any long lasting print developer?

[Jon Shiu]

Looking for recommendations on a paper developer that has high capacity and can be re-used many times. The situation is that we are setting up a shared community darkroom and I would like for the user to just pour the developer back into the bottle after session. I expect the more serious workers to bring their own chems, but wouldn't expect occasional users/high schoolers to mix.

Jon

 

[Mateo]

Hi Jon,

try ansco 130, gets brown but keeps going for a long time.

 

[Chaska]

Ditto for Ansco 130, available from Photographer's Formulary. Lasts a good 6 months at 1:1 for prints, can use for film at 1:5.

 

[Francesco]

Agfa Neutol WA.

 

[kwmullet]

I've been using Ilford MG IV developer 1:9 in a 16x20 tub and covering it between sessions, and I seem to get a good week out of it. I just today ordered some Ansco 130 and TF-4 fixer from Photo Formulary ("They Rock!") and when it arrives and I use up my current tray of MG developer, I'll dump my Kodak rapid fix back into the bottle to use for film and switch over to an alkaline tray line.

-KwM-

 

[titrisol]

Ethol LPD (long lasting print developer)

 

[doughowk]

After a printing session, I store the developer in a brown glass bottle (available at Photographers Formulary); & top off with water to remove the air before capping. Seems to add to longevity of any print developer.

 

[Ole]

My last batch of Ansco 130 1:1 lasted 11 months, including two weeks in an open tray. I finally ditched it not because it had stopped working or gave poor results, but because it was getting hard to see the prints in the dark murky liquid.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I believe LPD does stand for something like "long-lasting print developer" and it comes in both powder and liquid, so that would seem to rule out "liquid paper developer."

Neutol WA is very long lasting, and it's easy to mix fresh from the bottle when it's time to refresh.

 

[fhovie]

Agfa MC liquid - lasts well over a month, cost very little per batch and will do at least 50 8x10 per liter.

 

[Neil Souch]

Agfa Neutol is the best I have tried for very long life in my Nova tank (dilution 1+14).
Excellent results too and very economical for a commercial dev.

Neil.

 

[Jon Shiu]

Thanks to all for answers.

Jon

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Agfa Neutol is the best I have tried for very long life in my Nova tank (dilution 1+14).
Excellent results too and very economical for a commercial dev.

Neil.

Neil, which version of Neutol? Are you using Agfa Neutol WA or Agfa Neutol NE?