Bill, it first became apparent when I used them for pyro film processing. I had worn them for the process and was taking them off to handle the film after washing. The first few sheets showed a good amount of residual powder residue even after washing and drying my hands. I had always easily handled film with no problems for years but after I introduced those good feeling powdered gloves, darkroom life was hell for a few days. Eric Neilsen Photography 4101 Commerce Street, Suite 9 Dallas, TX 75226 214-827-8301 http://ericneilsenphotography.com _____ From: pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bill Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 6:39 PM To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [pure-silver] Re: After sinks, your favourite tongs? I understand what you mean about the powder; all I can say is that with 12-15 people printing full-time (part for automatic processing, part for hand development - which I did) it was a rare day that we got more than two prints sent back for dust spots. Maybe everyone was just lucky...? Nowadays, I don't tone, and rarely go beyond 11x14, so I use my hands - and wash carefully. -Bill On Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at 12:42 AM, Eric Neilsen Photography wrote: I avoid powdered gloves like the plague. The fine powder can get places no good photographers wants it. Powder free nitrile gloves are the only type I use. I too used bare hands for most of my early printing years, but when I tried to do printing and toning in the same day, that is when I could really see the errors of my ways. They are strong enough to last for hours so only a few pair are used over the course of a day. Eric Neilsen Photography 4101 Commerce Street Suite 9 Dallas, TX 75226 http://e.neilsen.home.att.net http://ericneilsenphotography.com <image.tiff> From:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf OfBill Stephenson Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 6:20 PM To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [pure-silver] Re: After sinks, your favourite tongs? Many years ago, working in a pro lab, we used surgeon's gloves. We had a box (500-sheet 5x7 paper-size box) half full of talcum powder; you just towel-dried the gloves, stuck your hands in the box, then peeled them off inside out - freshly powdered on the inside to make them easy to put on again. Worked like a charm. -Bill On Sunday, July 24, 2005, at 06:20 PM, Peter Badcock wrote: The nitrile gloves are a neat idea, I too wish I had thought of this earlier. In fact I have some of these gloves (snazzy purple ones) sitting around in my darkroom not being used right now. One question I have, how do you quickly change between the wet side and dry side again and taking the gloves off in a way that they can be put on again without getting wet hands? I usually have to turn the gloves inside out to take them off. Maybe you go through many set of gloves during a developing session? regards Peter On 7/25/05, David Starr <davestarr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I'll second the gloves. I only wish I had started using them a lot sooner.