Which Hardener When Sizing For Carbon Printing?

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Moderator

Joined

Jan 16, 2004

Messages

11,912

Location

Coquitlam,BC Canada

Format

Multi Format

• May 3, 2009

• #1

Which hardener do you use when gelatin sizing the final support paper when carbon printing? Formaldehyde? Will my darkroom end up smelling like the undertaker's?

 

Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2009

Colin Graham

Member

Joined

Sep 5, 2004

Messages

1,264

Format

Plastic Cameras

• May 3, 2009

• #2

I use glyoxal, no odor at all. Some have reported yellowing problems with age or flattening the prints in a drymount press, but I haven't. Yet..

 

Colin Graham

Member

Joined

Sep 5, 2004

Messages

1,264

Format

Plastic Cameras

• May 4, 2009

• #3

...forgot to mention that glyoxal might also lull people into a false sense of complacency because it's lack of odor- it may as dangerous as formalin or formaldehyde, I'm not sure. But I treat all chemicals with a great deal of respect, no matter how innocent its appearance.

 

sanking

Member

Joined

Mar 26, 2003

Messages

5,437

Location

Greenville,

Format

Large Format

• May 4, 2009

• #4

I use Formalin, but always with a fan for ventilation. It is an obnoxious odor, and dangerous, but I have gotten yellowing with glyoxal several times so I avoid it.

Chrome alum was used a lot in the past and it works fine, though not as fast as formalin. But there is little or no odor.

Sandy King

Andrew O'Neill said:

Which hardener do you use when gelatin sizing the final support paper when carbon printing? Formaldehyde? Will my darkroom end up smelling like the undertaker's?

Click to expand...

 

OP

OP

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Moderator

Joined

Jan 16, 2004

Messages

11,912

Location

Coquitlam,BC Canada

Format

Multi Format

• May 4, 2009

• #5

Thanks guys. I do have Alum Chromate on hand, so I'll try that before tackling formalin.
By the way Sandy, I ordered your book on Carbon & Carbro printing through alternativephotography...If you actually send it to me yourself, can I get you to sign it?

 

sanking

Member

Joined

Mar 26, 2003

Messages

5,437

Location

Greenville,

Format

Large Format

• May 4, 2009

• #6

Sure, be happy to sign it. But when did you order the book? I don't have any record of the order as of now?

Sandy

Andrew O'Neill said:

Thanks guys. I do have Alum Chromate on hand, so I'll try that before tackling formalin.
By the way Sandy, I ordered your book on Carbon & Carbro printing through alternativephotography...If you actually send it to me yourself, can I get you to sign it?

Click to expand...

 

OP

OP

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Moderator

Joined

Jan 16, 2004

Messages

11,912

Location

Coquitlam,BC Canada

Format

Multi Format

• May 4, 2009

• #7

Hi Sandy,

I ordered it yesterday...thanks!