Considering XTOL and Rotary...

In fact, the XTOL is already in my shopping cart. I have my concerns. I've read that mixing it can be a challenge -- and scary stories about "XTOL sudden death." I always clip test any developer before I use it, so I'm not so concerned about that. My strategy is to store it in 600ml bottles filled to capacity and kept in cool darkness.

The switch is motivated by my desire to switch to rotary processing, and I've read that XTOL is well suited for it -- more so than HC-110, my current developer. I'll be using a drum and reversing roller base (poor man's Jobo). I wonder how much shadow detail suffers with XTOL agitated constantly. I also wonder if I should dilute it or use it stock. I like to use my developers one shot.

I'd be curious to hear others' experiences. Thanks.

Xtol is a great developer. I've used it in rotary and it works just fine.

Mixing is no big issue as long as you have a big pot.

I would suggest using it replenished, sounds complicated to start with but in the real world it's very easy.

If you want to use that one shot just follow the directions included.

That's said, I can't imagine why HC 110 would be a problem because of the rotation.

If you are used to a concentrated liquid for rotary, try T-max developer.

What Mark has said. It is neither difficult to mix nor is it subject to "sudden death" in my experience. As it is 5L of stock consider decanting it into a 2x3L winebags that you buy from a supermarket(NB make sure you drink the wine first) or into an empty 5L winebag and box you can buy.

I have kept Xtol in such bags for over 2 years without noticeable deterioration

pentaxuser

Use distilled water to mix it up. Failure is more likely to be due to iron in water than oxidation.

It is possible to mix it up slightly more concentrated in a 4 litre distilled water container, and then dilute it to the proper dilution.

Replenishment works really well.

I have used replenished XTOL in a Jobo processor for years without any problems. The "sudden death" was a possible packaging problem many years ago and it has not returned.

I have used XTOL as a one-shot developer for years. Oxygen is the enemy of its longevity. I store it in the Femtech Wine on Tap bags like this:
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The bag "deflates" as the XTOL is dispensed. I keep it in a cool place in my basement and it lasts a long time. I can't say for sure how long because I keep using it up, but I've had some that was 8-9 months old that worked just fine. The bags are clear, so you can see if anything looks amiss before you use it.

Its not that hard to mix. I use distilled water to help longevity. It's a two-part powder and getting the last granules of Part A dissolved is little bit of a hassle. I solved the problem for myself by getting a 5-liter Erlenmeyer flask and a large magnetic stirrer from eBay. Now I just pop it on the stirrer plate and let it spin for 15 or 20 minutes with a cork in the top of the flask (to keep from introducing large amounts of air into the solution). Once it's dissolved, add the Part B powder and mix a little more. Part B dissolves readily. Then pour it in a new wine bag, squeeze all of the air out, and you're done.

I usually use it 1:1 dilution. I like it with modern t-grain emulsions like Delta 400. It's cheap.

IMO Xtol is a very good developer which I now use for all developments (hp5, FP4, Delta100 and 400). I use it stock in rotary processing. Keeping it in full glass bottles it has a very long shelf life. Mixing is not difficult, it just takes a bit of time.

I used XTOL in with a rotary drum for years and it did work well. +1 on replenished.

I had several XTOL failures because I just couldn't use it fast enough.....usually at half way through. That's when I started to make my own chemistry to get 1l batches of XTOL. I found it wasn't worth the bother and moved on to other developers.

I will confirm HC-110 does get a little soft in the drum. Depending on your preferred format, it may not even matter.

ic-racer said:

If you are used to a concentrated liquid for rotary, try T-max developer.

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tmax RS is the one for rotary .. users may run into dichroic fog with regular tmax developer ..
it's the same tmax used for sheet film and replenishment.

good luck bvy!

Dear bvy,

I have used the Xtol/Jobo combination since 2000 with zero problems. Always one-shot, always mixed with distilled water. Normal dilution of 1+1 but I've used anything from undiluted to 1+3.

Stay close to the time/temperature combinations given in the Xtol data sheet. If you find you have to stray very far something else is probably wrong.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

I use a hybrid of Jobo tank and a cheap roller base that I turned off the auto-reverse and just flip it manually every now and then. Only did 1:1 and no reuse, I wanted to keep everything simple.

The only Xtol related problem I ever had was forgetting to filter the stock when mixing, my stored Xtol got little whiskers or precipitate or something that will show up on negatives. Other than that, a clip test to make sure the juice is active and never had a problem with consistency or loss of film speed.

Kawaiithulhu said:

The only Xtol related problem I ever had was forgetting to filter the stock when mixing, my stored Xtol got little whiskers or precipitate or something that will show up on negatives.

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Thanks everyone. So it sounds like XTOL is similar to Perceptol when mixing -- and the first powder doesn't always dissolve completely. So I should filter the stock before using? I can do that.

I've had Xtol Sudden Death Syndrome twice. The first was before I'd heard of it and it stripped a film completely. The second time I clip-tested in the light so saved a film from being lost.
Both times were mixed from pure spring water from a goonybag, then stored in said goonybag with all air purged away from the light. To be fair, they were at least 6 months old when they died.

There's nothing you can do to save yourself from XSDS, except:
- prolong the time before it occurs (distilled water, no air, no light),
- use it before it happens,
- test everything first to make sure it hasn't happened yet.

Frankly, I just don't develop enough rolls often enough to use it all before it dies, so I moved to TMax Dev for a bottle or two, now I'm on TMax RS and loving it.