I am setting up my first dark room in my basement. In the same room is the hot water heater for the house... In looking at the chemicals I need for Black and White development the only flammable one is the stop bath. Am I overlooking something? Will I have a problem with any of the other chemicals? Is there a stop bath that is not flammable?

-- Nicole (alohaparky@aol.com), July 12, 2002

Answers

Dear Nicole,

I'm no technical expert, but have been doing darkroom work for about 20 years. I've never run across an inflammable stop bath! Try acetic acid (vinegar?), but don't lay it on too thick and ventilate the room from time to time while you work (and in any case!).

Hope this helps, JMClarke

-- JMClarke (enterknot@t-online.de), August 11, 2002.

Hi, I believe almost all (if not all) commercial stop baths are acetic acid based, which is not flammable. As a matter of fact, in 40 years of doing B&W photography I have never heard of a flammable stop bath. Good luck, Frank

-- Frank Tar (FrankTar@hotmail.com), March 27, 2003.