Multi bottles to store chemicals

Hi,
This may be a real dum question, but...If you have say 1/2 gallon
of used fixer, and only have 2 (1)quart bottles, is is ok to store it. My concern would be that being used that one contains more of something than the other causing it to age faster. The fixer is kodak regular u-mix it kind.


Thanks,

Jennifer

Jennifer, it depends on how long you store most chemicals.

With used fixer, and I'm talking fixer used for print making here. I have almost the same set-up you propose.

I usually mix up 1 1/2 litres of fixer and divide it equally between two containers. I never have a problem with fixer going off. I keep a record of how much paper I put through so that I can ensure that my paper fixer solution(s) don't get over used.

Paper developer is more of a problem, I try as much as possible to eliminate air from the storage bottles by using either a few smaller bottles, or one big bottle and one really small bottle, or one big bottle and one medium bottle with glass marbles in one of the bottles so that the solution comes up to the neck, and within reason eliminates air from the bottle.

If you ever have a very long printing session, you will notice that the developer shows signs of oxidising by changing colour. That said, I still print even though the developer is starting to go off. I don't do any printing under these conditions for show but will always use this kind of situation for proof prints and other unimportant prints.

Mick.

Fixers are not problems, they can last quite long. Even film developers last long. Especially powder chemicals, they last indefinetly in powder form, and when you mix them to stock solutions they can last 6 months (or even longer, but...)

Paper liquid developers are fastest to oxidadion lost. So, my advice if you want to buy liquid paper developer is to buy them is smaller packadgings. For example it is better to buy 5x1litter bottles than 5 liter canister. It is more expencive, but once you open 5 liter canister is will oxidize faster than 5x1litter bottle when you open one by one bottle when you need.

When you mix working solution, paper liquid developer mostly is usefull about 1 week, fixers several months, developers made of powder several months. I am talking about oxidation period, of course if you put enough films or papers before theire oxidation expire period they must be replaced sooner.

OOPS....
I forgot to say that the 1/2 gallon is used in ONE print tray. So pour in the 2 quart bottles to store it.


Thanks, and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Jennifer

As long as you use both bottles in the tray (or some of each if the tray isn't big enough for both), then pour back into both bottles when you finish, they should both be the same, mixed up.

If you need extra bottles, don't forget that plastic 2 liter soda bottles are excellent for chemicals, just be sure and label them correctly.

Jennifer get a tapperware big enough to fix your films and papers. When done just put the lid on. No mess that way. I always leave that on taperware in the darkroom sink until the call of duty, then just pull the lid off.

It's powered chemiclas which you should never divide and use separately.

With liquid chemicals, providing they are well mixed before dividing, there will be no problem with using one half first and then the half later.

But, if they are working strength solutions, generally they will not last very long in storage. Water has a lot of oxygen in it which is highly reactive with other chemicals which is why you see max storage times go down as you dilute your chemicals with water.

colivet said:

Jennifer get a tapperware big enough to fix your films and papers. When done just put the lid on. No mess that way. I always leave that on taperware in the darkroom sink until the call of duty, then just pull the lid off.

Click to expand...

That sounds like a great idea! Do you only use the Tupperware tray for fix, or also for developer and stop?