Brown Glass Bottles

[John Kasaian]

When I got into this hobby, we were just married and I put myself on a very tight budget, including setting up a dark room.
One of the things I required were jugs to store my stock solutions and I discovered that pharmacies got Robitussin syrup in huge brown glass bottles,
and during flu season, my kindly local pharmacist saved several for me, which I've used to this very day. I have seven one-gallon jugs which might seem like overkill,
but the pharmacist told me to expect breakage over time and it's good to have replacements.
Awhile back I learned that Robitussin syrup no longer comes in glass bottles, but plastic, and for some reason, in California anyway, pharmacies aren't likely to part with empties.

It's good that I have yet to experience any breakage, but my bottle fleet has aged over time and some of them needed my attention.

In between refilling with fresh stock solutions, I washed the empties with hot water and detergent, usually either Dawn or Joy, whichever I had on hand.

Here are my problems:
1) On a few bottles, the white seals on the inside of the plastic bottle caps have deteriorated or come off.
I'm sure these help in keeping air out, so what would be a good material to replace the seals with?
2) On one bottle that had D-76 sitting in it too long---way too long--- there is a line of brown scum stuck to the inside of the bottle.
Any suggestions on how to clean it off? I don't know of a bottle brush that can make the needed angle.

Tthanks for any suggestions.

[Graham Patterson]

Citric acid (or a denture cleaning tablet) in warm water may help dissolve/dislodge the residue. Bend up a wire coat hanger with some sponge or plastic scouring pad at the end to make your own bottle brush. There are other cleaning options, but start with the mildest, and the physical process least likely to scratch the glass. Scratches just encourage future precipitation.

You may just have to either send it to the bottle bank, or keep it for D76 or other similar developers.

[Joshua Dunn]

John,

First, I'm not trying to advocate shopping at the giant online retailer. As for a seal for the cap, just search for "replacement bottle cap seal" and you will get results like this (https://www.amazon.com/Zonon-Replacement-Compatible-Silicone-Diameter/dp/B08G8GP4TP?crid=3OVRNP0OW4CWG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BHclWwZS-V-Ka-foD81D_vsTsh_xiFlHvgsgXUlfcbFSuC6Ix8f8k0Jq4U1bQpsEG2OCW6IR_kpnTtcoHV2FlG6xcRAtHZeVxSGpQbEk8J8eKBbmAsy0VQ4PKOh7-3ZPO4KUXw5jv7WGWT-u0rZMZmGaawiOcsqg5gLneFJGnEl17wg_h7smNaNQRjq5OjgwwkfIdjIgnHTtn1HRf1y55k_YG-5Yo-0WLxlD3OpjpJNLnXzfwbq9_k6VvpNGIcmm47UxCmXhpK1xm1vlK6w76kookAQxGoVF-jiLXFaGyU_SCWE1J9MkTHHVGr3YvxRKBNWIElf9DdZrOee9Ub6U0w65gZrGPowdOzUa2zXURqhDLGYXAkND4SlB4qq1tsZhxxKup_bUGopFSWR0eWWseFsANLF6XuyQSIou8cE4My2iyZ6edNNIw6s-JFnf0N1_.GMd7jto0HyeJoOvf0t3TvF0vmJsNUlk2oZXQRMSa7rw&dib_tag=se&keywords=replacement+bottle+cap+seal&qid=1738619159&sprefix=replacement+bottle+cap+seal%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-26). Take some measurements and find one this will work for. In the meantime you can always use saran wrap, press n'seal wrap or cling wrap around the entire cap and bottle neck to help keep it sealed.

For cleaning our the bottle, try this (https://www.amazon.com/SPTA-Scrubber-Microfiber-Supreme-Extended/dp/B0C61HNSST/135-1445358-8852400?pd_rd_w=jSBnY&content-id=amzn1.sym.53b72ea0-a439-4b9d-9319-7c2ee5c88973&pf_rd_p=53b72ea0-a439-4b9d-9319-7c2ee5c88973&pf_rd_r=Q07VCSHBEHR8TGE0F0AP&pd_rd_wg=F9rTs&pd_rd_r=bf3ebafa-03bc-419d-9339-0b6c230bc53d&pd_rd_i=B0C61HNSST&psc=1).

-Joshua

[Drew Wiley]

There are some backroads up behind North Fork where you can probably find all kinds of used chemical bottles. Otherwise, they're pretty cheap. LSS (Lab Safety Supply) has a big selection along with caps, which can be ordered separately if you wish. And Photog Formulary has a small selection of amber bottles, if you happen to order chem from them.

We had an old bottle dump at the end of the culvert under our driveway road, which was paved right over the old SJ&E railroad grade. Some pretty bottles, iridescent purple from burial.
Further along the grade, there were makeshift dumps containing old whiskey bottles. Ned Joe had a little cabin there, and for nostalgia sake made arrowheads from booze bottle glass, and still made even the arrows. He died in the 60's. The most interesting find was a huge packrat nest made exclusively of bottle caps (with some stick reinforcement), deep in the woods about a mile from the old Matthew's Mill site.

Go easy on that Robitussin. Geritol delivers more alcohol per volume. Certain high school kids preferred drinking Vitalis hair gel instead; it certainly didn't make them any dumber than they already were.

[tundra]

When I got into this hobby, we were just married and I put myself on a very tight budget, including setting up a dark room.
One of the things I required were jugs to store my stock solutions and I discovered that pharmacies got Robitussin syrup in huge brown glass bottles,
and during flu season, my kindly local pharmacist saved several for me, which I've used to this very day. I have seven one-gallon jugs which might seem like overkill,
but the pharmacist told me to expect breakage over time and it's good to have replacements.
Awhile back I learned that Robitussin syrup no longer comes in glass bottles, but plastic, and for some reason, in California anyway, pharmacies aren't likely to part with empties.

It's good that I have yet to experience any breakage, but my bottle fleet has aged over time and some of them needed my attention.

In between refilling with fresh stock solutions, I washed the empties with hot water and detergent, usually either Dawn or Joy, whichever I had on hand.

Here are my problems:
1) On a few bottles, the white seals on the inside of the plastic bottle caps have deteriorated or come off.
I'm sure these help in keeping air out, so what would be a good material to replace the seals with?
2) On one bottle that had D-76 sitting in it too long---way too long--- there is a line of brown scum stuck to the inside of the bottle.
Any suggestions on how to clean it off? I don't know of a bottle brush that can make the needed angle.

Tthanks for any suggestions.

You'll find that the Polycone style caps work quite nicely and are available at good prices from the usual online sources.

A small amount of bleach swirled around the inside of the bottle should remove the developer stain. However, after you do this, you have to rise thoroughly, then swirl some fixer around to prevent redevelopment of any remaining developer residue, and then a final thorough rinse in hot water.

In general, if you use the bottle for the same thing every time, there is no reason to use detergents to scrub it out. Just dump out any remaining content, rinse thoroughly, and then fill with the new (same) liquid.

For additional brown bottles, see your local brewer or brewer supply shop. They should have 2l "growlers" for sale (with or without beer in them) which I find most useful for most cases.

[xkaes]

Depending on the caps you are looking for, you might find them in anybody's trash -- from milk containers, the vinegar or bleach containers to tomato juice, paint thinner, cleaners, etc. -- who knows.

Another point is that a lot of people use brown containers but don't really need them.

I've got five brown, plastic, 1-gallon, DELTA 1, darkroom chemical bottles, with caps, on the FREECYCLE website in Denver for over a month -- without any interest.

[tundra]

Depending on the caps you are looking for, you might find them in anybody's trash -- from milk containers, the vinegar or bleach containers to tomato juice, paint thinner, cleaners, etc. -- who knows.

Another point is that a lot of people use brown containers but don't really need them.

I've got five brown, plastic, 1-gallon, DELTA 1, darkroom chemical bottles, with caps, on the FREECYCLE website in Denver for over a month -- without any interest.

