Re: preserver for gum

Yes, of course you're right - blame the wallpapering or my advanced age....I
probably only use 1 ml.....:(
Kate
----- Original Message -----
From: "Judy Seigel" <jseigel@panix.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: preserver for gum

>
>
> On Sat, 28 Feb 2004, Kate Mahoney wrote:
>
> > The traditional preservative is mercuric chloride (scares me), but I use
> > a little formaldehyde, maybe 10ml in my 500ml bottle of gum. This has
> > proved successful so far - my solution is kept in a dark cupboard, but
> > not refrigerated.
>
> That may be stronger than necessary, which (I wonder if) could actually
> harden the gum ? Anyway, I preserved a 2-oz bottle of gum arabic with 2
> drops of formaldehyde (40%) and it lasted for years.. So, if my
> arithmetic is working, 500 mls = about 17 oz, which would be 8-1/2 two oz
> bottles, so about 20 drops, or one ml should do it...
>
> However there are preservatives you can get at the drugstore more
> practical than bomb-grade peroxide (which would still lose strength over
> time, as peroxide donates it's extra 0 to charity... )
>
> I think you can get salicylic acid at the drug store? also thymol
> available through Kremer (which is also in Europe), smells very antiseptic
> & medicinal, tho that's the solid in the bottle in the closet. don't know
> if the liquid smells the same. Then carbolic acid, which I've never used
> but probably around here & there... And some kind of lavender ? I have
> some somewhere...
>
> Judy
>
>
Received on Sat Feb 28 14:09:49 2004