How can I receive Rodinal?

Anscojohn · Oct 30, 2009

P C Headland said:
Your other alternative is to make some yourself from readily available ingredients.

Have a search for Parodinal.

*******
O.P might have trouble getting Sodium Hydroxide. It's a dickens to find hereabouts, just fifteen miles from the "capitol of the free world."

Jimi and Jim and Janis · Oct 30, 2009

Anscojohn said:
******
Obviously you have seen the play or the film "Wait Until Dark."

my dear friend John
Nope, but I hope it isnt like Midnight Express! lol

(Im trying that clip test right now btw)

Anscojohn · Oct 31, 2009

Jimi said:
my dear friend John
Nope, but I hope it isnt like Midnight Express! lol

Blind wife of a pro photographer has to deal with a whole bunch of homocidal no-goodniks out to get the toy her husband brought through customs. They had stuffed the goodies into it. She outsmarts the bad guy (played by Alan Arkin) by turning out all the lights so they are on even turf.

mikebarger · Oct 31, 2009

It was/is a good flick.

I not sure flying on commercial airlines is a "protected right", at least in the US.

Mike

P C Headland · Nov 1, 2009

Uncle Goose said:
Unfortunately in some countries it's nearly impossible to get the ingredients, if you go ask for them they look at you as are going to make a bomb or something. In Belgium you can't get any raw chemical in the normal way, luckily you still have a company in Brussels who ships stuff with the mail for photographic purposes without remarks like "you can make a bomb with that" or "you can poison someone with that".

I realise that, since we have fairly strict laws here too (and we're much farther away from anywhere else too). Fortunately, drain cleaner is still available in supermarkets, and they haven't banned paracetamol tablets yet......

Still, I did have to sign a form when I bought some TEA. The guy said "due to regulations, since it could be a pre-cursor ingredient for bombs, illegal drugs, etc. (I had to show him the formula and references for PC-TEA). We did actually joke about it, and I then asked if I'd have to sign a similar declaration next time I wanted some water :rolleyes:

ChrisC · Nov 1, 2009

P C Headland said:
I realise that, since we have fairly strict laws here too (and we're much farther away from anywhere else too). Fortunately, drain cleaner is still available in supermarkets, and they haven't banned paracetamol tablets yet......

Still, I did have to sign a form when I bought some TEA. The guy said "due to regulations, since it could be a pre-cursor ingredient for bombs, illegal drugs, etc. (I had to show him the formula and references for PC-TEA). We did actually joke about it, and I then asked if I'd have to sign a similar declaration next time I wanted some water :rolleyes:

Where do you buy these chems from? I've been looking at getting into 'making my own' developers recently, but have come up short with places to actually obtain the raw ingredients from.

P C Headland · Nov 3, 2009

ChrisC said:
Where do you buy these chems from? I've been looking at getting into 'making my own' developers recently, but have come up short with places to actually obtain the raw ingredients from.

The parodinal ingredients I bought from New World.

For the PC-TEA, the TEA came from Merck, the Phenidone I had sent from Artcraft in the US, and the Vitamin C powder came from Health 2000. I make up the PC-TEA for myself and a friend.

I know of others here in NZ who also make their own, from a combination of imported (powder) and local (powder and liquid) ingredients. It did take me a little while to sort out where to get things from.

PM me if you are interested.

photogear · Jun 28, 2024

sorry to dig up this old thread...
concerning the Rodinal custom regulation, this thread covers every possible options about Rodinal brought from one country to another by plane.
but what about going across the border by ground, like from USA to Canada?????

cmacd123 · Jun 28, 2024

best to try to get it "locally" under one of the Various names it goes by. for example https://www.camtecphoto.com/en/product/blazinal-bw-film-developer-500ml is stocked by a dealer in Montreal.

or https://photoservice.ca/en/shop/bla...9da9-0132-bba5-00163e9110c0?variation=1106985

I think the Blazinol is actually the R09 version - but close enough

https://www.argentix.ca/AllBWchems.php?=SID&mqry=sp02 shows having the ADOX rodinal, at a slightly higher price. you could also look for Adonal or even R09.

these happen to be Local to Montreal, but I have found that the Canadian dealers will generally send it Via Canada Post -Not sure if they are supposed to but who am I to argue

photogear · Jun 28, 2024

cmacd123 said:
best to try to get it "locally" under one of the Various names it goes by. for example https://www.camtecphoto.com/en/product/blazinal-bw-film-developer-500ml is stocked by a dealer in Montreal.

or https://photoservice.ca/en/shop/bla...9da9-0132-bba5-00163e9110c0?variation=1106985

I think the Blazinol is actually the R09 version - but close enough

https://www.argentix.ca/AllBWchems.php?=SID&mqry=sp02 shows having the ADOX rodinal, at a slightly higher price. you could also look for Adonal or even R09.

these happen to be Local to Montreal, but I have found that the Canadian dealers will generally send it Via Canada Post -Not sure if they are supposed to but who am I to argue

Of course I could buy it locally. Just twice the price. Since I am about to go to USA I thought I could do the purchase over there. Technically, I hardly understand the problems related to crossing the border by ground with such a product.
About Blazinal, from my experince, this product doesn't last like Rodinal by Adox. With Blazinal I experienced the suddent death syndrome, something that is no fun. So personally I will never recommand this product.

Philippe-Georges · Jun 29, 2024

You can (easily) brew your own clone.
I found this document on my computer while searching for the formula to give it to you, but instead of plain Rodinal, I found PARODINAL.
I don't recall where and from who I got it, it's from 2006 which is 18 years ago...
Anyway here it is, and I think it is worth the try as you can't get the genuine in your country.
I never tried it, so I can't comment on it, nor advice.

PS: I simply exported the RTF file to a pdf to make it more handy on the forum.

loccdor · Jun 29, 2024

I've gone on a few day trips to Canada by car and they just ask a few questions at the border, sometimes they are a little rude but they haven't ever searched the vehicle. I understand that they are allowed to though, as well as look through any electronic devices you have.

But maybe they would have more scrutiny on a Canadian citizen returning. In any case I'd probably just try putting it in my suitcase and not mentioning it, it's not like you're bringing drugs over the border.

reddesert · Jun 29, 2024

The original thread was from 2009 from someone who couldn't get Rodinal shipped to Puerto Rico, then it devolved into a discussion of trying to get liquid developer through airport security in checked or carry-on (!) baggage, not a particularly good option IMO. It was about security, not customs regulations. I don't think you would have much trouble driving across the Canada-US border with a bottle of Rodinal in the car.

MTGseattle · Jun 29, 2024

If the airlines went back in time and arrayed the seats in coach/economy to actually be comfortable again, I would consent to a mandatory strip-search. It sounds asinine I know, but the only even half-comfortable flight I've had in 12 years has been where i've splurged on 1st class or lucked out and had an empty seat next to me.

As to chemicals, do they every end up on a plane at all? Does the manufacturer put them on a cargo ship for ground distro from the ports?

lastly, in the realm of being sneaky, the current Rodinal I have looks closer to Orange Fanta than Coke.

BobUK · Jun 29, 2024

The owner of a beer and wine brewing equipment shop told me that he received a letter from a British worker, working on a contract in an Arab State that banned all alcohol.
The letter asked that he remove the labels from kit cans of beer malt extract, and replace them with labels from tinned fruit, pears, peaches, apricots etc.. also to send the sachet of dried yeast in a separate letter.
I have no idea if he was successful.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

cmacd123 · Jun 29, 2024

I imagine that the companies in Montreal that have the ADOX rodinal have made some arrangement to ship it in Bulk, or have had an employee spend a few hours driving to Platsburg, to pick up a shipment and present the paper work to customs on the way back. that probably explains the difference between the US and Canadian Price, one exchange rates have been taken into account.
Blazinol is a special case as Blazes Photographic was in Canada.
(update ; https://lightprogroup.com/pages/kindermann-canada )

All the Rodinol sold comes in plastic Bottles and I suspect it will ALL last longer if decanted into small Glass Bottles. the HDPE stuff is NOTair tight.

Alex Benjamin · Jun 29, 2024

photogear said:
what about going across the border by ground, like from USA to Canada?

Adorama ships Rodinal ground US to Canada. There are no restrictions related to this product.

Moreover, I've done NY-Montreal by car quite often, and brought back chemistry purchased from B&H. You have to be extremely unlucky, or have one heck of a suspicious demeanor, to be stopped and searched at the border coming back home after two or three days in the Big Apple. Don't worry about it.

MTGseattle · Jun 29, 2024

Just be clear and concise with customs.

I had my car emptied and bags searched once because I was solo, had a car packed to the gills, and was vague regarding my destination. I was only vague because my "plan" was to drive until I was fatigued into being unable to see and I didn't know where on the map that would occur. Ah, youth!

MattKing · Jun 29, 2024

MTGseattle said:
Just be clear and concise with customs.

I had my car emptied and bags searched once because I was solo, had a car packed to the gills, and was vague regarding my destination. I was only vague because my "plan" was to drive until I was fatigued into being unable to see and I didn't know where on the map that would occur. Ah, youth!

I recall sending people back into the USA when they arrived with similar stories!
Decades ago, while working as a Canada Customs officer (as we then were) during summers while at law school.
The rules have changed a lot since then, but essentially there are materials where importation is permitted only when certain conditions are met.
They are materials that can be horribly misused, so the rules are restrictive, but the rules do provide for authorized ways to import them. The problem for those of us who can easily travel back and forth is that those authorized ways are oriented toward normal commercial importations, not casual importation by individuals.
This is not a guarantee in any way, but if you want to bring Rodinal into Canada when you travel, having the product in a quantity that is more likely to be a hobbyist quantity, and in a package that clearly identifies it as for use as a film developer for darkroom use will be much more likely to be "trouble free" than if you are bringing in commercial quantities of the constituent ingredients.
A quick look at the tariffs - which I am really out of practice with - yields Tariff Item 37.07:
37.07 Chemical preparations for photographic uses (other than varnishes, glues, adhesives and similar preparations); unmixed products for photographic uses, put up in measured portions or put up for retail sale in a form ready for use.
The Tariff item does not deal with the sort of importation restrictions that Rodinal might run up against. Those relate to things like the things that drug labs make use of, and inadvertently affect the users of Rodinal.

MTGseattle · Jun 30, 2024

Matt, my incident happened on my return trip from a summer spent in Maine. If memory serves it was at the St Armand/Highgate crossing from Vermont into Quebec. A whole summers worth of clothes, random crap, photography gear, bicycle gear and bike stuffed into a Honda Civic. I ended up spending the night at a really nice Provincial Park.

Alex Benjamin · Jun 30, 2024

MTGseattle said:
Matt, my incident happened on my return trip from a summer spent in Maine. If memory serves it was at the St Armand/Highgate crossing from Vermont into Quebec. A whole summers worth of clothes, random crap, photography gear, bicycle gear and bike stuffed into a Honda Civic. I ended up spending the night at a really nice Provincial Park.

The only time I've had a bit more problem was when I crossed the border at the Sandy Bay crossing between Quebec and Maine. I guess they get a bit more suspiscious at the smaller crossings than at the larger ones.

Usually, when I come back from New York and cross the border, they give me the "We didn't want to tell you but we knew you wouldn't make it down there" look and whisk be right in.

