Silvergrain Developer

[shutterspeed1000]

Does anyone use Silvergrain paper developer? I seem to be getting more sensitive to Dektol and Ilford MG. I am guessing it is the metol in them. Has anyone switched developers because of this? Did it help?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[bdial]

I didn't switch developers, but changed my habits to keep my hands out of the chemistry as much as possible by using tongs and sometimes gloves. That took care of the problem.

 

[darkclassical]

Hi Paul - this post really caught my attention because I thought my darkroom days were over due to chemical sensitivities. So, after all these months of reading APUG, this is my first post

The answer to your question is yes, I've used Silvergrain's Tektol since April and love it. It is HUGE help for me. In my case, I'm extremely sensitive to hydroquinone, metol and rapid fixers. Otherwise, I'm good!! Most people would think that would be the end of my darkroom, but I switched to XTOL for film (much better than most other film developers for toxic ingredients), Tektol for paper (RC & FB) and plain sodium thiosulfate as my fixer.

I'm curious as to your symptoms.? Mine were nasty sore throats. It took six months of research and tests for me to finally arrive at this solution with Tektol. I was determined! I still feel some effects from XTOL, but I get by and anxiously await a film developer from Silvergrain as well.

good luck
Bruce

 

[Photo Engineer]

Interestingly enough, for most people, Metol and HQ cause dermatitis or skin rashes, not sore throats. This is highly unusual and I would get it checked out.

PE

 

[shutterspeed1000]

I get a rash if I touch it at all and it takes about a week to go away. I wear gloves and use tongs but sometime I still get a drop or two on me and that is all it takes. I'll give the Silvergrain a try. Luckly the film, stop and fix solutions do not seem to bother me.

 

[darkclassical]

Hello PE! I did eventually see an ENT specialist and had my throat scoped with all showing normal. His suggestion was to avoid the cause completely! To be safe, I still use a mask with supplied air for longer times in the darkroom. Before the switch to Tektol, the mask didn't even help much! Crazy sensitivity.

btw, thank you for all your input here on this site - I've learned a lot from your posts this past year!

Bruce