Recent content by measwel

The reason why Finch increased the TEA concentration, was indeed to up the PH. This was necessary, because he did not adjust the potassium carbonate concentration in the original formula to account for the fact, that some of it will be used up in a reaction with AA to create potassium ascorbate...

@sufnturf The concentration of AA does not have to be so high for FX-55 as to warrant using TEA. I advice against using it. I experimented with it and the resulting negatives were inferior to those developed with FX-55 without TEA. TEA is a base and a "amino alcohol" and has an effect on grain...

Okay, old thread, but maybe someone will help me overcome the misery. I removed those darned screws in the film compartment and got the flap off the hinges. Not because I need to replace the bellows. But because I need to straighten one of the metal struts. I figured I need to disassemble the...

Hi Rob, Are you still looking for a Super Isolette?

Hi. Would you be willing to sell the camera?

I rethought my thought experiment and I think I thought wrong. The TEA in the modified formula will rise the alkalinity of the working solution. So my improved game plan is: Z1 Dissolve 1 g sodium metabisulphite in 40 ml of water. Z2 Dissolve 1 g potassium bromide in 100 ml of water A...

I will try to come up with a formula which produces fine grain, so it will be usable for 35mm too. That should be possible if I can get the balance right of the active ingredients: Potassium carbonate - Speeds up development, increases grain, increases acutance. Strongly alkaline. PH 11. PH...

I would love it, if somebody else would care to repeat this experiment, so I get some confirmation about the results.

My game plan is: PREPARATION Part Z1 Dissolve 5 g potassium carbonate in 50 ml of water 1 ml will hold 0.1 g of potassium carbonate Part Z2 Dissolve 1 g sodium metabisulphite in 10 ml of water 1 ml will hold 0.1 g of sodium metabisulphite Part Z3 Dissolve 1 g potassium bromide in 50 ml of...

That's great to know. I have high hopes for my modified FX-55 experiment.

Come to think of it, maybe I should not experiment with Sodium bicarbonate at all and just leave it out. The TEA is a PH buffer. I have no idea why it sodium bicarbonate is in the original FX-55 formulation and my feeling tells me it can be left out in the presence of TEA. 30 minutes later...

I think the trick will be to get the potassium bromide and sodium bicarbonate concentrations right. Let's see what AI has to say about their impact. On grain: Potassium bromide Decreases grain in film developer by acting as a restrainer, which slows down the developing process overall and...

This is what I have in mind: Goal; test the influence of the concentration of: potassium carbonate : +PH / activity sodium metabisulphite : -PH / contrast / activity potassium bromide : fogging / highlights sodium bicarbonate - fogging / highlights Assumption 1; full development to pitch...

Yeah, the alkalinity of the formula I am working on will probably be higher than 8.3 due to the TEA. Maybe it will have to be balanced by adding more sodium metabisulphate, maybe not. I guess in my experimentation I will have to consider the influence of the concentrations of: potassium...

PS the formula I am working on, will, unlike the original formula, contain Triethanolamine, which is a solvent, making the developer a solvent one. This will presumably lead to a finer grain than that produced by the original FX-55. Only one way to find out really :smile: