Selenium-again

[George Collier]

I have been using KRS toner for 20 or so years, using Fred Picker's last work flow:

Presoak if not already wet - 5min
Hypo - not fixer (Sodium Thiosulfate only) - 5min
Directly into the selenium toner - he admonished that an intermediate rinse would result in stains
Clearing agent, then wash.

Recently I heard that we should always reuse selenium toner (after dilution and use), to prevent waste, and also to exhaust it before sending it down the drain into to the environment.

Here's my question-I don't like the idea of the hypo building up in the toner bath, so - does anyone do a rinse before going into the selenium bath? Do I need to worry about staining? (I have never had stains with Fred's work flow) It would be nice to use the same bath for a multiple session.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I always rinse before toning and haven't experienced staining.

I could imagine, though, there may have been something in the Vermont water that interacted with the toner to produce staining in Fred's case.

 

[photobackpacker]

The following is from one of John Sexton's seminar handouts under the "Solving Problems" heading:

"If prints are inproperly handled or chemicals are contaminaed or exhausted, nasty "archival" stains can appear on your prints. Here are a few of the most common difficulties to watch out for.

Do not allow the toning bath to become acidic. If you encounter periodic stains of an orange or pink cast, try adding 20 grams per liter of sodium metaborate (aka Kodalk Balanced alkali) to the toning bath. This will ensure that the bath will not change from a base to a weak acid.

Do not overuse your fixer. If the prints are not thoroughly and properly fixed, unusual stains will occur on the prints. This also means that prints must be properly agitated during the fixing procedures. I recommend constant agitation in fresh fixing baths."

The second fixing bath that John uses prior to toning is 2 pounds of sodium thiosulfate plus 1/4 pound of sodium sulfite per gallon of water. He mixes his selenium with hypo clearing agent.

I have had no staining issues and I use my toning bath until toning times become intolerably long.

 

[Hoosierken]

I've read about others that have had the staining problems but I have done quite a bit of selenium toning recently going from a rinse then right into the toner and not one problem with staining. I even did some experimenting with very long soaks in the toner just to see what would happen and still no uneven toning or staining as long as I do a good long final rinse.I've only run into problems when using a second toner.

 

[ann]

i never tone in line, so always wash before toning; any type of toning. staining is not a problem.

when duo toning washing between toners is critical.

 

[fschifano]

I do like to reuse my selenium toner and so always thoroughly wash my prints before toning. If the print has been dried, I'll soak it for the requisite 5 minutes or so and then have at it. Never a stain with this procedure.

 

[blansky]

Dev, stop, fix1, fix2, 5 min wash, 5 min permawash, 5 min wash, 5-10min selenium, 5 min wash, 5 min permawash, 45 min archival washer.

I reuse selenium and add some when the times get too long.


Michael

 

[Claire Senft]

I would not think that hypo can ruin KRST since it is already an ingredient.

 

[Bob F.]

I would not think that hypo can ruin KRST since it is already an ingredient.

Indeed: KRST contains more sodium thiosulphate than anythng else. From my reading, what you have to avoid is acid. Acid fixer needs to be washed out before toning to avoid staining; with an alkaline fixer (or plain hypo) you can put it straight from the fixer into the KRST.

Bob.

 

[Mark Layne]

Traces of ferriycanide bleach will both remove the image and leave a yellow stain. wash it out well
Mark

 

[George Collier]

Thank you all for your replies. I didn't mention it, but I do add a teaspoon of Kodalk to the selenium bath, also Fred's recommendation.

 

[dr bob]

Dev, stop, fix1, fix2, 5 min wash, 5 min permawash, 5 min wash, 5-10min selenium, 5 min wash, 5 min permawash, 45 min archival washer.

I reuse selenium and add some when the times get too long.


Michael

DITTO!