Caffenol-L and blank negatives

[DannyP]

I just tried developing with caffenol for the first time, and I ended up with three long sheets of clear film.

I followed the caffenol-L recipe from http://www.caffenol-cookbook.com.

I used:

-Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (SODIUM CARBONATE), 16 grams

-Now Real Food Citric Acid (PURE CITRIC ACID), 10 grams

-HEB Cafe Puro Dark Roast 100% Pure Instant Coffee (INSTANT COFFEE), 40 grams

-Potassium Bromide from the Photographers' Formulary, 1 gram

-Water, 1 liter. (The house has a water softener, but that's never affected b/w or C41 developing.)

I waited till the brew was fully mixed and down to 68 degrees F.

I soaked the film in water for 5 minutes, dumped the soak water, then added the mixture of washing soda, citric acid, instant coffee, and potassium bromide. I agitated gently for 1 minute, then let sit for 70 minutes in a water bath of around 68 degrees.

Then I rinsed, fixed, hypo cleared, and rinsed as normal.

BLANK NEGATIVES.

From three different cameras.

FPP EDU 400 film.

Any ideas on where I went wrong?

 

[removed account4]

hi danny

i am one of the folks in the cookbook
i looked at your recipe and it seemed a bit different than the L in the cookbook
and since i don't really use the recipes ( C-L, C-M &C ) i had to look it up.
you used citric acid ( stop bath ) instead of ascobic acid ( vit c ). i'm guessing that is
your problem. maybe others who have used reinhold's recipes and c-l in particular can chime in.

sorry to read you had troubles !
i'm about to process a bunch of film myself
and i'm using Dsumatranol72. olde stinky has been sitting around
for a while, i better put it to use !

good luck with your next batch !

john

ps trader joeseppi, eboink or amazonia
( or if you are flush with $$ your local pharma )
are good sources of vit c.

 

[Jim Noel]

definitely using citric acid ( a good stop bath) rather than ascorbic acid (a developing agent) caused your problem.

 

[DannyP]

Thanks guys. It's good to know there's a single definite cause.