Roll your own developer and stripper

Rolling Your Own Developing & Stripping Solutions

Both anhydrous sodium carbonate (soda ash) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) are very common chemicals which, in the USA, can be purchased from paint stores, hardware stores, and/or chemical supply houses.

Before handling and/or using any toxic and/or highly corrosive material, you must familiarize yourself with its safe handling procedures. Always read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for any hazardous material as soon as it arrives. File all MSDSs in a safe place for future reference.

D e v e l o p e r	1	Preheat 1 gallon (or 4 liters) of deionized water to 120ºF (49ºC).
	2	Stir in 1.3 oz (or 40 grams) of soda ash(sodium carbonate monohydrate) until completely dissolved.
	3	Decant into a labeled container and store for later use..
S t r i p p e r	1	Preheat 1 gallon (or 4 liters) of deionized water to 140ºF (60ºC).
	2	Stir in 6.7 oz (or 200 grams) of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) pellets until completely dissolved. Sodium hydroxide is extremely caustic and may cause severe burns. Avoid contact with skin or eyes.
	3	Decant into a labeled container and store for later use. The container must be marked as containing *Sodium hydroxide, solution and* labeled with a *DOT Class 8 Corrosive* sticker in accordance with OSHA requirements.