Adox Atomal 49

[Alfredo A]

Hi, I recently bought some Adox Atomal 49 developer, but I made the mistake of buying enough to make 5 liters, and I don’t shoot enough to use up that much in a short time. Do you know if it’s possible to split it up and make a smaller batch of developer?
Thank you very much

 

[Paul Howell]

Depends on who you talk to. I have divided up bags of D76 and Dektol without issue, in days when I mixed 5 gallons at a time, Others feels that no matter how well you mix the powder before dividing it up there will setting and the batches will be different. Considering the cost of film vs the price of chemistry I would mix up the entire 5 litters.

 

[foc]

I have split D76 many times and never experienced any problem. BUT, I had a very accurate weighing scales and I stored the unused power in a jar with a small bag of silica gell.

 

[koraks]

BUT, I had a very accurate weighing scales and I stored the unused power in a jar with a small bag of silica gell.

Neither relate strongly to the argument that splitting up the powder involves uncertainty due to a lack of a good way to ensure homogeneity. However, since many people report getting fine results, it's apparently more a theoretical argument. Personally, I think that's the case and problems would only occur under certain conditions that are conducive to the contents of the bag 'sorting themselves' by grain size.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi, I recently bought some Adox Atomal 49 developer, but I made the mistake of buying enough to make 5 liters, and I don’t shoot enough to use up that much in a short time. Do you know if it’s possible to split it up and make a smaller batch of developer?
Thank you very much

Why not make up the entire 5 liters and then divide up the stock solution into tightly stoppered glass bottles?

 

[Sanug]

The stock solution will not keep fresh as long as the powder, even in tight glass bottles.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Fortunately, it is not an expensive developer. Therefore, I suggest going with @RalphLambrecht's recommendation. In the worst case, you are assured of getting at least the same value as 1 l pack.

 

[Sanug]

Even with a cheap developer I would not like to waste it. Carefully stir the powder and divide it by weight would be my way to go.

 

[Alfredo A]

Hahaha, in the end I'm just going to flip a coin.
Thanks for everything

 

[retina_restoration]

Atomal 49 stores well for at least 6 months. I've mixed up the five liters and put it in black plastic 1liter chemistry bottles for storage.

 

[Klaus_H]

From the chemicals for 5 liters, I measure out 4 g of part A, 16 g of part B, and 80 g of part C to prepare 1 liter of stock solution. The remaining chemicals must be stored away from moisture and air. I use them within 3 months. If I were to prepare the 5 liters all at once, I would have to use up the developer within 3 weeks.
The days when A49 could be used for several months with consistent success are over, thanks to the EU's “precautionary measures”

 

[Valmidira]

No, definitely do not mix less developer than the full packet is intended to make. Uniform distribution of the chemicals in the packet cannot be guaranteed.


A 6-month shelf life for the mixed stock solution is an absolute minimum. I quite commonly use stock solution that is 1 year old — stored in a dark glass bottle and protected with gas, stable room temperature. I have not noticed any difference compared with a freshly mixed solution.

 

[Klaus_H]

The developer loses his “strength” week by week. Within three weeks, you can achieve nearly identical development results; after that, the results become increasingly disappointing.
I am using diluted developer (1 + 1).

 

[pentaxuser]

Hahaha, in the end I'm just going to flip a coin.

That maybe not a bad choice in this case and thinking about it, not a bad choice on other cases when faced with a range of diametrically opposed answers, all of which are firmly expressed

pentaxuser