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D76 gone bad?

David Lingham

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Cardiff St Wales UK
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Can anyone shed some light on this little problem please. I recently switched back to using D76, last weekend I mixed a new 1 gallon (3.8 ltrs) packet. I used the same method and mixing container as I always have done, and then poured the mixed dev into four 1 litre plastic bottles (old Ilford). I have always used the same bottles, and they were all cleaned and rinsed before re filling with the fresh dev. This morning when I processed my first film through the fresh mix, there was no density in the film and the leader was pale olive. I’ve also cut a length from a unexposed roll, cut that into four pieces and placed each one in 20mls of full strength stock from each bottle. All came out olive green and transparent after 10mins. I know there is no way of saving the stock, I just would like to know how it went bad.
 
Is the stock clear or brown? If clear, this is a dilemma and I become forced to imply that, somehow, there was gross contamination.

Try this: take about 10mL of the D-76 and put it in a little cup. Then add a little bit of sodium carbonate, (like you are sprinkling a little salt in food.) Mix it up until dissolved. Then take an inch or so of B&W film that has not been processed. (In room light that piece of film will become, of course, fully exposed.) Does the film turn black? If not, you have bad developer and I could present unlimited scenarios for the determination of its defeat.
 
My first thought was that the 3.8 ltr packet somehow had become compromised possibly with a pin prick which allowed air into the package. Do you recall if the contents were snow white. I ask because years ago I discovered a tiny tear in a D76 pack and upon opening found brown crystals disbursed through the entire mix. I discarded without even mixing, Just a thought.
 
If the powder is somewhat brown that developer should still be good. You want to avoid near-black powder. Kodak's introduction of these damn paper packets is one of their worst choices ever. If the powder was at least somewhat white, you have good powder. - David Lyga
 
Thank you both.

David, The stock is clear and I have tried the test you outlined with a piece of exposed film in stock, nothing after 10mins except a transparent dark green colour. I accept that the stock is bad and will be thrown out. Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem.



Rick. Thanks for that thought.
 
Failure without warning! This shows again what an inferior developer Xtol is!
With good ole D-76 this would have never ever happened!
What? It WAS D-76?! No!! Stop!! This can't be true ...
 
Ban these xtol bashers
Please stick to the thread..this was about D76
Duh!
Have a nice developed day!
Peter
 
I have no other words for your dilemma. How I would like to have an ounce of that 'bad' D-76 and see for myself!!! - David Lyga
 
David

Thrown the old stock away. Can only think it was contamination of some kind when mixing. Today I cleaned everything and mixed fresh new dev. I'll test and hopefully put a roll through it in the morning. Thanks for your replies.
 
If you inadvertently mixed some acetic acid into the developer, the color would still be pure but the pH would be far too low. - David Lyga
 
An MQ developer like D-76 is not going to suddenly lose all activity especially in only 1 week. There is something else going on here.
 
You have to be logical it was either contamination in the packet or in the mixing...........Reading your original post I would look at the mixing container the stirer and the water used......I have got 5 litres of IDII that as got to go the same route but with hopefully a more happier outcome.
 
My new batch is fine. I put a film through it today and all as well!
My only other thought was the water temperature might not have been high enough when I mixed the stock.

Pentaxuser. The olive green colour is the underdeveloped emulsion.
 
D76 is bullet proof and the best developer on the planet. If there is a problem it is down to human error.
 
David Lingham said:
Pentaxuser. The olive green colour is the underdeveloped emulsion.
Click to expand...

Thanks, so there was something of an image there or only clear film tinted olive green?. Was there any indication of the film's edge markings? Given how many users of D76 there must be here and how many have had problems I am surprised that no-one so far has said that he has managed a clearish but olive coloured film. What was the film? This may give a clue to the olive colour.

pentaxuser
 
Pentaxuser.

The film was FP4 at box speed, processing at 1+1 11mins. There was frame edge markings and an image on each frame, but really underdeveloped. I'm sure I didn't mix the stock at the correct temperature.
 
Through the developer away. Don't risk anything more with it. It could be a bad, contaminated perhaps, batch of chemical powders.
 
David Lingham said:
Pentaxuser.

The film was FP4 at box speed, processing at 1+1 11mins.
Click to expand...

I know it sounds unlikely but didn't you - for some reason - sabotage your 1+1 solution (by adding too much water and not enough stock D-76)?
That would explain the severe under-developement...
 
FP4 at 1:1 needs 12.5 minutes at 20 degrees C.
 
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