Sprint Chemicals

SuzanneR · Dec 13, 2004

There is a small photo store near me that carries Sprint darkroom chemicals. Does anyone have experience using these chemicals, and any thoughts about them. Are they worth a try?

jcausey · Dec 13, 2004

They use them exclusively at my university; they seem to be of decent quality. The film developer appears to be a D76 knockoff.

$modelman$ · Dec 13, 2004

I've been using the Sprint Paper developer for years. Very convienent. 1:9 for paper. I have a few shots posted in the Critique Galary. Never had a problem with the chemicals. I don't use it for film, use HC110. Oh yes, I also use the Rapid Fixer, very good.
Bart

Shesh · Dec 13, 2004

I use their rapid fixer. Seems fine.

mark · Dec 13, 2004

I've used them and they were just fine. Very general chemicals, nothing super special, just did the job and did the job well.

david b · Dec 13, 2004

I've used all of the chemicals as well. They are just fine for general photography and very easy to mix. And the stop comes in a lovely "vanilla" scent.

ann · Dec 13, 2004

used them years ago when my vendor carried them, whould probably use again in our gang labs if they were available in my location..

c6h6o3 · Dec 13, 2004

david b said:
And the stop comes in a lovely "vanilla" scent.

The stop bath is not effective enough to stop development of amidol. I developed a large batch of 4 x 5 prints last night, 4 at a time in an 8 x 10 tray of amidol. After the first four were developed for 2 minutes, I chucked them into the Sprint stop bath and left them there while I developed the next 4 prints for 2 minutes in the amidol. Then I put the second 4 into the stop bath and then all 8 sheets into the fixer. The first 4 were all more developed than the second 4. Each of the first 4 prints was exactly the same tonality as the other 3 (too dark), and each of the second 4 was exactly the same as the other 3 (perfect). I found this hard to believe, so I tried it again with the next batch of 8. Same results. Sprint Stop Bath is the sweetest smelling water bath you can use with Azo and amidol.

removed account4 · Dec 13, 2004

i've used sprint fixer since the early 80s. i've never used anything else because it works really well, and the convenience factor of being a liquid. their film developer is a D-76 and ID-11 (?) replacement product. it works well, and it is metol-free. one cool thing about sprint chemicals, is that if you use all of them - dev/stop/fix ... when the stop bath "indicates" you know everything is exhausted. not sure if you know their website: http://www.sprintsystems.com/

suzanne, they are over the mass border in pawtucket. they used to give tours, if you are ever interested

SuzanneR · Dec 13, 2004

Sounds like a field trip! I don't know anything about them, but being so close certainly explains why my local camera store has so much! I tried the fix today. I want to see how it might affect toning the prints. Fixed some in the sprint, and some in Kodak fixer, so I'll see when I tone if there is a difference. If I like it I'll stick with the sprint. Far fewer fumes! And the liquid beats powders hands down.

Thanks for all your help.

david b · Dec 13, 2004

I have toned Ilford warmtone after using the sprint chemicals with no problems.

Actually, I mixed Kodak Rapid Selenium with the Sprint Fix Remover and the prints came out wonderful. My mix is 100ml Fix Rem + 900ml water + 50ml Selenium for about 3 minutes. If you want a color change, jack the temperature to about 75 degrees.

ann · Dec 13, 2004

Sprint fixer has a great rep for people who like to tone. Helps with the process, don't know how are why, but several tech people from Forte were very high on using SPrint fixer when toning their papers.

Jordan · Dec 13, 2004

I've been using their fixer for a while with both film and paper with good results. It has a high capacity, no objectionable odour, and is cheap. I used the film developer too, for a while. It is your standard PQ-type general-purpose film developer. Results were just fine. Unfortunately Sprint chemicals are no longer available where I live so I'll have to find another option...

jarred_mccaffrey · Dec 14, 2004

ann said:
Sprint fixer has a great rep for people who like to tone. Helps with the process, don't know how are why, but several tech people from Forte were very high on using SPrint fixer when toning their papers.

Sprint fixer is a non-hardening fixer. They have recommendations and instructions for adding hardener, but alone it has no hardener. This is probably why people like it for toning.

ann · Dec 14, 2004

most folks who do a lot of toning, always use a non-hardening fixer and there are several on the market. Sprint formula seems to be a bit different which is even more helpful with toning.

SuzanneR · Dec 14, 2004

I haven't toned the prints that I've tried in the Sprint fixer, but thanks all for the comments! It's great to get some feedback on products before shelling out the cash!

removed account4 · Dec 14, 2004

sprint chemistry was founded by paul krot. he was a risd grad who always had the needs of photographers on his mind. when kodak gave me BUM ADVICE, and told me to throw my negatives in the trash, i called paul who suggested that i use farmers reducer and his fixer to remove the dichrilic fog. i'll always remember how helpful he was, and probably never use another fixer ( as long as sprint stays in business!)

VoidoidRamone · Dec 14, 2004

I used sprint chemicals at RISD this summer, and thought they were pretty good. My TA in my class said that aside from the obvious fact that the founder was from RISD, RISD uses sprint chemistry because it is more environmentally friendly than other companies. I'm not sure if this is true... but a rumor that I heard is that people have drank the chemicals to prove that they are not environmentally harmful. Weird.
-Grant

SuzanneR · Dec 14, 2004

I'll pass on the taste test! The fix has far fewer fumes than the Kodak, so that alone is reason to go with it. I think they'll be a fine replacement for the general all purpose Kodak chemistry that I've been using, and maybe I can avoid what I call "chemical head" after a long darkroom session. Still won't dump the fix down the drain though, it's still bound to have silver in it!

Silverprinter · Dec 16, 2004

I've been using Sprint chemstries for several years with good results. Treat the developer like D-76 and you're OK. 'Tho, I've always used Kodak Indicating Stop bath, so I can't comment about Sprint's Stop Bath.

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 11, 2007

Sorry to dredge up an old thread but I've been using Sprint Fixer for years and can't say enough good things about it.

I've also been using their Quicksilver Print Developer for the last year or so as I've been learning split grade printing and am convinced that their is no better paper developer for neutral tones on Ilford MGIV FB. I have done side by side comparison's with Ansco 130 and Amidol and while I love and prefer those developers on several graded papers there seems to be no advantage to using them with the Ilford MG. The blacks have been far deeper than I expected and despite what I've read I have been able to selenium tone the Ilford MGIV prints and not only enhance the blacks but add a SLIGHT pinkish tone to the mid and high values. Excellent products.

Whiteymorange · Dec 11, 2007

Sprint is all we use at school, Suzanne. Been doing it for years and find it all pretty satisfying. Gotta love the lack of fumes.

removed account4 · Dec 11, 2007

Whiteymorange said:
Sprint is all we use at school, Suzanne. Been doing it for years and find it all pretty satisfying. Gotta love the lack of fumes.

lack of fumes!?
the stop bath is vanillia scented

i used to get hungry when i used their stop, and eventually had to go cold turkey,
so i didn't have to go on a diet <g>

haziz · Dec 12, 2007

Excellent stuff. I use their film developer, stop, fix and print developer. I actually prefer the film developer with FP4+ over Xtol and DDX, at the very least I have settled on a time and technique that produces excellent and very reliable results for me.

Sincerely,

Hany.

SuzanneR · Dec 12, 2007

Oh wow... funny to see this old thread!!! I've been using the sprint fix off and on for awhile, although I like TF4, too. I didn't like the paper developer. My prints seemed too cool to my liking. But, yes... this is great chemistry. Especially for schools and gang darkrooms!!

Good to hear about your results, Shawn.

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