Print Tongs - recommendations?

scheimfluger_77 · Jan 5, 2015

MattKing said:
I've been using these "Mini Spatula Tongs recently, with some tape added to position the sliding adjuster: http://www.wdrake.com/buy-mini-spat...ferralID=29415065-9513-11e4-ab7a-001b2166c62d

How well do they work for you Matt?

MattKing · Jan 5, 2015

scheimfluger_77 said:
How well do they work for you Matt?

Quite well.

The sliding adjuster is finicky, but I think I've tamed it with tape and/or rubber bands.

You have to watch the quality of the "stainless" steel - I've tried two batches, and one was clearly better than the other. I wish I could find some that were on plastic frames.

But at $2.99 each, you can afford to experiment.

Be sure to get the ones with flexible "fins". Some of them are rigid instead, and it is the flexibility I like.

Loren Sattler · Jan 6, 2015

My opinion is it may be the printing paper. I have used basic bamboo tongs with rubber tips for many years without problems. Recently, I have using Foma 333 Fomatone RC paper and had issues with tong stains on prints. The stains only occur occasionally and always in lighter areas of prints. This paper is a chlorobromide product. Not sure if this contributes to the problem or not?

Roger Cole · Jan 6, 2015

Neal said:
First, I like these tongs.

Second, as others have noted, it doesn't sound as though the tongs are the problem. I use one for the developer, a second for the stop and fixer, a third to move from a wash tray to a tray of hca. From there, fingers to a running water rinse and then into the print washer.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

I use these cheap plastic ones too, but they eventually always break near where the two pieces join together. I always keep an unopened pack or two on hand and just open more. They don't really cost much - they don't break that often, maybe I break a couple of tongs, one pack, per year when I'm printing actively.

Roger Cole · Jan 6, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Wow, people really do use print tongs. I've got a whole canister of them that came with outfits. I didn't think people actually used them. Guess they must, though. Although I don't see how they avoid making marks on the print. I can't imagine handling some 11x14 print on fiber base paper without getting it all marked up or even torn. I don't even see how they get the bottom tong under the print when it's against the tray, sunk to the bottom. Enlightening thread. People really do use tongs. I should try that, but I think I'd get irritated.

I use them, even for 16x20 prints. On rare occasions I crease a 16x20 but I've never gotten marks from the tongs themselves and certainly never torn a print, and FB paper as large as 16x20 is sufficiently "floppy" when wet that I'm pretty sure I'd ruin about the same percentage if I handled them. I HATE doing anything with gloves, and I'm not comfortable sticking my hands into solutions regularly (I will on rare occasions to retrieve a dropped tong or something, I just don't make a habit of it.)

You get the tongs under the print by using trays that have ribs in the bottom.

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Wow, people really do use print tongs. I've got a whole canister of them that came with outfits. I didn't think people actually used them. Guess they must, though. Although I don't see how they avoid making marks on the print. I can't imagine handling some 11x14 print on fiber base paper without getting it all marked up or even torn. I don't even see how they get the bottom tong under the print when it's against the tray, sunk to the bottom. Enlightening thread. People really do use tongs. I should try that, but I think I'd get irritated.

In the past I always used my hands, but in his book Toning, Tim Rudman recommends using tongs. So I am seeing if I can develop some good habits for a change.

MartinP · Jan 6, 2015

The bamboo ones absorb chemistry and start to rot as soon as you use them - it seems such an odd thing to make tongs from.

For prints 12x16" and under in trays, I use various plastic tongs. For that size and larger I usually use a Nova processor so a couple of the pin-clips stay attached throughout the moves of the paper as far as the rinse, then after that I just use fingers.

Regarding quantity of tongs, just two - one for the developer and one for everything else - I find it is simpler to keep track of what is what when on printing auto-pilot then, less to go wrong.

Using trays or the processor I would be very surprised to ever get wet hands, except for after the rinse tray, though I do have nitrile-gloves and apron for toning etc.

ozphoto · Jan 7, 2015

I too use bamboo tongs - 1 for each solution as at one time I had a problem with the rubber making waffle pattern on my prints.

