Sunday last I developed a roll of Foma 200. Nothing new there, but I decided to have a bit of an “end of season chemical clear out” at the same time.
For the last 10 rolls of film I’ve been using Barry Thornton’s 2 bath Metol developer (BTTB). I was encouraged to try this by John Finch over at Pictorial Planet. He’s been testing a few films recently with two or three different developers, and in more than one case, BTTB has had the slight edge. I thought I’d give it a go. It’s very, very good. As good as D23, but sharper. To my eye as good as FX55, another favourite of mine, but with easier contrast control being a two bath. I mixed mine 7/6/26 and developed 10 rolls of 36 in it, over three months. It shows no sign of failing and I’m sure I could get at least another couple of rolls through it, but why risk it. I decided to dump it after that 10th.
I’ve also been using the same home made stop bath, simply white wine “spirit” vinegar let down to 2%. I buy it 5 litres at a time from Amazon. I mix 400ml of it with 600ml water (1/1.5) this brings it down to 2% acidity which is about right! My last litre was mixed 18/6/26 and so has also done about 10 rolls.
I use Ilford Rapid Fix. 1+4 (200ml to 800ml water). According to Ilford’s data sheet this should be OK for about 30 rolls! When I first mix it, I do a little time test to see how long it takes to clear the film. I repeat this test every now and again, just to check it’s still ok. When it gets to double the original time, I dump it. This litre was mixed 3/4/26 and has done 23 rolls. not bad for 200ml of “juice”!
The ideal/proper thing to do is to save up the used fix and take it to the local recycle centre that can, and does, dispose of it properly. Sadly that’s easier said than done in this part of the world. Last time I tried this I was looked at as if I was mad and after explaining silver content etc, I was told to just leave it by the old car batteries! I sure it was just thrown in with the household waste. Bearing in mind I use little fix/film in a worldwide sense (i.e. I’m not a film lab) what I now do is this…
At the end of this film development, instead of pouring both parts of the dev back into the bottle for re-use, I poured them into a bucket. Used the stop, poured that into the same bucket. Fixed in the usual way, poured that into the bucket. This mix helps bring the PH closer to neutral. Then I wash the film in the usual way and throw that into the bucket too. This dilutes the “soup” even further. Then I pour it down the drain, followed by a bucket of rainwater and a bowl of used washing up water. Hopefully that will have mixed, diluted and dispersed any nasties thin enough to cause no harm.
Next film: a complete new set of chemicals.
A photo? ohh alright then! An image from the film developed…..
S.H.O.U.T. 