I finally got a makeshift darkroom setup. Had to compromise a lot, but at least for awhile I'll be able to make some images and experiment a bit. I've discovered my containers (all my stuff has been in storage for years) are all missing. I've just shelled out a bunch of money for other stuff I really need and spending four to five dollars per container at the local (an hour's drive) photo shop is out of the question at the present time. Suggestions for other things that work - one quart and one gallon sizes - would be helpful. Thanks a bunch for all the help so far.

John

-- John Kilmer (jkilmer@usadatanet.net), February 21, 2001

Answers

Vinegar still comes in glass, and a 1 quart bottle of vinegar is cheaper than a 1 quart photo chemical bottle. Look for a screw on cap instead of snap on. Heinz, I think, still does screw tops.

You can use the vinegar, diluted, as stop bath. Filter it, and get the clear vinegar, not apple cider.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), February 21, 2001.

Wine bottles are excellent. Get the less expensive type with screw caps. This so called "jug wine" comes in 1 & 2 liter sizes. Get the type with the dark class and the moulded handle at the neck. It's lots of fun emptying the bottles as well :-).

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), February 21, 2001.

For years I used glass, but over the years they all slowly dissapeared. For the last few years I have been using (gasp!), plastic milk jugs. They are free, disposable, and I have noticed no problems with my chemistry. I mix fairly small batches, and don't keep it around long.

-- Bruce Appel (appelgate@aol.com), February 21, 2001.

Try the pepsi large mouth soda water bottles. The plastics used don't pass air through so your chemistry stays up to strength. If the chemistry is light sensitive, wrap the bottle in tape or tin foil.

As for wine bottles... I live in Utah. What are wine bottles?

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), February 21, 2001.

Make friends with the local druggist. I used to get wonderful gallon size amber bottles that cough syrup came in, for free. Throw away the stinky cap and replace it with a rubber stopper or cork.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), February 21, 2001.

While I was in Canada I used 1 qt. orange juice plastic bottles for fixer etc. and for lightsensitive I used the green Seven-Up bottles.

Back home I use 2.5 l chemical glass bottles, former Ethanol. So look for a local laboratory, they usually have some empty solvent bottles, most of them are brown glass. Prefer Acetone or Ethanol, Isoprop. it evaporates fast and leaves no residues.

[My institute changed the supplier and now Ethanol comes in white plastic :-( ]

Good luck,

Wolfram

-- Wolfram Kollig (kollig@ipfdd.de), February 22, 2001.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I can't believe I didn't think of some of those myself :)

John

-- John Kilmer (jkilmer@usadatanet.net), February 22, 2001.

IBC Root Beer is available in 1 quart brown glass bottles. It's as cheap as vinegar but tastes better! Also, check the local beer brewing supply shop. I stopped in one that had lots of brown and clear bottles, 12oz up to 1 gal.

-- Dave Mueller (dmueller@bellatlantic.net), February 26, 2001.

if you use wine bottle you can get these rubber corks and this pump that will suck all the air out the bottle. great for developers.check wine maker shops.-J

-- josh (devil_music@usa.net), February 26, 2001.

I've been using emptied 5 liter Box wine bladders for storage of film/ paper developer. Wash the wine residue out and let dry. Fill with your mixed developer and cap with the new fangeled plastic cap, squeeze the air out tighten the cap.You now have an air tight plastic container. Place back in the card board box and store on your shelf for drawing off small units for each need. Works great and protects the shelf life of my darkroom chemicals from light and air. I admit it takes awhile to get the original box empty , maybe thats the fun of it!

-- Russell Brubaker (brbkr@macs.net), February 27, 2001.

Yes- microbreweries! Ask for glass 'growler' bottles.

-- Murray Leshner (murray@uptowngallery.org), November 17, 2001.