I am fond of recycling as well - 2l brown beer growlers ;)

[Drew Wiley]

Those Delta jugs are thin oxygen-permeable recycled poly only good for short term storage. Soda pop containers are better if you're on the cheap. Amber glass is the real deal. If paranoid about breakage, you can get the glass variety with a plastic overcoat which resists shattering if accidentally dropped.

[Ron McElroy]

I am fond of recycling as well - 2l brown beer growlers ;)

I have several growlers of different sizes that I recovered from recycle bins here in the neighborhood. Seems the growler faze has faded here.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I buy brown glass bottles from Photographer's Formulary. Come well packed and not really that expensive. Many use liter soda bottles.

[Gord Robinson]

To clean the inside of the bottle add some small ball bearings or BBs to a couple of glasses of water and swirl it around and that should loosen the debris inside the bottle. It is the best way to remove red wine stains from the bottom of a wine decanter. I have been using the 2 Liter bottles from the pharamcy for the last 30 years and haven't broke one yet

[Rick A]

One of my neighbors had several one gallon brown glass jugs he didn't need, all new unused. They are now my one gallon jugs, acquired for free.

[phdgent]

I clean the bottles having a sticking tarnish with eau de javel, wash this out and then rinse them with some leftover of the 'product' that has to be stored in, this is what I was repeatedly told in the chemistry class.

A bottle to store developer in will be rinsed with some old developer so the occasional leftovers of the cleaning would be neutralised/compensated.

Most of the bottles I have are very practical 'wide necks' and all previously held Sulphuric Acid 25%, so thoroughly cleaning and 'conditioning' is mandatory...

257082

[esearing]

You can generally buy rubber stoppers from the hardware store up to about 1.5 inches in diameter. They keep out air better than twist caps. Otherwise Wax paper is a cheap and easy replacement option. I have some old clorox bottles and some newer 1.5L beer bottles I use. But mostly use the 1L bottles from photo supply stores.

[d.s.]

When I need a seal for a cap, I take the cap to the hardware stores and car parts stores and usually find an O ring that fits.

[Kevin Crisp]

I've purchased my storage bottles from this company. They certainly have variety and prices are good.

https://www.specialtybottle.com/glass-bottles

[Oslolens]

You can buy rolls of plastic with one side coated with glue, the cheapest are clear or grey, and come in different widths, the most popular are two inches wide. The best brand is said to be from Scotland.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[Beevo]

I ran into this a while back. I have a large sheet of a foam like material that was used as packing material in a box I received.

I to a square of this and put it into my laser engraver and cut a bunch of seals for my bottles. Seems to work quite well so far.

I can make more....

[Tracy Storer]

When I got into this hobby, we were just married and I put myself on a very tight budget, including setting up a dark room.
One of the things I required were jugs to store my stock solutions and I discovered that pharmacies got Robitussin syrup in huge brown glass bottles,
and during flu season, my kindly local pharmacist saved several for me, which I've used to this very day. I have seven one-gallon jugs which might seem like overkill,
but the pharmacist told me to expect breakage over time and it's good to have replacements.
Awhile back I learned that Robitussin syrup no longer comes in glass bottles, but plastic, and for some reason, in California anyway, pharmacies aren't likely to part with empties.

It's good that I have yet to experience any breakage, but my bottle fleet has aged over time and some of them needed my attention.

In between refilling with fresh stock solutions, I washed the empties with hot water and detergent, usually either Dawn or Joy, whichever I had on hand.

Here are my problems:
1) On a few bottles, the white seals on the inside of the plastic bottle caps have deteriorated or come off.
I'm sure these help in keeping air out, so what would be a good material to replace the seals with?
2) On one bottle that had D-76 sitting in it too long---way too long--- there is a line of brown scum stuck to the inside of the bottle.
Any suggestions on how to clean it off? I don't know of a bottle brush that can make the needed angle.

Tthanks for any suggestions.

You can likely get new caps from General Bottle Supply (https://www.generalbottle.com/contact-us). They used to have a location here in Oakland, but my search only found LA.

[Beevo]

Send me your mailing address via PM as well as the diameter of the seals you need and I will make you a few to try.

Beevo