpensive spun aluminum cups in a discount store. If I just crimp a pouring lip into the edge they would be perfect and would transfer temperatures from the water bath in a flash. My worry is possible chemical reaction between the chems and the aluminum. I have an SS graduate for the Developer so I'm just concerned about the others, mainly the stop and fix..

Any thoughts or [cheap] alternatives?
 

Jon Shiu

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
3,150
Location
Mendocino, California
Format
Plastic Cameras
Hi, if you put hot water in the dishpan, ie 110 deg. your developer will come up to temperature much faster. Have to watch it though and pull it out when it is within 1 or 2 degrees of 68 deg. because it will continue heating up when you take it out. If it gets too warm, I cool it down by immersing a small water bottle that I keep frozen in the freezer.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Joe Lipka

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
908
Location
Cary, North
Format
4x5 Format
I am fond of styrofoam coolers and aquarium heaters to keep bottles or jugs of chemicals warm.

I have also used plastic sandwich bags filled either with ice cubes (to cool) or hot water (to warm) beakers of chemicals by immersing the plastic bags in the chemicals. Just need to make sure that you have separate marked bags for the various chemicals.
 

gainer

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 20, 2002
Messages
3,703
Not a good idea. Aluminum is quite reactive. You can also get thin plastic drinking cups of various sizes. You can squeeze a lip as you pour.

I have learned to use a microwave oven a few seconds at a time to raise the temperature of solutions in glass or plastic containers. This has the advantage that stirring, with its consequent aeration, is not necessary. You can't leave a metal thermometer in the solution, though.
 

rogueish

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2004
Messages
876
Location
3rd Rock
Format
Multi Format
gainer said:
I have learned to use a microwave oven a few seconds at a time to raise the temperature of solutions in glass or plastic containers.
Be carefull of any liquid heated in microwaves. (this mostly applies to boiling liquids) Microwaves tend to heat liquids in layers, often causing a cooler layer under a hot layer, under another cooler layer. When the vessel is moved, or worse, tipped to take a drink, the layers mix and often "overboil" or seem to "explode out of the cup". Many people have suffered 3rd degree burns from this.
It's likely that this will not apply to gainer's method as the temps involved are lower, but it is good to know if you zap your luke warm drink.
Stir first, then move and drink.
 

Art Vandalay

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
287
Location
Vancouver BC
Format
Multi Format
I would've thought that due to the thinness of the container walls that there would be little difference between plastic and metal in this situation. Have you measured the transfer rate between the two container types?

Regardless, I wouldn't use the aluminum because it will definitely react with some of the chemicals - that's why 'stainless' steel is the only metal used in film processing.
 

Melanie

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2004
Messages
33
Location
LqQuinta,CA.
Format
Multi Format
HI
I use a old igloo, around 2 gal, that i put warm or hot water depending on B/W or color film,around three to four in of water, then i put my dev, etc in there and put the lid on it, i don't tighten it just placed it on the top.
and I have a thermometer in each plastic bottle and take out each when there close to there temps. works great and the igloo keep its temps for a while. and only takes a few min to heat every thing up.
Melanie
 

Alex Hawley

Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2003
Messages
2,893
Location
Kansas, USA
Format
Large Format
gainer said:
Not a good idea. Aluminum is quite reactive.
I consider Gadget to be the chemistry authority here and he is quite right. Aluminum is highly reactive. You will most likely get some ugly results that are unmistakeably visible on your film and prints.

Stainless steel is OK for most chemicals we use, but don't use it for selenium toner. The selenium reacts with the iron in the steel. Again, unmistakeably ugly results.
 
OP
OP
Flotsam

Flotsam

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2002
Messages
3,221
Location
S.E. New Yor
Thanks everybody. I expected that the advice would be to stay away from the aluminum cups which is why I left them at the store until I asked about it here.

Art said:
I would've thought that due to the thinness of the container walls that there would be little difference between plastic and metal in this situation. Have you measured the transfer rate between the two container types?

Not formally, but from observation my metal graduate definitely conducts the water bath temperature quicker than my Jobo bottles and graduates.

Melanie said:
I use a old igloo, that i put warm or hot water depending on B/W or color film

I think that is important to specify that you are referring to an Igloo brand cooler. I'd hate to see a careless post result in an epidemic of homelessness among Eskimos :smile:
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom