Light tight polythene for wrapping paper & plates

[RogerHyam]

I use the black plastic bags that Ilford paper and film are wrapped in as light tight packaging for my own photographic plates or for exposed film etc. but I don't have enough for what I'm doing.

Looking at some heavy duty garbage sacks and other household black plastics none of them are totally opaque to light.

Any suggestions for a specification or source of totally opaque plastic - before I order something I regret of eBay!

 

[fgorga]

Not sure about your side of "the pond", but here are some options from US suppliers:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15808-REG/Delta_13510_Light_Tight_Safe_T_Bags_with.html

https://www.ultrafineonline.com/liprblba.html

 

[RogerHyam]

OMG - Why didn't I think photo suppliers would do this stuff! I was thinking I'd have to make it. Silverprint do them in the UK but the shipping is a killer. I'd have to wait till I have a bigger order

https://silverprint.co.uk/products/2182?variant=37751114236088

Thanks

 

[RogerHyam]

Actually Silverprint sell through eBay UK with free postage. Problem solved.

 

[R.Gould]

Firstcall photographic and the imaging warehouse both sell the plastic bags that paper is wrapped up in, both in the UK, I don't know about silverprint, I never buy from them,

 

[pentaxuser]

Actually Silverprint sell through eBay UK with free postage. Problem solved.

Just out of interest, is the the case that for the same set of items in this case black bags that Silverprint will charge postage if you order direct from its website but not if you order via e-bay?

Surely Silverprint is still having to pay the postage either way. Sounds a bit crazy to me

Thanks

 

[Maris]

Here's a tip from a pessimist. Always use two "lightproof" bags, one inside the other, to hold film and paper. Many black bags have or can develop pinholes but the chances that two bags will have pinholes lining up in exactly the same place are practically nil.

 

[fgorga]

Actually Silverprint sell through eBay UK with free postage. Problem solved.

Glad you've found a solution!

 

[fgorga]

Here's a tip from a pessimist. Always use two "lightproof" bags, one inside the other, to hold film and paper. Many black bags have or can develop pinholes but the chances that two bags will have pinholes lining up in exactly the same place are practically nil.

Pessimist, you say... realist, I think!

 

[albada]

Try black plastic sheeting used in landscaping. It is placed under gravel to prevent weeds from taking root. The bags for paper and landscape sheeting appear to be the same material and same thickness. My tests show that no light passes through the sheeting, so I use it to cover the window in my darkroom.
Mark Overton

 

[RogerHyam]

Here's a tip from a pessimist. Always use two "lightproof" bags, one inside the other, to hold film and paper. Many black bags have or can develop pinholes but the chances that two bags will have pinholes lining up in exactly the same place are practically nil.

I wear black Levis 501s that always wear out in the arse. When I can't patch them anymore I cut the legs off at the knee and make the bottom halves into bags. They are ideal for wrapping stuff, are pretty dark and protect an inner black plastic bag very well. I don't work with emulsions over 5 ISO though

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

the chances that two bags will have pinholes lining up in exactly the same place are practically nil.

Double bagging certainly lowers the chances, but...

Fundamental law of the universe:

• "If it can go wrong it will." In reality, if it can go wrong it already has, you just haven't noticed it yet.

Which is the human variation on the more fundamental: "If it can happen it will," which adds some spice to the predestination/freewill difugalty.

Murphy's Laws trump all others.