CPD
Hello,
My question is directly related to development by eye.
I’d actually quite like to process a whole stack of sheet films – about 5 or 6 sheets – all at once.
I work in the developer wearing gloves; once a film is finished, it goes into the stop bath. Of course, I mustn’t then reach into the stop bath to transfer the film to fixer bath 1 (I use a two-step fixing process), as the developer – which I’ll need to handle again afterwards – would be ruined very quickly.
I don’t think using tongs is very practical due to the risk of damaging the emulsion. Or is my concern unfounded?
Hence my question: Can I collect the fully developed films in the stop bath (the tray is covered with cardboard to prevent light leak) until I have finished the development of all the films, and only then fix them? Or does leaving them in the stop bath for too long damage the films?
Best regards, CP
cfb_de
Hi CP,
In principle, an alkaline environment turns gelatin into sugars, soap and other gunk. So leaving it on for too long isn’t a good idea because of the ‘gunk’. What’s more, hydroquinone/metol/phenylenediamine derivatives aren’t really compatible with human skin either.
Since I don’t want to know (and wouldn’t recommend) what your specific developer does to your specific fingers: have you ever thought about using the cheapest disposable gloves?
[*For me*, that would be too much hassle. However, I don’t immediately sue a chemist’s shop and am a bit more “solid” when it comes to handling chemicals in terms of knowledge. *What* is actually in your developer?]
Best regards,
Franz
CPD
Hi Franz,
I always wear gloves as a matter of principle, but I don’t have the time to change them or wash them every time I dip my hands into the stop bath.
But I’ve done the maths: I always process batches with the same, or at least a similar, contrast range at the same time, so the development is finished almost simultaneously and the actual dwell time in the stop bath won’t be that long, so I’m just going to take the risk.
You’re right, it’s a lot of effort: BUT – I really enjoy it, which is the main thing, and I don’t process that many sheet films anyway.
Many thanks! Regards, CP
Gast
Hi CP,
Sheet films can also be ‘handled’ with tweezers without scratching them, etc. The trick is to cut the fingers off your (used) gloves (the little finger usually works best, depending on the thickness of the tweezers’ arms), pull them over the arms of the tweezers so that they fit snugly, and there you have it: a gentle film tweezers. Now all you need is one pair of pliers per bath and nothing can go wrong!
I also fish my sunken baryta papers out of the stationary Nova baryta washer using a ‘covered’, flat plastic rod. It’s worked perfectly for ages without causing any damage.
Incidentally, you can also use wooden (they’re the right width) doctor’s tongue depressors (I mean those odd little wooden slats they use to press your tongue down during a throat examination) or the wooden sticks from licked-clean ice lollies (Magnum has nice wide wooden sticks). Kitchen tongs of a suitable size and "appropriate shape" are also suitable. It all works.
Best regards
Lothar
Gast
Oh, and
just so there’s no misunderstanding: the chopsticks, kitchen tongs and so on must, of course, be covered with finger cots too!
Best regards,
Lothar
CPD
Hi Lothar,
That really is a brilliant idea. Thanks!
I’ll give the Kodak stainless steel frames a go for the hanging tank, though.
Best regards
CP
