Newbie Film Processor

Hi,

Very green here, yet to dive in but about to so bare with me!
I have inherited a bunch of old powders and liquids. (They're years old)

I'm wondering if it's worth my time doing some experiments with them given that I'm on a budget and that I'm happy to experiment with 4 rolls of cheap 35mm - Lucky 100. It seems a shame to throw them all away

I should also mention that all of these were being used to develop motion picture film which is where I'm heading but starting with still film first.
(for more info on this venture visit: http://filmprocessing.wordpress.com/about/)

Here's the list:

Powders in Big Jars:

• 5 x Sodium Sulphite
• 1 x Sodium Sulphite Anhydrous
• 4.5 x Sodium Thiosulphate Hypo
• 1 x Sodium Hydroxide Caustic Soda

Powders in Medium Containers:

• 1 x Gelatine Powder
• 1 x Potassium Sodium (+)- Tartrate
• 1 x Potassium Oxalate
• 1 x Tartaric Acid
• 1 x Ammonium Ferric Citrate brown
• 1 x Hexameta Phosphate (Sodium) Calgon Quadrofos
• 1.5 x Boric Acid
• 2 x Sodium Tetraborate (Borax)
• 2 x Sodium Bromide
• 1 x Sodium Dithionite
• 3 x Potassium Dichromate (Potassium Bichromate)
• 1/4 full x Sodium Tiosulphate A.R.
• 1/5 full x Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous

Powders in Small Containers

• 1 x Sodium Metabisulphite
• 1 x Sodium Sulphate
• 2 and 1/3 x CD-4
• 2 x Alum BP
• 1 x Silver Nitrate
• 1 x Potassium Iodide
• 1/2 x Kodak Ballancer Alkali

Liquids:

• 1 x Ammonia Solution
• 1 x Kodak 28% Acetic Acid
• 2 x Ilford IM-1 Indicator Stop Bath
• 1 x Kodak Photo-Flo 600 solution
• 1 x Ferric Chloride Solution 60% w/v
• Ilford Hypam Hardener Concentrated solution
• 1/5 x Perma Clean Anti Static Film _ _ _ (couldn’t read last word)

So really just wondering if you think it's worth having a play with these to see if I can concoct some half reasonable result or should I just turf them and start with fresh chems?

Thanks

Welcome to APUG!

Some of the chemicals you have there need to be handled carefully, so my first question would be - how much training/experience/knowledge do you have handling chemistry?

Hope we can help, and hope you enjoy it here.

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the reply.
Zilch, None, Nada!
Just a willingness to learn

Welcome to APUG! Looks like whoever you inherited that from was into some interesting stuff! Maybe even emulsion making!

Enjoy your journey. It's worth the trip!

-- Jason

Thanks Jason.
I already am!
Can't believe it's taken me this long.

Peter

Wish i have some of those chemicals, i have very few and planning to buy few more and then making some soups for films.

Enjoy learning and making your chemicals to use and then show us results.

Please research the chemicals before you do anyhing with them. I am no expert, but I can tell you Potassium Dichromate is particularly nasty stuff. Hazardous to both your health and others.

Wiki safety info on Potassium dichromate:

Potassium dichromate is one of the most common causes of chromium dermatitis;[7] chromium is highly likely to induce sensitization leading to dermatitis, especially of the hand and fore-arms, which is chronic and difficult to treat. Toxicological studies have further illustrated its highly toxic nature. With rabbits and rodents, concentrations as low as 14 mg/kg have shown a 50% fatality rate amongst test groups. [8] Aquatic organisms are especially vulnerable if exposed, and hence responsible disposal according local environmental regulations is advised.

As with other CrVI compounds, potassium dichromate is carcinogenic and should be handled with gloves and appropriate health and safety protection. The compound is also corrosive and exposure may produce severe eye damage or blindness.[9] Human exposure further encompasses impaired fertility, heritable genetic damage and harm to unborn children.

Let me second the warning against experimenting with chemicals. Since by your own admission you have no knowledge of chemistry don't experiment. Photography is about taking pictures not playing mad scientist. Look online for some developer formulas and use them. I would start with Kodak D-23 since it contains only 2 ingredients. From the chemicals you list you can make your own fixer.

.
Welcome Home HumbleP !

Please Be Careful, It Took Almost 12 Years For My
Body to Detoxify From Exposure To Standard Photo-Chemistry ...

Ron
.

the dichromate and sulfite you'll need for reversal processing movie film

the hypo you'll use-it'll go fast...the stop bath/acetic acid if you're printing on paper...film you really don' tneed it.

rest of the stuff put in a plastic bin in storage

start using commercial developer chemicals (pre-mixed and fresh) so you get a feel for how it's supposed to work...then, if you get dissatisfied with commercial preparations offer, you have the chems at hand to play.

most of that stuff you'll not be using for quite some time though I suspect...so just get it in storage and out of the house for now except for the stuff that you'll be using

Thanks everyone for the advice. I certainly wont be touching that Potassium Dichromate in a hurry!
Johnielvis that's pretty much the conclusion I've come to and that's what I'll do; commercial first, get familiar and if I'm feeling adventurous down the track I'll don a gas mask, jump in a lead suit and try my own mix.
This is a great forum. Thanks again.

Out Of The frying Pan, And Into The Fire ...

HumbleP said:

Johnielvis that's pretty much the conclusion I've come to and that's what I'll do; commercial first, get familiar and if I'm feeling adventurous down the track I'll don a gas mask, jump in a lead suit and try my own mix.
This is a great forum. Thanks again.

Click to expand...

.
Please don't jump into a lead suit !
Thanks !

Ron
.

The only developer in there is CD-4, which stands for "color developer". It's used to develop (did you guess?) color film!
I would guess that most of those chemicals are fine, assuming the lids are tight. A few are dangerous, as has been posted.

The big question is: Do you want to mix your own developers? As a newbie, probably not. I suggest giving them away to a member of apug or PN who lives within driving-distance. It's a pity to trash good chemicals.

Mark Overton