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copperrein — Mini Tutorial on Starting to Develop your own Film
Published: 2012-09-08 13:54:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 684; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 24
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Getting started developing your own black and white film:This is your basic supplies list:
Changing Bag (so you can safely load your exposed film into a daylight tank)
Daylight Tank with a self-feeding spool (Get the white plastic spools, much easier than the wire)
Thermometer (Whatever is accurate)
At least 3 chem bottles (brown or black plastic only...I always get a few extras just in case)
Gloves (latex medical or cleaning gloves are nice)
Some form of eye protection (Anything to keep potential splashes out of your eyes)
Heavy-ish clips to hang your film (I use giant binder clips)
Beer bottle opener (some sort to pry off a cap from underneath)
Blunt-end scissors (sharp-ended ones run the risk of slicing your light-proof bag, rendering it no longer light-proof)
That's about it for supplies. I don't use a film squeegee or a dryer. Now for a basic chemistry selection that will allow you to develop just about every black and white film out there.
Developer: Kodak D-76 B&W (It's cheap, comparatively safe to handle, and you can re-use it)
Stop Bath: Indicator or not (I use whatever is cheapest once diluted. Currently using Ilford's Indicator)
Fixer: Kodak's POWDER fixer (Not the rapidfix)
Wetting Agent: Kodak's Photo-Flo (It's safe and cheap. A little bottle goes a LONG way)
Alright, I'll do a quick pricing for all of the above:
Changing Bag: $22 www.freestylephoto.biz/322730-… .
Daylight Tank with one reel: $19 www.freestylephoto.biz/5042-Ar…
Thermometer: $4 www.freestylephoto.biz/62010-L…
Bottle x 3: $9 www.freestylephoto.biz/013200-…
Gloves: $3 at your local grocery.
Eye protection: Varies (I found some for $3 at the hardware store)
Clips: About $4 for 6 www.staples.com/Staples-Black-…
Beer opener: About $1 at the grocery or dollar store
Blunt-end scissors: About $1 at the grocery or dollar store
D-76 Developer: $6 to make 1 gallon www.freestylephoto.biz/1464817…
Stop Bath: $11 which will make 4 gallons. That is a TON of stop bath www.freestylephoto.biz/6511-Ar…
Kodak Powder Fixer: $6 to make one gallon www.freestylephoto.biz/1971746…
Wetting Agent: $9 You only use a few drops so this stuff lasts forever, too. www.freestylephoto.biz/1464510…
OK....SO.....your total: $98 without shipping.
Mind you, you'll need a decent scanner to use your negatives OR....you can have a lab turn them into prints/CD. Our local lab charges $3 to take a strip of negatives and put them on CD.
Price to develop B&W film at a lab: Cheapest I've seen is about $6 a roll. This set-up I've listed will pay for itself in 20 rolls of film AND you'll have more control over the final product as well as a greater sense of satisfaction.
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Comments: 8
Goggles and gloves are for pussies. Btw you forgot measuring cups.
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Replace stopbath with water, or water with a splash of white vinegar.
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Kodak D-76 B&W (It's cheap, comparatively safe to handle, and you can re-use it) . You can only reuse if if its stock, undiluted, in the same session, and only for 2 or 3 more times.
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and tnk you by the way idon't have any thing to ask about ^^
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