Using and storing powdered chemicals

[matti]

So, I bought a scale and started mixing my own developers from powdered chemicals, instead of letting my chemist wife mixing stuff at work. (Last night I had fun with the PPPD-developer by Donald Miller.)

About the safety:
How do I best mix powdered stuff like Catechol, Pyro, Phenidone etc without a vented hood? If I am careful it seems unlikely that I will stir things up so that I breath in the powder, some stuff is also more like crystals than a powder. Will it do to use a disposable dust mask and wipe down the area afterwards? Is it something I sould be extra careful about with the usual developer chemicals in dry form when it comes to dust?

About storing:
I have bottles for liquids but nothing for the dry chemicals. I suppose the plastic bags that the chemicals are delivered in can let hygroscopic stuff take up water etc? What about those plastic eppendorf tubes if stored in darkness?

/matti

 

[Slixtiesix]

Catechol and Pyro? Not really healthy aren´t they?
A good recommendation when dissolving powder chemicals in water is to put the edge
of the plastic bag under the water surface, this way you prevent the powder from getting into
the air and it can dissolve immediately. Very safe way for "normal" chemicals,
but I think when handling Catechol and Pyro, a mask or something like that won´t be wrong.

About storing: I never used Cat nor Pyro but e.g. the plastic bags Ilford uses are safe enough
for storing the powders over a long time. I think there´s no necessity to store them any other way,
you just would make thinks worse. If you really want to make things shure, you can
put the bags, together with some silica-gel, in an air-tight vessel.

 

[jim appleyard]

You can mix your chemicals outside. (Just don't let the neighbors see you with the mask and gloves!

 

[dancqu]

So, I bought a scale and started mixing my
own developers from powdered chemicals, ...
I have bottles for liquids but nothing for
the dry chemicals. matti

Use weighing papers for any small amounts.
Dispense by tapping. Note the nature of the
material prior to removing the lid. Be sure it is
loose. Shack before using.

Give wide mouth Polycone or Polyseal capped
glass amber bottles a look. Not expensive. Dan

 

[juan]

The usual recommendation for mixing outside can sometimes be a bad idea. The first time I tried to mix ABC pyro, I did it outside. As I was pouring the pyro, a big gust of wind came along and blew it all over the place.

I now mix inside. I use the bathtub, where I can wipe up afterwards easily. I wear a mask purchased at the hardware store with two canisters on the outside - they are marked for organic vapors, not just paint.

Be careful, be sensible, and you should not have a problem.
juan

 

[matti]

Thanks for all the advice. The bathtub is a good idea. It's easy to just wash off after. Together with a dust mask and gloves I should be fine.
I found some used dark glass vitamin jars, that should be fine for small ammounts of powder.

/matti