Can someone help with XTol & Phototherm?

I'm trying to rig up my SSK-8r for B&W processing. I'd like to run XTol, 1:1 if possible. I'm assuming the Phototherm won't mix the solution with water for me... Is the usual way to mix XTol 1:1 and bottle it for the Phototherm? I'd be a little concerned about shelf life in that instance... How do people usually make this work?

Xtol is typically only diluted when it is to be used one shot, dilution is at-it's-root a way to reduce cost. Dilution also can have side effects that people like.

In systems that are designed to be replenished Xtol is not diluted. One just follows the directions for replenishment guidelines in Kodak's instructions. Over time the full strength Xtol gets 'seasoned' and the side effects people like about dilute Xtol 'miraculously' happen even without dilution.

Replenishment is also very frugal, reliable, and easy.

When I use my Jobo machine I use XTOL straight. You really need to make sure that there's enough volume of the concentrate to do the job. You would need to check, I think it's 120 mL of stock per roll.
I use XTOL 1+1 in regular tanks, works great. I'm not sure about phototherm. My gut feeling says in a full tank without a lot of air the 1:1 solution would keep fine for a week. Get a lot of air and it will die.

I have used stock XTOL solution that was 11 years old, looked like light beer in a full soda bottle, worked great.

I don’t think there is an easy way to set up the Phototherm to save the developer. I could have it do it through the save bleach line, but then I’d have to make sure I remember to swap the tube. There also could be contamination if there is bleach left in the line...

Perhaps this is best done with my Jobo...

markbarendt said:

Xtol is typically only diluted when it is to be used one shot, dilution is at-it's-root a way to reduce cost. Dilution also can have side effects that people like.

In systems that are designed to be replenished Xtol is not diluted. One just follows the directions for replenishment guidelines in Kodak's instructions. Over time the full strength Xtol gets 'seasoned' and the side effects people like about dilute Xtol 'miraculously' happen even without dilution.

Replenishment is also very frugal, reliable, and easy.

Click to expand...

Just pre-dilute it 1:1 and feed that to the SSK. Save up some rolls and run them all at once, if you are concerned with it going bad.

No, the SSK won't mix it with water on the fly, though you could pre-fill it with half the total volume needed, then have it pull straight XTOL from the bottle. With the mixing pill spinning it would likely mix it fine on the fly. You'd have to somehow pour the water in either between prewet and dev or skip the pre-wet. There's an access port to access the heating plate/reservoir for chemistry, you could probably pour in through there.

remember the continuous agitation will be somewhat different than typical tank usage too, so generally there may be some changes to development time needed as well, possibly.

I thought the SSK-8r could be configured to save two of the chemicals.

If you want to reuse XTOL use it in the replenished mode, not diluted. Diluted is for one shot use.

The SSK states clearly: One-shot development. Xtol 1+1 (up to 1+3) is fine. Make sure you have at least 100 ml Xtol stock per roll of film in the processing drum. I'd prepare just the quantity of diluted developer to be used immediately; 30 rpm and Kodak-times for small tanks as starting point. (BTW, all this had been discussed previously!) Good luck! Report back.