MattKing · Jun 30, 2024

The two summers I did that job - front line public engagement and law enforcement - provided a good complement to my experiences with humanity gained through years of working with difficult customers in retail sales .
It also provided really valuable experience for when I later practiced law - which was part of the reason for the program, I would assume.
It also gave me some really useful perspective when I view or learn about anything to do with law enforcement.
And I know the program had a really positive influence on the permanent employees at what was then known as Canada Customs.

eli griggs · Jun 30, 2024

cmacd123 said:
I imagine that the companies in Montreal that have the ADOX rodinal have made some arrangement to ship it in Bulk, or have had an employee spend a few hours driving to Platsburg, to pick up a shipment and present the paper work to customs on the way back. that probably explains the difference between the US and Canadian Price, one exchange rates have been taken into account.
Blazinol is a special case as Blazes Photographic was in Canada.
(update ; https://lightprogroup.com/pages/kindermann-canada )

All the Rodinol sold comes in plastic Bottles and I suspect it will ALL last longer if decanted into small Glass Bottles. the HDPE stuff is NOTair tight.

Consider using a heavier than air, inert gas to fill the receiving bottle, before hand, so as no oxygenation can occur because of exposure to air.

The best method that's also the easiest to do, is to, hot or contact glue the Rodinal bottle top snuggly to the center of the receiving bottle's cap, a spare, and drill a hole through both caps to create a school child's "tornado" machine, which will, when both bottles are joined by the caps, allow the contents of the Rodinal to swirl down into the receiving bottle, it's vortex becoming a "tornado in a bottle", with the inert gas replacing the Rodinal liquid in the top bottle, without additional oxygen entering the mix, ideally.

Before joining the bottles, add a bit more inert gas to both bottles, the Rodinal holding bottle getting a bit of extra gas, before the caps are first placed on it, flat bottom on the counter/table/sink and with your thumb holding the gas in the receiving bottle, invert the bottle's mouth and quickly remove your thumb to allow it to be screwed tightly onto the already capped bottle.

All that remains is to turn the bottles so the gas bottle is now on top and allow the little quid to enter the new holding bottle.

Enjoy looking for the vertex in the transferring.

When the transfer is complete, put a new, intact bottle top on the new Rodinal bottle and use as normal.

Because it's possible, think about getting a babie's medicine syringe (no needle) and caps, to join the two, bottle and syringe, while held to the flat bottom Rodinal bottle, and then draw off the needed amount of developer by way of the syringe.

Leave the tightly sealed baby's transfer cap in place on the bottle ready for the next usage.

The slight vacuum created by the use of a syringe, will allow some oxygen to enter the Rodinal bottle, but whatever inert, heavier than air gas remains in the developer's bottle will form a boundary between developer and any oxygen and you can always put more inert gas into the bottle, as you see fit.

A lot of words for a very simple precaution.

photogear · Jul 2, 2024

Alex Benjamin said:
Adorama ships Rodinal ground US to Canada. There are no restrictions related to this product.

Moreover, I've done NY-Montreal by car quite often, and brought back chemistry purchased from B&H. You have to be extremely unlucky, or have one heck of a suspicious demeanor, to be stopped and searched at the border coming back home after two or three days in the Big Apple. Don't worry about it.

Guys, I don't need tricks or loopholes about the customs: I want to know the rules. Is this officially accepted to go across the border (by ground) with Rodinal. As simple as that.
ps: i know i could order from a local supplier at twice the price but since I will be in USA it would be just nice to buy it from there.

eli griggs · Jul 2, 2024

It seems call

photogear said:
Guys, I don't need tricks or loopholes about the customs: I want to know the rules. Is this officially accepted to go across the border (by ground) with Rodinal. As simple as that.
ps: i know i could order from a local supplier at twice the price but since I will be in USA it would be just nice to buy it from there.

It seems writing or calling both Canadian and U.S. Customs is the simplest method, and you should ask for a written answer, to keep with you.

I like firearms but when crossing into other States, I go to that State's A. G. Website and read the laws for myself.

I've seen people in Court who violated laws, because they believed the Cop or a Deputy Sheriff that told them it was legal to do what they were arrested for, which does not hold water with judges, so go yourself to the direct source, not other photographers, stores, photographers associations like Photrio.com or others.

Good luck.

How can I receive Rodinal?

Anscojohn

Jimi and Jim and Janis

Anscojohn

mikebarger

P C Headland

ChrisC

P C Headland

photogear

cmacd123

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Philippe-Georges

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How can I receive Rodinal?

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