Ilford 902 safelight filter

FujiLove

FujiLove

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I used an old pack of Ilford MG paper at the weekend and it came out of the dev quite badly fogged. After carefully re-sealing the window and checking the door, I realised I was using the wrong type of safelight. The pack says to use a 902 filter (amber?). I've been using an orange paterson one with new MGIV paper without any problems.

Any recommendations on what to buy so I can use this paper? Better still, has anyone got something suitable that they're not using and would like to sell me?
 
Not sure if it helps but I made a DIY box with red LEDs in it powered by a 9v battery. 9 red LEDs (well, 8... I killed one) in total which is pretty bright and doesn't affect the paper at all (tested a piece of paper under it with a coin on top for ten mins). Was a piece of cake to make and only cost a few quid in parts.

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First, are you sure that the paper isn't fogged due to age/chemical exposure?

Failing that, I'm pretty sure that I use an Ilford 902 filter in a Photax safelight. Some years ago, I replaced the original one (early 1960s) with a new one as the old had a few dark marks on it. It's a 7x5 screen, so you need a safelight that will take this. If you're interested in having the old one, I'll see if I can find where I put it and check that it's a 902 (it is Ilford, and it is brown).
 
FujiLove said:
I used an old pack of Ilford MG paper at the weekend and it came out of the dev quite badly fogged. After carefully re-sealing the window and checking the door, I realised I was using the wrong type of safelight. The pack says to use a 902 filter (amber?). I've been using an orange paterson one with new MGIV paper without any problems.

Any recommendations on what to buy so I can use this paper? Better still, has anyone got something suitable that they're not using and would like to sell me?
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I'd be looking more at your paper being fogged with age J, an Orange Paterson SL is perfectly OK with MG paper.(y)

George.
 
StephenM said:
First, are you sure that the paper isn't fogged due to age/chemical exposure?

Failing that, I'm pretty sure that I use an Ilford 902 filter in a Photax safelight. Some years ago, I replaced the original one (early 1960s) with a new one as the old had a few dark marks on it. It's a 7x5 screen, so you need a safelight that will take this. If you're interested in having the old one, I'll see if I can find where I put it and check that it's a 902 (it is Ilford, and it is brown).
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Thanks Stephen - that would be great.
 
G.K.Jnr. said:
I'd be looking more at your paper being fogged with age J, an Orange Paterson SL is perfectly OK with MG paper.(y)

George.
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Hmm...the reason I'm blaming the safelight is I've used old paper before that's been badly stored in hot conditions and I didn't experience any fogging at all. This paper is MG 3 and specifically says to use a 902 light brown safelight, not the current MGIV which specifies orange or light brown (902). The fogging is also extreme: I'd say the edges hidden under the easel which should be pure white are about 40% gray, so it's not simply a bit of fog or lowered contrast.
 
Try developing an unexposed sheet with no safelight on.

That should tell you if you've got an old batch.

I've got some old darkroom equipment left at home with some dev tanks and safelights.

I'll hunt it out, list it here and you can let me know if you want to buy some / all of it.

Terry.
 
Good call on the undeveloped sheet with safelight off. I'll give that a test (and hopefully not mortally wound myself in the pitch black!)
 
Why don't you put a piece of paper under the safe light and put something like a coin on top of it, leave it ten minutes and develop it. If the safe lights the problem then you'll have a lighter circle in the middle of the paper where the coin blocked the light, and if the papers the problem then the whole sheet will be uniform :)
 
Rubylith......:D
Its a red gel type material you can fit over your existing safe light, or any light in fact.
I might have some left from my own safe light construction, don't think I used it all.
If its big enough you can have it J

@FujiLove


edit..

225mm x 400mm, give or take a mm

330fu52.jpg
 
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joxby said:
Rubylith......:D
Its a red gel type material you can fit over your existing safe light, or any light in fact.
I might have some left from my own safe light construction, don't think I used it all.
If its big enough you can have it J

@FujiLove


edit..

225mm x 400mm, give or take a mm

330fu52.jpg
Click to expand...

Rubylith? What kind of sorcery is this? :-)

Thanks for the offer. Let me do a safe light test and I'll give you a shout.
 
FujiLove said:
Rubylith? What kind of sorcery is this? :)
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I dunno, but that was the consensus of my own research, its what all the old printing duffers said was a sure thing.
I had lights and just wanted to filter them for the darkroom, so I bought some and I gotta say....not had any fogging at all
 
I've just processed a sheet in the pitch dark and it's completely fogged. Lesson learned: don't buy old paper off eBay, even when it's sealed.

Out of curiosity, I'm wondering what causes some paper to go off like that? Is it storage temperature or simply age? When I bought an enlarger last year it came with a load of other stuff, including a paper safe full of, what turned out to be fibre paper. The lady who sold it mentioned she hadn't used any of her stuff for ten years or more and it had all been stored up in the loft, so hot and cold, I imagine. That paper is absolutely fine. I guess it depends on the particular emulsion?

Anyway, mystery solved, but thanks anyway for all the advice and offers. Have a virtual pint on me :beer:
 
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