Chemicals……Fridge ‘em or not?

[Asha]

I think this topic has been covered before but a search offered me no result so I’m here asking what you guys would do.

Temperatures down here generally get quite warm , but increasingly, like most places worldwide , the temps are becoming hotter and for longer periods of time.
As it is we’ve been experiencing July temps for the past six weeks ( hence the water restrictions), so July /Aug are expected to be unbearable for some people and possibly for my developing chemicals too!

Atm during the afternoons I have an ambient temperature in my darkroom of 26 celcuus ( the darkroom is the coolest room !!) )

Film and some paper is fridge stored.
The larger paper , which won’t fit in the fridge, is in a cupboard which is slightly cooler than the room itself .
Not ideal but it’s as good as it gets with the facilities that I have available.

As for chems , I could store some in the dedicated ‘film’ fridge ….. the small 1 liter bottles at least.

I wonder however if this will affect the chemical properties?

Perhaps the warm room will pose no more of a problem than the cold temperature inside the fridge??

I’ll be happy to receive your general opinions as well as any scientific jargon to confirm that all my darkroom consumables are doomed

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It would seem that if you use them at the ambient temperature for film developing the times will be verry short an inconsistent. better to use then we'll diluted so as to achieve more reasonable times at the higher temperatures.
Used developer will go off far quicker than usual. So better to use them as one shot.
Fixer will not go off but will be far more active. So do not over fix or you will start bleaching the image.
Would be good to top up the bottles with nitrogen but it might be hard to find. In some countries it is available in cans to fill tyres.
All your paper will store better in a fridge. Perhaps you could get a larger second hand one.

If you try to cool the chemicals they will warm up again during processing and you will have no idea what time to give them.

Paper development is not so temperature sensitive,and I have often used it quite hot, but it does effect the contrast a little as it brings out more detail in the highlights.

Many years ago they actually formulated tropical developers.

 

[StephenM]

It could depend on the temperature in your fridge. Except for glacial acetic acid which shouldn't be allowed to freeze (which it's doubtful would occur in a normal fridge) I can't see a problem.

I will see what the texts say.

 

[Asha]

It would seem that if you use them at the ambient temperature for film developing the times will be verry short an inconsistent. better to use then we'll diluted so as to achieve more reasonable times at the higher temperatures.
Used developer will go off far quicker than usual. So better to use them as one shot.
Fixer will not go off but will be far more active. So do not over fix or you will start bleaching the image.
Would be good to top up the bottles with nitrogen but it might be hard to find. In some countries it is available in cans to fill tyres.
All your paper will store better in a fridge. Perhaps you could get a larger second hand one.

If you try to cool the chemicals they will warm up again during processing and you will have no idea what time to give them.

Paper development is not so temperature sensitive,and I have often used it quite hot, but it does effect the contrast a little as it brings out more detail in the highlights.

Many years ago they actually formulated tropical developers.

Thanks Terry, some useful info there.

As for nitrogen, I haven’t a clue if it’s obtainable out here.
If it’s possible to get high on it then without doubt it’ll be available in some dodgy area of Nice

 

[Nod]

Do you not have some space in "votre cave pour vin"?

 

[Asha]

Do you not have some space in "votre cave pour vin"?

I suspect I can find space amongst the several tonnes of firewood

I’ll have to verify the temperature in there though as tbh it doesn’t feel any cooler than my appartement.

It is a huge cellar , housing an enormous oven which belongs to the dissused boulangerie located on the ground floor. ( Ceased trading donkeys years ago)

Perhaps if I dare descend to the deep dark depths ( no live power supply in there so it’ll be like going caving ) , I’ll find a cooler spot and likely some creepy creatures

It’s very humid in there too, not that it would pose a problem for the storage of chemicals in airtight containers.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks Terry, some useful info there.

As for nitrogen, I haven’t a clue if it’s obtainable out here.
If it’s possible to get high on it then without doubt it’ll be available in some dodgy area of Nice

Nitrogen is inert, which is why it prevents oxidation.
It makes up a large part of the atmosphere so will not harm you, but would suffocate you with out air to breathe.
At one time it was available in photo shops in gas cans.
However any inert gas will serve.

 

[Flighter]

As for nitrogen, I haven’t a clue if it’s obtainable out here.
If it’s possible to get high on it then without doubt it’ll be available in some dodgy area of Nice

Well, with added oxygen to get N2O you have laughing gas…