Is it safe to use a bathtub to develop film or prints with Rodinal or other developers?

Asked 6/25/2016

1 views

2 answers

0

I'm considering developing film or prints in a modern ceramic bathtub, using a highly diluted developer such as Rodinal for stand development. The tub would still be used later for normal bathing. Is that safe, and are there practical downsides such as staining, cleanup, or workflow issues? Are any developers better suited to this than others?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

4

I think using a bath tub for development is a bad idea.

  • you won't be able to clean the bathtub perfectly, after some time you will have some stains in hard to clean areas
  • as far as I know the particular benzene derivative contained in Rodinal is not known as carcinogen, but many similar chemicals are and I would not expose naked bodies of innocent people to it. What if new testing is done one day and the rating is changed
  • bath tub does not have the most effective shape for development
  • you will need about the same amount of liquid for your stop bath and for fixer, you will need same size or larger containers for washing. You would need at least two bath tubs to do any development and ideally four or five to do it effectively

Originally by user27944. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27944

10y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Using a household bathtub for film or print development is generally not recommended.

From a safety standpoint, black-and-white developers such as Rodinal are not usually considered extremely hazardous when handled properly, but they are still darkroom chemicals and should not be treated as something you want in contact with skin during later bathing. Even if the risk is low, residue in seams, drain areas, or hard-to-clean spots is an unnecessary concern.

Practically, a bathtub is also a poor processing vessel. It can stain over time, is awkward to clean thoroughly, and its shape is inefficient for consistent development. You would also need similarly large volumes for stop bath, fixer, and washing, which makes the whole workflow cumbersome unless you have multiple large containers.

No common developer is especially suited to direct bathtub use. A much better approach is to develop film in tanks and reels, and prints in trays or other dedicated darkroom containers. That uses less chemistry, is easier to control, and keeps bathroom fixtures free of chemical contamination and staining.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

Your Answer