Measuring Equipment

Solid Measure - Scale Liquid Measure Droppers Calibrating the Droppers Accessories

Measuring equipment only needs to be as accurate as necessary to maintain consistent results from the process.  Chemicals for the coating solutions (sensitizer, metal salts, contrast agents, other) should be measured with an accuracy of 0.01 grams and 0.01 ml.  Developers and clearing baths can be measured with an accuracy of 1 gram and 0.5 ounce (15 ml).  Liquid film chemistry can be measured with an accuracy of 1 ml.

It is recommended to use only glass or plastic for measuring equipment and accessories.  Metal should NOT contact any chemical as some metals (especially iron) can adversely hinder the process.

Solid Measure - Scale
Scale should be accurate to .01 gram
The Ohaus Cent-o-gram quad balance works fine.

Also shown are plastic spoons and funnels and glass or plastic sheet to catch spills.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Liquid Measure
10 ml medicine syringe (accurate to .1 ml) - 2
1 ml medicine syringe (accurate to .01 ml) - 1
100 ml graduate - (glass, accurate to 1 ml) - 1
50 ml graduate - (glass, accurate to 0.5 ml) - 1
32 oz glass measuring cup (accurate to 0.5 oz) - 2

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Droppers
Droppers (with bottles) (all should be glass and calibrated as below) - 7+

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Calibrating the Droppers

Materials:

droppers (glass)

the small calibrated syringe (1 ml, accurate to .01 ml)

masking tape

chemical resistant epoxy paint

distilled water

 

 

Instructions to calibrate:

determine the amount required to be dispensed

fill syringe to desired amount with distilled water (distilled is used so as not to contaminate the dropper.)

remove bulb from dropper

placing finger over narrow end of dropper and holding with large end up, fill with measured syringe contents

place masking tape on dropper so that edge is at the level of the water and the tape covers the dropper above the water level.  (If a meniscus is seen, measure from the bottom of the meniscus.)

release water from dropper

mark a line on the dropper at the tape edge using the epoxy paint

remove tape and let paint dry

 

 

Using:

fill dropper with solution to above paint line

then empty some solution so that the top of the solution is at the top of the paint line  (If a meniscus is seen, measure from the bottom of the meniscus.)

empty entire dropper into destination

The delivery might be slightly less due to solution sticking to the dropper surface, but should be very consistent.

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Accessories
Spatula or small spoons to handle dry chemicals (glass or plastic) - 3
Stirrer (plastic)
Funnels (plastic, with small end so as to fit on the 2 oz dropper bottles) - 2
plastic sheet - to catch spills when weighing out dry chemicals
appropriate personal safety equipment - glasses, mask, gloves

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