Boric Acid substitute...........?

[John Wiegerink]

I'm still working on my FX-37 experiment and it's going extremely well, but my mind was wandering ahead again. I want to make up some ID-68 to try with some Foma 100 and have everything except Boric Acid. I did a search for a sub for it, but none shows up. Then I remembered that I have a container of Roach Killer so I made a trip to the garage. The roach killer is made by Maxattrax and on the front it says "Roach killing powder with Boric Acid", which I believe is slightly misleading since the active ingredients are: Orthoboric Acid..............99.0% and other ingredients............1%. So, it seems they should have said "Roach Killing Orthoboric Acid powder with other (1%) ingredients. Anyway, enough of that. The question is do you think this will work for making up some ID68 and should I pretty much use the ID-68 formula weight for Booric acid with the "Roach Orthoboric Acid? I have a few old rolls of film for trial and error and the cost of making up a small batch would only be in the pennies. I just don't want to be doing something stupid and if I am for Gods sake please tell me. JohnW

[Gerald C Koch]

Depends what the other 1% is, so why risk it. You can get USP grade boric acid in most drug stores. Get the crystalline rather than the powder as it dissolves faster. This would be a problem with the roach powder since it too is a very fine powder.

[John Wiegerink]

Depends what the other 1% is, so why risk it. You can get USP grade boric acid in most drug stores. Get the crystalline rather than the powder as it dissolves faster. This would be a problem with the roach powder since it too is a very fine powder.

Yes, I'm pretty sure it would work. As for the risk? Maybe that mystery 1% is the magic bullet to make all films come out perfect! Ya, Right! I would not even think of using it on something that is, so called, important. Luckily I've still got some more work to do on my FX-37 project and that will keep me busy for the next two evenings. Then Friday or Sat. I'll get a chance to run down to the local drug shop and see what they got. Sorry for the bother, but I just had a curious mind I guess. JohnW

[Gerald C Koch]

No reason to be sorry better to ask than run the risk of ruining a batch of developer or worse some film.

[John Wiegerink]

No reason to be sorry better to ask than run the risk of ruining a batch of developer or worse some film.

Yup, when I was just a pup I was told by a wise old man that the only "stupid questions" are the questions you don't ask. Of course it was many, many years before I finally realized he was a wise old man. JohnW

[georgegrosu]

JohnW, I think you worry too much about boroc acid.
1% impurities is normal for a substance for photo use.
High purity substances are also extremely expensive.

http://www.chemicalland21.com/indust...ric%20acid.htm

George

[John Wiegerink]

JohnW, I think you worry too much about boroc acid.
1% impurities is normal for a substance for photo use.
High purity substances are also extremely expensive.

http://www.chemicalland21.com/indust...ric%20acid.htm

George

Just crawled out of the darkroom..........................George that's true about the 1% impurities, but the question is what are they. Harmless to my film? I think maybe they are, but the cheap cost for a good stash of Boric Acid can't be very much I would think. It's late now, but in the morning I'm going to check the Net for the going price. JohnW

[georgegrosu]

JohnW, I work now in a laboratory for processing black & white movie film “National University of Theatre and Cinematography Arts “IL Caragiale” from Romania (http://www.unatc.ro/ ).
Since 1980, when I work in film, preparation of solutions for film development from raw chemical with a purity were photo standard .
Purity of these substances was around 97- 99 %, according to the standards for photo use.
High purity chemicals we use in laboratory chemical analysis (reagent).
I assume that your`s boric acid can be used without problems in the preparation of the developer.
Borax with boric acid is pH buffer.

George

[John Wiegerink]

JohnW, I work now in a laboratory for processing black & white movie film “National University of Theatre and Cinematography Arts “IL Caragiale” from Romania (http://www.unatc.ro/ ).
Since 1980, when I work in film, preparation of solutions for film development from raw chemical with a purity were photo standard .
Purity of these substances was around 97- 99 %, according to the standards for photo use.
High purity chemicals we use in laboratory chemical analysis (reagent).
I assume that your`s boric acid can be used without problems in the preparation of the developer.
Borax with boric acid is pH buffer.

George

George, I agree with you 100% or at least 99%. Just a joke! You are right in that it's not like I have to take this stuff orally and would worry about what that mystery 1% was. Of course we are eating much worse things out of a can or grocery store and don't know it. You're also right about Borax and Boric Acid together be pH buffer and that's why it's in the old Ilford ID-68 developer. Later I might mix some with the roach powder and then some with the "real" Boric Acid and play with the two. JohnW

[Gerald C Koch]

I think the point with the roach killer is that it has one or more ADDITIVES not impurities. The label does not specify what they are so caution is advisable.