So, I feel like a *real* photographer now (grocery store development)

All,
I am happy to report complete success on my Grocery Store film development quest. Unfortunately, you will have to take my word for it until next week when I will have access to a scanner.
I used the caffenol+c developer, a water stopbath, and was able to find sodium thiosulfate in a petshop (aquarium chlorine remover). However, MOST of the chlorine removers were sodium sulfite.

Bill of materials:
Instant Coffee - $2.69
Washing Soda - $1.29
Vitamin C tabs -$1.99
Aquarium Chlorine Remover - $3.09

I am not sure what strength the sodium thiosulfate is in the dilution, so I used it straight out of the bottle. I read somewhere that the fixer would also need (?) some sodium sulfite in it, so I added a bit of that as well.

Regards,

Hey Steve..when ya' get a few minutes, spill the beans on the specifics of preparing processing solutions, times, temps etc. Very interesting.

Yes please, me too!

B.

I'm sure it was an interesting experiment, but did you find that your results were as good or better than what you get from commercially prepared chemistry? Seems to me that the concentration of sodium thiosulfate in the aquarium chlorine remover would be very low, making the use of that particular chemical very expensive when compared to photographic fixer. The rest, I can see as worth trying.

All the chlorine removers I have seen were in powder form. You make the solution as strong as you want it.

gainer said:

All the chlorine removers I have seen were in powder form. You make the solution as strong as you want it.

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How strong is too strong?

Would it be reasonable to assume that the usual film clearing time test will tell you if the strength of the fixer is acceptable?

Cheers, Bob.

OK, here's the rundown:
I followed Mr. Qualls Caffenol+C formula:
8oz Water
2.5tsp of Washing Soda
1g (3 500mg tabs) of Vitamin C
4tsp Instant Coffee

Add the washing soda into the water and mix until it clears. Then add the vitamin C and the instant coffee. Mix until it is all in solution; then let it sit for 10mins or so, and stir again to make sure everything is consistent.

So...pretty much at this point, the developer was at room temp. I was developing Efke 25 @ 25asa, so I began using the recommended time of 12mins (I later extended this to 14mins).
As for the fixer...Again I wasn't sure of the dilution here, so further experimentation needs to be done. All I was worried about was the ability of it to clear, obviously I wouldn't recommend this if you could source 'real' fixer.

For final findings - I can't say for certain, as a print is the real proof. Also, I was using a lens I haven't used before (Velostigmat) - its not a new, coated lens..So I shouldn't really comment on contrast/sharpness, etc. However, the negs look as I would expect - but there is a slight fog to it (as it seems is normal with this developer). All in all, Im happy thus far.

Again, my point is this: It is comforting to know that one day if you ever HAD to, you could. Really, I am happy with the outcome, although when I get home I'll try this again, under more controlled conditions. That way, I can do direct comparisons to 'real' chems, and modern lenses.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, etc. I'll get a scan of the neg on Monday when I get home.

Thanks !

Hi,

I think vinegar can be used as a great stop bath (acetic acid)

have a read of this thread also:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I am on a quest to make a process that involves organic grocery shopping store 'chems' only - for now I'll forgo the organic part but am really interested in your coffee and vit.C developer ...

I know I can get organic instant coffee here but are there any more natural versions of Vit.C (oranges, cranberry juice?) that could be used - and the washing soda and sodium thiosulfate ... they are basically just repackages of chemicals (but I guess its nice to know that in a fix your local pet store might have the solution) however is there a food-product or by-product that could take its place ?

I dont mind having to boil, distill, extract, evaporate etc... to get the right parts from whatever is suggested nor am I worried too much at this stage about quality or long develop times..

Personally I think it would be a great day when you could prepare a meal or at least a smoothy out of your photographic chemicals that wont leave you scratching at your guts in agony (it might taste odd though)

I spilled %98 sulphuric acid on my finger the other day, I could feel it start to react with my sweat so decided to bite the bullet and rinse it off - its moments like this when 'caffeinol+C' starts to sound like a great idea

Rick,
Well, here is the issue. Washing soda is already 'natural', isn't it ? It is just sodium carbonate. As for sodium thiosulfate - you got me. I don't think there is any natural source of it.

SteveH said:

Rick,
Well, here is the issue. Washing soda is already 'natural', isn't it ? It is just sodium carbonate. As for sodium thiosulfate - you got me. I don't think there is any natural source of it.

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I saw a show on PBS a few weeks ago about a confederate prisoner who made potraits of fellow prisoners on on tin can lids. He used Sodium Thiosulphate for fixer. It was easily available as it was thought to be a nerve tonic during the civil war. People used to drink the stuff.

Kilgallb said:

I saw a show on PBS a few weeks ago about a confederate prisoner who made potraits of fellow prisoners on on tin can lids. He used Sodium Thiosulphate for fixer. It was easily available as it was thought to be a nerve tonic during the civil war. People used to drink the stuff.

Click to expand...

Did it FIX them? (Sorry, couldn't help myself)