Dranotype, Was: Making Silver Oxide From Red Devil Lye: Argyrotype

Maybe you've just invented the Dranotype [deadpan].

~m

Baird, Darryl wrote:
> I would certainly have to agree with what Etienne has stated. My last
> batch of Argyro (made with Drano) was unstable and produced several
> odd and inconsistent results... although I'm now intrigued by the
> results. In several instances the hue was quite neutral, with no
> warmth at all. If it could be controlled, it might be worthwhile.
>
> next stop Red Devil...
>
> Darryl Baird
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Etienne Garbaux [mailto:photographeur@softhome.net]
> Sent: Mon 9/5/2005 7:08 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: Re: Making Silver Oxide From Red Devil Lye: Argyrotype
>
> Michael wrote:
>
>> the lye I have on hand is guaranteed 98.5 per cent pure sodium
>> hydroxide, marketed as an ingredient for making soap.
>
>> I'm thinking that this must be pure
>> enough for this intended use.
>
> Of course, it all depends on what the < 1.5% impurities are and what
> process you are doing! But yes, grocery-store lye is generally
> perfectly
> fine for all photographic uses (as are grocery-store washing soda
> [sodium
> carbonate], baking soda [sodium bicarbonate], sour salt [citric acid],
> and
> borax).
>
> My previous message was directed specifically at Drano brand drain
> cleaner,
> which (in the US) is about 90% sodium hydroxide plus about 10%
> aluminum
> shavings plus coloring and anti-caking ingredients. It's primarily
> the
> aluminum that makes Drano unsuitable for photographic uses. When you
> put
> it in water, the NaOH reacts with the aluminum, giving off hydrogen
> gas and
> leaving aluminum ions in the solution. The aluminum ions then react
> with
> other ions in your coating and/or processing chemistry (particularly
> those
> containing other metal ions), leading to undesired results.
>
> Best regards,
>
> etienne
Received on Mon Sep 5 20:46:12 2005