Freezing film and chemicals.

soupdragon

soupdragon

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I have never frozen or refrigerated film or chemicals before as it has, in the past, been readily available.
These days it's touch and go if you can get colour supplies let alone what I want.
So. Is there really any benefit to doing this or is it urban legend/myth?

The reason I ask is that I'm contemplating stock piling the stuff so as to ensure I can get a few more years out of my hobby.
 
soupdragon said:
I have never frozen or refrigerated film or chemicals before as it has, in the past, been readily available.
These days it's touch and go if you can get colour supplies let alone what I want.
So. Is there really any benefit to doing this or is it urban legend/myth?

The reason I ask is that I'm contemplating stock piling the stuff so as to ensure I can get a few more years out of my hobby.
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I've frozen film for years, I started when I used to get just about to expire film (and photographic printing paper) cheap. The thing to keep in mind that once it has been frozen although it won't age when you decide to use it just take out what you are going to use let it come slowly up to room temperature (I pop it in the fridge for a few hours then take it out about an hour before loading). Once loaded it's wise to use it and process it quickly. Never domne chemicals so can't say.
 
Topsy said:
I've frozen film for years, I started when I used to get just about to expire film (and photographic printing paper) cheap. The thing to keep in mind that once it has been frozen although it won't age when you decide to use it just take out what you are going to use let it come slowly up to room temperature (I pop it in the fridge for a few hours then take it out about an hour before loading). Once loaded it's wise to use it and process it quickly. Never domne chemicals so can't say.
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I was considering freezing my E6 raw chemistry but I'm worried about ice potentially cracking the bottles.
It's a shame powdered E6 is not available. I have powdered C41 which basically lasts for ever in the unopened sachets.
 
No specific experience of freezing photochemical solutions but as a general rule if you freeze solutions it can be problematic to get the stuff back in solution again so I wouldn’t do it.

Powder should be OK but then there’s probably no benefit compared with storing it in a cool dark place at a fairly constant temperatur.
 
A silly question but how does freezing film preserve it ? I know freezing works great on meat and veggies lol but film?
 
It slows down chemical degradation which causes some "different" effects on colours. It doesn't stop degradation caused by sub atomic particles... (but that's almost negligible IRL!)
 
I've frozen mixed B&W dev and used it successfully a year or two later, can't remember which one but it was Kodak that came as a powder to mix 5l at once IIRC. TBH I've never bothered buying that Dev again as things like HC110 and Rodinal keep well anyway.
 
sirch said:
I've frozen mixed B&W dev and used it successfully a year or two later, can't remember which one but it was Kodak that came as a powder to mix 5l at once IIRC. TBH I've never bothered buying that Dev again as things like HC110 and Rodinal keep well anyway.
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That would a relatively dilute solution which would help. Freezing more concentrated versions may not go so well.
 
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