logan2z
Subscriber
It isn't working strength developer that I keep in bottles it is the raw undiluted developer. Splitting a 5 litre container and not taking steps to prevent the remining developer to 'go off' is a no brainer. I have used the storage in 1/2 litre dark brown glass bottles for undiluted developer for perhaps close on 30 years with 100% success. I am coming to the end of one 5 litre container which I opened around 2 years ago and it is as good now as the day it was manufactured.
I almost always use a new solution of developer for each session, but if I have made only a couple of 10x9.5 prints one evening, then I have been known to finish off what I was doing the following day in the same developer which was left in an open dish.
It may be of interest that I always use water to dilute the developer concentrate that has been boiled and itself kept in a sealed container where it cools down. Boiling the water drives off the excess dissolved oxygen which may allow an extended developing life of the working solution.
I'm looking for longevity of the working strength developer since I have limited time for printing and would prefer to spend that time printing rather than mixing chemistry. I usually buy the developer in the 500ml bottles so I'm less worried about the concentrate going off.