Question about chemical storage

HumbleP · Nov 2, 2014

Hi,

I'm moving house and will be needing to pack up and store my chemicals (along with household contents) for approximately 6 months. They're predominately raw powdered chems all for B&W and colour developing. (Obviously they're all in sealed bottles or containers which I've boxed up (plastic storage tubs mostly).
My intention was to store all of this, along with my household stuff, via shipping container storage. The container would then be sealed and stored in a port of some sort.

Would this be ok or not? I thought I'd check with more knowledgeable folk on this forum before I go ahead.

Cheers

Sirius Glass · Nov 2, 2014

I do not believe that you will have a problem with the powdered chemical or the liquid chemicals in tightly closed bottles.

MattKing · Nov 2, 2014

Check carefully the terms of any shipping, rental or storage contract you sign, along with any insurance policy you may have. Whether or not it is reasonable, you may find restrictions that would be breached by your plan.

eddie · Nov 2, 2014

Shipping containers can get to 50-60 degrees Celsius, especially in a place like Australia. Probably not the ideal condition for storage, unless you're willing to pay for a climate controlled unit.

David Lyga · Nov 3, 2014

Just make certian that the powders remain DRY. I have some metol left that I had bought in 1972! Still just as good.

Now, I use PET plastic bottles (of course, thoroughly washed and even more thoroughly DRIED) for all storage of powders. (I also store salt and food-stuffs in PET plastic bottles, but, if you do, make certain to label properly; I once had a guest who almost helped himself to some 'apple juice', which was really Dekol stock solution!)

Hot or cold will NOT affect powdered chemicals. I have had a darkroom since 1964. - David Lyga

HumbleP · Nov 3, 2014

THanks everyone for the replies

MartinP · Nov 6, 2014

From family experience, don't put anything valuable (I mean really irreplaceable, such as all your negatives) in shipping storage and do make sure that you have everything valued and insured for replacement value. It is far from unusual to have shipping storage breached. Following on from that, if the insurance company can wriggle out of paying simply because you had a small store of photo-chemicals in the same shipping container then they will definitely do so. Check terms and conditions very carefully indeed. Also, assume that the container will leak in rain, even if the shipping agent says that it won't.

kiss-o-matic · Nov 7, 2014

Be careful. I destroyed 3 rolls of Portra 400 recently using developer that exhausted after it sat too long. It wasn't that long either -- like 6-8 weeks. If I ever get into C41 again (which might not happen) I will keep a test roll around I can cut off a few inches of and test each batch.

Question about chemical storage

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