Question:
In an article a while back, Howard bond recommended using 1 micronfilters for the water lines going into the darkroom. I'd like to trythem, but the problem is that I can't find any. The ones in homeimprovement stores go down to 5microns, and so do the ones in Calumet'scatalogue. Any suggestions?

Answer: Try Sears Roebuck! They have plenty of excellent filter unbits andcartridges in their line, as well as reverse osmosis units whichcan make water as good as distilled! Many "professional" photo filtersare just repackaged units that any water treatment dealer can sellyou cheaper, and Sears, Home Depot, etc, even cheaper.

But I wonder why you need one? I have lived in South Florida,where the water is so hard it damned near clunks when it comesout of the faucet! I never had need of a filter, and the onlyreally pure water I used was distilled water for critical stocksolutions. (NOT including Dektol, Microdol-X, Microphen, orBromophen, or fixers, all of which have such high salt contents thatprecipitates seldom form. I filter the stock solutions on the wayinto their storage jugs after mixing. That seems good enough.With 35mm films like TMX and Tech Pan, I often use a last distilledwater rinse (usually the Photoflow) and don't worry. Unless youactually have grit in your water which can dry on the film orpaper, I wouldn't worry.