Homemade Stop Bath Recipe

lightwisps · Feb 10, 2008

Does anyone have a "recipe" for making stop bath for B/W paper developing? It is almost impossible to buy commercially in my local area. Thanks, don

Photo Engineer · Feb 10, 2008

White vinegar from the grocery store diluted to about 1 - 2%.

PE

glbeas · Feb 10, 2008

So that should be about 1:3?

ath · Feb 10, 2008

I take 4 teaspoons of citric acid for one liter.

23mjm · Feb 10, 2008

You could always use water as a stop, there is a group who think thats the way to go!!!

I normally use a acid stop but when processing Efke/Adox I use water and get great results!!!

Just a thought.

PhotoJim · Feb 10, 2008

I use water with film (I use an alkaline fix so this is preferable) but I use stop bath with prints.

Ole · Feb 10, 2008

One tablespoon of citric acid in two liters of water. Less smell, more capacity.

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Edit: That's pretty much the same as "ath" said.

Ed Sukach · Feb 10, 2008

One part common white vinegar to 4 parts of water = 1% Acetic acid solution.

Smell...? I guess there are those who are extremely sensitive to the odor of what is an extremely *weak* salad dressing.

kcc008 · Feb 10, 2008

Where do you buy citric acid? Is it a grocery store item?

Phillip P. Dimor · Feb 10, 2008

Near the canning goods. It's pretty cheap too. I bought mine at a Harvey's.

kimballmcgary · Mar 13, 2023

I tried it last night. Citric acid definitely stopped. I ran out of fixer so I'll have a better report later this week for citric acid vs Kodak stop bath. I'll try to run some A/B tests. My guess is... Nothing will be better than bonified STOP product but I always like knowing DIY emergency solutions.

Donald Qualls · Mar 13, 2023

It's not exactly news that citric acid works as stop bath; commercial "odorless" stop products are based on citric acid.

All that's really required is a solution pH below about 5.5 and enough buffering or reserve acidity that the stuff has a useful capacity. Even slightly higher pH will stop development, but 5.5 will allow you to use bromocresol purple as an indicator, same as commercial indicator stop bath -- and the yellow solution will turn purple (black under yellow safelight) when it's exhausted.

kimballmcgary · Mar 13, 2023

Not news, but cannot find A/B testing for citric acid vs stop. Please share if you know of any.

FotoD · Mar 13, 2023

Donald Qualls said:
All that's really required is a solution pH below about 5.5 and enough buffering or reserve acidity that the stuff has a useful capacity.

It looks like 7Up will work fine, but DrPepper has the edge with a lower pH.

I'd maybe go with the sugar free version.

kimballmcgary · Mar 13, 2023

I use fresca. You can drink your bath water if you get thirsty.

MattKing · Mar 13, 2023

kimballmcgary said:
Not news, but cannot find A/B testing for citric acid vs stop. Please share if you know of any.

Citric acid is stop bath, if you mix it to the appropriate concentration.
Just as acetic acid is, plus I'm sure a few others.
Water can be a stop bath, if used appropriately.
When it comes to the film or prints, all of them will give the same results if used appropriately.
Some act more quickly. Some help maintain the health of fixer. Some are better at preventing dichroic fog or continued unwanted development in alkaline fixers.
Some smell worse than others. Some are easier to find than others. Some are cheaper than others.

mshchem · Mar 13, 2023

Citric acid is the only way to go. Crystalline citric acid is readily available on Ebay, most every kind available is food grade so purity isn't an issue. The Ilford stop with indicator (bromocresol purple) is super easy and lasts a long time.

One thing to consider is if you drop a bottle of glacial acetic you're going to need to evacuate, spilled citric acid just needs a dust pan.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 13, 2023

kcc008 said:
Where do you buy citric acid? Is it a grocery store item?

at the pharmacy

john_s · Mar 14, 2023

kcc008 said:
Where do you buy citric acid? Is it a grocery store item?

At supermarket, in section for baking supplies

FotoD · Mar 14, 2023

kcc008 said:
Where do you buy citric acid?

From a spice wholesaler. It smells of curry but works just fine.

MattKing · Mar 14, 2023

kcc008 said:
Where do you buy citric acid? Is it a grocery store item?

Home brewing suppliers sell it.

Donald Qualls · Mar 15, 2023

In North Carolina, slightly upmarket supermarkets (Lowe's Foods and Harris Teeter -- the latter a Kroger subsidiary) sell it in the canning supplies section.

SodaAnt · Jul 5, 2023

I've always mixed it up from glacial acetic acid. Just remember to wear gloves and to always add acid to water, never water to acid. Also remember that glacial acetic acid freezes at around 60F, so don't keep it in the garage if you live where it gets cold.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 5, 2023

lightwisps said:
Does anyone have a "recipe" for making stop bath for B/W paper developing? It is almost impossible to buy commercially in my local area. Thanks, don

Lucky you. This is one of the easiest photographic recipes to make. Just prepare a 2% acid solution. You can take acidic acid(white vinegar) or if you are sensitive to the smell take citric acid(Vitamin C)instead. attached are a few others for home brew purposes. Good luck! If you get the bug might want to invest in a copy of the excellent book:'The Darkroom Cookbook' by Steve or 'The Film Development Cookbook' by Anchel and Troop

Loose Gravel · Jul 5, 2023

2 tablespoons citric acid in an 11x14 tray of water. Bought mine on Amazon. Amazing how many chemicals are there. I buy it in 5# sacks.

Citric doesn't smell up the joint. It does exhaust faster than other stops, but so do I.

Homemade Stop Bath Recipe

lightwisps

Photo Engineer

glbeas

ath

23mjm

PhotoJim

Ole

Moderator

Ed Sukach

kcc008

Phillip P. Dimor

kimballmcgary

Donald Qualls

kimballmcgary

FotoD

kimballmcgary

MattKing

Moderator

mshchem

RalphLambrecht

john_s

FotoD

MattKing

Moderator

Donald Qualls

SodaAnt

RalphLambrecht

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Loose Gravel

Homemade Stop Bath Recipe

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