Same grad for dev and fix?

Oh-kee, here it goes... I can figure out the theory--I'm looking for personal experience.

I have always segregated my trays and grads religiously, these for dev, these for fix, etc. Recently, I started traveling more, lugging my tank with me and developing as I go. Nothing fancy: D-76 and Ilford Rapid Fixer. If I could safely use the same grads for dev and fix, I would gain a couple of cubic feet in my luggage volume--yay, more socks! So here's the proposition--

"If you rinse thoroughly, your won't see adverse effects from reusing the same Paterson graduate for dev and fix--either now or 20 years from now."

Who can subscribe to this based on own experience--raise your hand!

PS. I know, I've been doing just that with my dev tank for 30 years... But I feel like a chat, slow day...

05 May 2014

Vilk:

I have also segrgated trays, which is a good idea. I have also used the same graduate for dev, stop, and fix for many years with no problem. I rince the graduate 2 or 3 times with agitation/swirling befor mixing the next chemical. Also always mix chems in the order of processing, i.e. dev -> stop -> fix -> hypo. This will minimize a ny "carry-over" that does occur.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Darwin

No do not do this , I agree with Darwin as well

I've never even segregated my trays.

After all, those of us who do single tray processing of 16 x 20 and larger pieces of very expensive printing paper seem to come out fine.

I use my graduates interchangeably. As stated, rinse well, and use in the processing order as secondary insurance and you'll be fine.

I use separate, well labeled graduates and beakers, as well as trays and tongs. If I were to go to one grad and one beaker, I'd only do it with glassware cleaner (can't remember the name of what we used at the lab) and a glass grad and beaker. Plastic just doesn't clean well enough for me.
There are enough ways I can manage to screw up so using separate containers lessens the chances of using the wrong chemical.

If you rinse them out, what's the problem?

Vilk said:

"If you rinse thoroughly, your won't see adverse effects from reusing the same Paterson graduate for dev and fix--either now or 20 years from now."

Who can subscribe to this based on own experience--raise your hand!

:

Click to expand...

I agree and if you can't then there must be many disappointed and angry secondhand tray and grad buyers on e-bay wanting a refund.

pentaxuser

Strict separation of all solutions, dedicated labeled containers, trays, measures, tongs, mixing, and storage. End of discussion.

Wow. I only own one graduated cylinder, and I use "single container" processing for all paper developing. I also only own two stainless steel tanks for film developing, one for 135 and one for 120. I wash all well between developing sequences.

Separate tray in the garage for selenium toning and two separate pyrex trays for calotype and salt print stuff.

Edit: I do keep my developer and stop and fixer in separate bottles.

guys--you figure out which ones--a million thanks, traveling lighter each time!

In my European "darkroom" I have only one graduate. I mix fix, stop and PMK developer in it. It is a Paterson polyethylene one-liter graduate. Rinse out well between solutions and you will have no problems. I've had no contamination in 17 years with it.

When traveling and developing, which I don't do so much anymore, you can just carry one graduate, a syringe if you need for measuring very small amounts of developer and your developing tank/trays. Use disposable paper cups for mixed solutions; rinse and discard after use.

Best,

Doremus

My background includes analytical chemistry so I've never shaken off the habit of leaving the laboratory er, darkroom absolutely free of reagent residue. I wash everything, trays, measures, tongs, bottles, sink, tap handles with detergent. Then rinse, dry (clean towels), and put everything away in its proper place. This way I can start the next darkroom session immediately without finding stuff or cleaning stuff. And to absolutely avoid the chance of cross contamination I even wipe light switches and door handles because a trace of fixer here will transfer to hands and cause white fingerprints on every sheet of photographic paper ($$) that gets picked out of the box.