Re: Liquid light
John Rudiak (wizard@laplaza.taos.nm.us)
Sun, 7 Jan 1996 09:59:29 -0700 (MST)
>
> I called Rockland Colloid and they insisted that my problems were from
> not using Kodak fixer or that my French had made paper from a century's
> old formula must have acrylic in it. The Kodak rapid fixer with hardner
> seems to help the emulsion lifting problem, but now I have to spend
> shorter periods of time in the dark room because I get sore throats
> from the fumes. Yes the darkroom is vented.
>
> What can I use that is less toxic so I can continue to enjoy my hobby?
>
> Thanks,
> Sandy Vrooman
>
>
>
In the early 80's, after leaving grad school, I worked as a photochemist
for a then small independant photochemical manufacturing company. One of
the goals we had, and the company still has is to make the chemistries as
user safe and hypo\allergenic as possible. The developers, for example,
have no metol in their formulations because a number of people are metol
sensitive, causing skin rashes, etc. They have a buffered stop bath
which is vanilla scented reducing the amount of acetic acid going into
the air and eliminating the vinegar smell in the darkroom. The fixer has
a similar treatment, and I think this might be helpful to you, given the
conditions you described in your post.
The company is Sprint Systems of Photography, in Pawtucket, R.I.,
and while they primarily servic educational accounts, they will sell to
individuals. Their number is 1-800-356-5073 and the contact person is
Marlaine Noel.
Hope this helps keep you in the darkroom.
John Rudiak
Alchemy Printmaking and Photography
Taos, N.M.
P.S. Sprint also has by far the best reversal chemistry for black and
white negative films on the market.