Does anybody have the recipe for mixing selenium toner using raw chemicals.

-- Neeraj Mahajan (neerajmahajan20@hotmail.com), October 02, 1999

Answers

I understand that the selenium compound (selenium chloride?) needed for selenium toner is EXTREMELY toxic and dangerous to handle in dry form, and therefore, largely unavailable to the general public. I would recommend a commercial preparation such as Kodak Rapid Selenim Toner or similar if you can possibly get it in your area. If not, be careful mixing your own, or do without. Also remember that prints can be re-soaked and toned at any time. Maybe you can save up a batch or two for possible toning in the future when you can obtain the proper chemicals. Regards, ;^D)

-- Doremus Scudder (ScudderLandreth@compuserve.com), October 02, 1999.

I suggest you only do this if you are a qualified chemist, and have the appropriate facilities. In powder form, selenium is Really Nasty.

Having said that, here is an extract from the Dictionary of Photography, 1946. If you really want to make this yourself, you should find a more up-to-date reference. ---- start quote ----

  sodium sulphite (anhydr) 200g
  selenium                  30g
  water to                1000cc

Dissolve the selenium in the hot sulphite solution. Keep in full bottles tightly stoppered with waxed corks. For use, add 1 part to 20 parts of 30% hypo solution. Toning takes some 20 minutes at 65 deg F. ---- end quote ----

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), October 03, 1999.

Even the Kodak stuff was not allowed in my area some time ago. Kodak had an instruction sheet for mixing the toner from raw chemicals. I have it somewhere - if you really want it, I can dig it out from the deposits of paper layers... I suppose it can be found in the Darkroom Cookbook, too.

But, believe the previous messages - selenium powder IS really poisonous, not harmful. You must have proper tools and places to handle it, preferably a ventilated closet like in chemist's labs. And, you have to get rid of the used toner afterwards, too.

The homecooked stuff isn't so fast as the version made by Kodak, and the color shift of Kodak's toner is preferred by most people.

Sakari

-- Sakari Mdkeld (sakari.makela@koulut.vantaa.fi), October 03, 1999.

Here is: Water..................... 700ml Sodium Sulphite ..... 150g Selenium ................ 6g Boil until dissolved, wait for cooling and then add Ammonium chloride .. 190g Water to make ......... 1000ml For use dilute 1:5 ( I use 1:9 2min) Author : B. L. Twin / Formula Kodak T-55

Good luck

-- Sergio Caetano (thgardin@uol.com.br), October 05, 1999.