Acutol S - Crawley's fx15 developer

JWMster

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Homebrews and Home mixes can also be MORE practical and cheaper than commericial compounds that can require the uncommon 5-liter size container and even encourage what proved in my case to be bad habits - like re-use. And just because something comes in a commercial package doesn't always mean it's more difficult to mix than many of the homebrew recipes.

And while I can't say per se that re-use was a problem except that at the time that I eliminated it (with the exception of E6 and C41), I solved a lot of problems.... in which the adoption of 1-shot development was a component. If you mix for use and use 1-shot "always fresh", then this may work for you as it's done for me. Karl's own PC512-B answers a lot of my needs this way but so might D76-H which I was headed to begin experimenting with. But I've used D23 this way too. And then Karl published his thread... and the rest was history. These are very similar.... with Karl's PC512-D aimed at comprising an XTOL replacement.... or at least similar which is "good enough" for a kid like me who's been rather fastidious up to this point of not using pyro.

That said, FX-15 as a homebrew replacement for a Paterson product therefore has a place. But if Microphen or Diafine have similar results is it still needed? I have unmixed boxes of both as well as an unopened bottle of Rodinal - which speaks to my generic needs. But as the youtube points out, there are needs that general purpose developers don't meet, and simple compounds or commercial developers won't solve either. Maybe FX-15 would? In my case, it might be too many compounds involved.... and like I said, I have unopened boxes of similar. FX-15 results look good in the youtube... even amazing given 35mm film's own limits, and I've been pretty impressed with results from Diafine, too. Yet all that said, speed enhancing developers are indeed on my bucket list.
 

Mal Paso

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I used to mix all my own B&W chemistry but lost that stuff 7 years ago. I put the darkroom back first. I wanted to go "one shot" with developers as it may be a while between sessions. I had been using Microphen at $10/liter stock solution. Lots of my old developers are gone or have changed. I'm going to start with FX 15 but I can mix a lot of different developers with the same chemicals, like D72 if I need some. The point is to get costs down and shoot more.

The first chemical delivery arrived today from B&H. Hard to beat free 2 day shipping!
 

JWMster

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FWIW, Photographer's Formulary is closer your way and shipping's gotten faster in recent years. B&H's a real fast shipper, but some of the more obscure (for non-chemists like me) chems will come from equally quick shippers. But I also highly recommend the folks at https://artcraftchemicals.com/ as extremely friendly to photographers, they have good prices and oddly will use more precise in the names that appear in their catalog... but if you find it there, it's likely the one you were looking for, and a quick inquiry will confirm it. Don't be afraid to ask. They also ship quickly and respond quickly to emails from rubes like me. But fairly, everyone is helpful or they wouldn't stil be in business these days.... especially serving string savers like guys who mix their own chems.... cough cough ...ah ...who, me?
 

Mal Paso

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I found Artcraft after I placed the order but Thank You! I have the B&H credit card too so they pay the tax as well as free shipping. Where they stumble is on hazardous chemicals which were out of stock or no shipping available. Since I'm a bit far from New York I went with Photographers Formulary who took a day to ship. Phenidone was limited to 10 grams there but that's 100 liters so I'm good for a while. Artcraft had better prices and amounts and I will be ordering from them shortly. I used to buy Sodium Thiosulfate in 100 pound sacks back in the day when it was available locally. I'll probably order 20 pounds to start.
Thanks for the info!
 
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