I now make sure I rinse them thoroughly after every session; I've even removed the rubber tops and given them a good hard scrub every few months and if they start to discolour too much, toss and buy new ones. (I also rinse the fixer tongs in water during the session - as they were the ones I had a problem with initially.)

Since doing this, I haven't had any problems with discolouration or patterning on my prints. However like others have mentioned, when I produce prints larger than 8x10, I use the thin, disposable rubber gloves as tongs can leave you open to creasing and kinking when transferring during the developing process.

Great learning curve though - done it once and immediately changed my processing methods, not wanting to tempt fate again.

Ronald Moravec · Jan 11, 2015

I inherited some stainless steel ones in 1960. Work well.

I bought some bamboo ones, took off the rubber tips, and filed the bamboo to a rounded point. These be my favorite.

msage · Jan 11, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Wow, people really do use print tongs. I've got a whole canister of them that came with outfits. I didn't think people actually used them. Guess they must, though. Although I don't see how they avoid making marks on the print. I can't imagine handling some 11x14 print on fiber base paper without getting it all marked up or even torn. I don't even see how they get the bottom tong under the print when it's against the tray, sunk to the bottom. Enlightening thread. People really do use tongs. I should try that, but I think I'd get irritated.

I have been using bamboo tongs with rubber tips for 35+ years. I mark them D, S and F for the three chemicals and rinse them after each printing session. After the fix, the prints go to a water holding bath until I am though printing. I switch to gloves to carry out the remaining steps (HCA and toning). If you keep them reasonably clean they will not mark the prints and last a long time. Remember that there is "technique" to using them like every else in photography. I don't use gloves for every thing because I find it difficult to keep the gloves clean and dry while handling the paper.

The only time I had problem with tong marks was years ago using stainless steel tongs with RC paper. The bamboo tongs worked better for me and don't use RC paper any more.

Roger Cole · Jan 11, 2015

I used to see marks years ago from hard plastic tongs on developer incorporated RC paper (Kodak.) Never saw then on FB or other brands of RC nor on any paper after switching to tongs with rubber tips.

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Sirius Glass · Jan 11, 2015

MattKing said:
I've been using these "Mini Spatula Tongs recently, with some tape added to position the sliding adjuster: http://www.wdrake.com/buy-mini-spat...ferralID=29415065-9513-11e4-ab7a-001b2166c62d

Thanks I ordered a set of these. I also have bamboo tongs with plastic tips and I could always try them without the tips. Matt thanks for the tip.

Doremus Scudder · Jan 17, 2015

tkamiya said:
Are you careful in using one tong for developer, one tong for stop bath, and one tong for fixer, AND only use them forward, not backward?

I use those cheap bamboo kind with rubber tips also, and with RC and fiber. I have them labeled D, S, and F and I use each exclusively for the step. I only use D to carry paper from Dev to Stop and it never actually touches Stop. All other tongs are used the same way. I have never experienced the purple blotch issue you are describing.

I'm thinking you have an issue different from just tongs.

This is exactly what I do, and I've never had problems with stains or damage. I'm still using one of the tongs (fixer) from the very first set I ever bought. I use the bamboo tongs with rubber tips (two each per tray for larger prints up to 16x20; 20x24 get hands-on treatment).

The stains sound like upstream contamination, emulsion damage from careless handling to me.

FWIW, I print with generous borders, which get trimmed from the print before mounting, and I lift the prints from by grasping them with the tongs in the borders. Nevertheless, I've never seen any emulsion damage from print tongs... When agitating, I gently push the print areas that have floated up down with either the rubber tips of the tongs or my fingers. Again, never any emulsion damage; no dimpling, no breaks, etc.

Best,

Doremus

Sirius Glass · Jun 30, 2015

MattKing said:
I've been using these "Mini Spatula Tongs recently, with some tape added to position the sliding adjuster: http://www.wdrake.com/buy-mini-spat...ferralID=29415065-9513-11e4-ab7a-001b2166c62d

Sirius Glass said:

Thanks I ordered a set of these. I also have bamboo tongs with plastic tips and I could always try them without the tips. Matt thanks for the tip.

Click to expand...

I tried these tongs and the bamboo tongs switching back and forth. I found that the length of these tongs are better than the bamboo tongs. Also the leverage is better and the grip is better. The best part is that the action of these tongs is also much better. They do not mar the paper nor the emulsion. Definitely a best buy!

Ai Print · Oct 20, 2018

Last week I printed my first show in my newly built darkroom and after an all nighter, I started getting little grey marks where my well used bamboo print tongs had touched the print. I suspect that contamination issue is due to some other lack of housekeeping on my part ( had been two years since I last printed ) but I am also not real keen on how the bamboo tongs seem to absorb chemistry.

So of course I keep seeing folks mention Kostiner tongs and I remembered how impossible they were to find the last time I looked for them. About 20 minutes ago I did my usual sweep through eBay and I’ll be darned if there were not a set with some trays for $14 plus shipping. I decided to forgo going through the motions of making an offer and nailed them. If the rubber tips need to be updated that is plenty easy.

Glad I finally found a set!

Jamie A Cowan · Oct 25, 2018

Would anyone point me in a direction of a photo of theses Kostiner stainless steel tongs.

I’d like to keep my eye out for a set

Thanks in advance
Jamie

Jamie A Cowan · Oct 25, 2018

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/kostiner-stainless-steel-print-tongs-1791768440

Are these them. If so they don’t have rubber tips like you mention Ai Print?

Arklatexian · Oct 25, 2018

Ai Print said:
Last week I printed my first show in my newly built darkroom and after an all nighter, I started getting little grey marks where my well used bamboo print tongs had touched the print. I suspect that contamination issue is due to some other lack of housekeeping on my part ( had been two years since I last printed ) but I am also not real keen on how the bamboo tongs seem to absorb chemistry.

So of course I keep seeing folks mention Kostiner tongs and I remembered how impossible they were to find the last time I looked for them. About 20 minutes ago I did my usual sweep through eBay and I’ll be darned if there were not a set with some trays for $14 plus shipping. I decided to forgo going through the motions of making an offer and nailed them. If the rubber tips need to be updated that is plenty easy.

Glad I finally found a set!

Hope you have some use for those trays. As you, perhaps, already know, those trays were free because I, as you, think that is a reasonable price for the tongs. I have two sets of Kostner tongs. They have no rubber tips and I have never felt any need for them. Congratulations, Enjoy......Regards!

Arklatexian · Oct 25, 2018

Jamie A Cowan said:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/kostiner-stainless-steel-print-tongs-1791768440

Are these them. If so they don’t have rubber tips like you mention Ai Print?

Those are the ones. Gosh, still in the box too. Thank you for showing them to us........Regards!

36cm2 · Oct 25, 2018

I have and use Kostiners, but listen to Bob Carnie and Gerald Koch and you really can’t go wrong.

mshchem · Oct 25, 2018

I use Paterson tongs and trays .I have some amazing SS tongs my Dad bought after WWII that I use with flat bottom trays like Cescolite .

removed account4 · Oct 26, 2018

never had a problem with cheap bamboo tongs
other than they sometimes fall apart.
i think im on my 2nd set in 40 years

MattKing · Oct 26, 2018

I like the spring loaded tongs that you have to squeeze to open.
Of course, I'm left handed, and arrange my trays in a different direction than most right handed people .

Andrew O'Neill · Oct 26, 2018

The best tongs for me is me fingers, especially when using fibre papers...

Arthurwg · Oct 26, 2018

I use Kaiser's from B&H. Work perfectly, well worth the money.

Print Tongs - recommendations?

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Loren Sattler

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Jamie A Cowan

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Arklatexian

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36cm2

mshchem

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Print Tongs - recommendations?

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