Darkroom DIY Containers

kreeger · Oct 15, 2016

This type of thread may have died somewhere, so time to rekindle the flames.

There was someone asking about containers for storing developer to avoid light getting into it, as alternative to Glass which can of course break.

This is what I am using - Arizona Tea 1 Gallon containers, once they are empty of course. The Arnold Palmer version of the tea on sale is $2.50 a gallon where I live. Other varieties available.

Pros -
Very strong and rugged. Overbuilt compared to water bottles. Thick walls, good resealable cap.
Due to the nature of storing liquid this plastic is very strong against acid, alkali, etc.
The tea doesn't stain the plastic, and cleans out very quickly after it's empty with hot soapy water.

Cons -
The original label is welded to the bottle but is easily covered up with the spray paint. Can you see it?

SOLUTION..
I use Krylon paint, dark brown, satin finish. On this one, I used 1/2" masking tape on one end to see the level of fluids in the bottle. Could also use black satin finish if you wanted. I like the satin finish. Label it with anything you want.

I am also planning buy other Spray colors to color code Fixer, Stop Bath, Toner, Wash Aid, etc...

I challenge other folks to contribute their solutions.

rpavich · Oct 16, 2016

kreeger said:
This type of thread may have died somewhere, so time to rekindle the flames.

There was someone asking about containers for storing developer to avoid light getting into it, as alternative to Glass which can of course break.

This is what I am using - Arizona Tea 1 Gallon containers, once they are empty of course. The Arnold Palmer version of the tea on sale is $2.50 a gallon where I live. Other varieties available.

Pros -
Very strong and rugged. Overbuilt compared to water bottles. Thick walls, good resealable cap.
Due to the nature of storing liquid this plastic is very strong against acid, alkali, etc.
The tea doesn't stain the plastic, and cleans out very quickly after it's empty with hot soapy water.

Cons -
The original label is welded to the bottle but is easily covered up with the spray paint. Can you see it?

SOLUTION..
I use Krylon paint, dark brown, satin finish. On this one, I used 1/2" masking tape on one end to see the level of fluids in the bottle. Could also use black satin finish if you wanted. I like the satin finish. Label it with anything you want.

I am also planning buy other Spray colors to color code Fixer, Stop Bath, Toner, Wash Aid, etc...

View attachment 165383 View attachment 165384

I challenge other folks to contribute their solutions.

I've no solutions as I've tended to get lucky in the "caught jobos cheap on ebay" dept but I did want to say that you did a good job.

Todd Barlow · Oct 16, 2016

Nice job Kreeger!

mnemosyne · Oct 16, 2016

We had a discussion some time ago and I think the bottom line was that light sensitivity is not something to overly worry about with most developers. More important than the perceived ruggedness of a container (and more specifically, its material) is its ability to work as an oxygen barrier, which differs widely between varieties of plastics.

I personally use the local choice of pharmacist's glass bottles in different sizes for smaller amounts of liquid (up to 1 liter) and 3 or 5 liter wine bags for everything above 1 liter. These wine bags are oxygen proof and they are very easy to store and handle. Even minute amounts of liquid can be poured very conveniently and precisely through the spigot and I don't have to worry about keeping air out of the container after removing part of the contents, as the bag will not let air in (it simply contracts). Of course, unlike glass, they will not break (or leak) when dropped. For coding I simply use a permanent marker to write the name of the contents on the bag. Wine bags (without contents) are easy to find here where I live, but it appears that they are more difficult to source in the US.

Neal · Oct 16, 2016

I use the same bottles with a home made label taped to the side. They work great.

Neal Wydra

Svenedin · Oct 16, 2016

Gordon's gin bottles are the best. They are emerald green in the UK. I believe export bottles are clear though. Glass of course but not round. Helps when storing on shelves.

sepiareverb · Oct 16, 2016

Excellent idea with the tape before painting, very smart. The color coding as well.

Julie McLeod · Oct 16, 2016

I like this idea. I don't think we have Arizona Iced Tea up here but maybe I can find another beverage that comes in a similar handled gallon jug. Thanks for sharing how you did this.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 16, 2016

I get mine for free. But you'll have to finish the wine first. It's a double lined plastic bladder with a nice tap. Works great. Developers keep over a a year because it's an air-free environment. The trick to removing the spigot is to pull it straight out. The tap is inserted not screwed in.
http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/2762

MattKing · Oct 16, 2016

I like using the Clamato Juice bottles - both one and two quart versions:

Dead Link Removed

It would be even better if they came in one and two litre versions.

Julie McLeod · Oct 16, 2016

I may have to check my neighbours' blue boxes on recycling day.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 16, 2016

Not not an expert on plastics, but some may be gas permeable so your developers may get oxidized. I've heard high density polyethylene (HDPE) is ok. I've had good luck with Lexan containers too.

Jim Jones · Oct 16, 2016

Kodak T-Max film developer keeps for months in soft drink bottles. I store the bottles in the dark rather than paint them.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 16, 2016

Developer solutions are unaffected by room light. The real bugaboo is oxygen.

kreeger · Oct 17, 2016

Gerald I know you are right. To my simple mind it's a order to things, it makes sense to match a color to a liquid type, and since I've been storing stock or working developers in various brown containers for several decades that part was easy, I associate color for what it is first, read the labels is second.

For fixer, I leave it clear as I want to see the clarity of the solution also. Where I live I can still get milk in 1 gallon glass returnable containers. So for two dollar deposit they're pretty industrial strength piece of storage and the caps are reusable.

jvo · Oct 18, 2016

Svenedin said:
Gordon's gin bottles are the best. They are emerald green in the UK. I believe export bottles are clear though. Glass of course but not round. Helps when storing on shelves.

as a service to the community, and those whoprefer thius storage method, i will at no cost to you volunteer to "dispose" of the contents of the bottles you purchase prior to there use in the darkroom... yes, i know - generousity is my middle name....

Svenedin · Oct 18, 2016

jvo said:
as a service to the community, and those whoprefer thius storage method, i will at no cost to you volunteer to "dispose" of the contents of the bottles you purchase prior to there use in the darkroom... yes, i know - generousity is my middle name....

M Carter · Oct 18, 2016

I once re-used a distilled water jug for Dektol. It eventually ate right through. The spot where the Dektol ate through the linoleum floor (after it drizzled from a cabinet) is a good reminder to me.

I save drain cleaner bottles (out house is 80+ years old so we do use it from time to time). And other plastic bottles that seem heavier-duty, but for stop bath and fix and so on. Developer tends to go in brown photo jugs.

Wondering about spray painting the plastic tea bottles - won't that eventually flake off?

kreeger · Oct 19, 2016

M Carter said:
Wondering about spray painting the plastic tea bottles - won't that eventually flake off?

I suppose it could. This Krylon Fusion paint shown I have used on plastic for 10 years. It's different... "BONDS TO PLASTIC".
Other paint seems to "stick" but not "bond".

mshchem · Oct 23, 2016

I used free containers for years they work great, skip the paint. I've gotten to a point in my life where I can afford luxuries (like bacon on jr.cheeseburger ) . I buy bottles mostly plastic from www.freundcontainer.com . These folks will sell you one bottle or a truckload. I bought 32,16,8,4 oz. Amber PET Boston Rounds. I divide developers always keep full. It works great.
Now don't get me wrong when my wife drains a 1 liter bottle of Absolute that goes into my collection. I had a job decades ago working in a chemistry lab. I would save all the beautiful brown glass bottles those were the good days.
Best Mike

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