Vinegar stop bath

[Claire Senft]

This is a safe and effective stop bath that is quite inexpensive. It will not indicate exhaustion. If left too long in a tray it might form mold. Go to the store and buy the cheapest vinegar available. Mix 1 part Vinegar with 4 parts water.

[don sigl]

Indicator stop baths are really unecessary. You can tell if a stop is active by rubbing the liquid between your fingers. If has a greasy feel, it is alkaline. I was told this by a professor way back when I was a lowly freshman. Initially, i didn'rt believe him. Sure enough, as the acidity wears off, the liquid will begin to feel greasy. I've been using this method to monitor stop bath ever since.

[Blighty]

Daft as this may sound, does it matter which type of vinegar you use. Should I use ordinary malt vinegar or the colourless distilled variety? Cheers, Blights

[Justin Cormack]

I would just see if it stains the paper at all - stop a test strip for an extra long time. If its a bit browny after washing get some clear vinegar.

Lots of people seem to stop in water in places with acidic water.

I have a digital pH meter (not expensive), so indicator isnt any use, though its hard to get no indicator stop anyway. Now I have strted buying raw chemicals for alt process etc I am finding I have ingredients to make stop etc anyway.

[Petzi]

I would not use vinegar for my photos.
Acetic acid costs next to nothing, and vinegar is not pure.