I wanted to find out any of the chemical hazards of using Xtol or TF-2 such as fumes, getting it on your hands, and staining. Thanks

-- Wayne Crider (waynec@apt.net), February 27, 2001

Answers

You can get the Xtol MSDS sheet online from Kodak's professional site. I don't know about TF-2, but any manufacturer of chemistry is required by law (US) to supply their safety sheets, so it shouldn't be too hard to get this info. Hope this helps.

-- DK Thompson (Kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), February 27, 2001.

Actually the supplier also has to supply an MSDS sheet upon demand. And it won't have information on staining.

In general, do not get any developer on your hands. Do not drink any developer. And do not work with any developer in a closed room without ventilation. Virtually all developers use one of about 5 actual chemicals that will do development. Some are worse than others, but none of them are good for you.

Xtol uses a Phenidone dericative which is much less likely to cause sesnitivity than Metol that is the more classic development agent. But it is still skin absorbable, and somewhat toxic.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), February 27, 2001.

Shoot! And here I was bathing in it at nights. Also there is nothing like curling up to a good book and a double of D-76! I tried mine on the rocks once but man, now I know why you should use the stuff near room temperature. The stuff tastes terrible at that temp. Neet is the way to go!

(Tongue in cheek, of course)

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), February 28, 2001.

I have found that Xtol has a toxicity advantage over replenished D76. A jigger of replenished D76 looks an awful lot like a jigger of scotch or bourbon. Xtol, being much clearer (even when replenished) doesn't have that problem. I guess, though, that gin and vodka drinkers might find some risks in using Xtol.

-- Ken Burns (kenburns@twave.net), March 01, 2001.