Dektol Dilemma

Wayne said:

I didn't see where prints were sent to Kodak. There doesn't seem to be a problem with how the bad batches work so it must be an esthetic issue, or a solution looking for a problem. In that case

Kodak D-72 Print Developer
Metric Spoons and Ounces
Water (125 deg. F) 500 ml.
Metol (or "Elon") 3 gm.
Sodium sulfite, anhydrous 45 gm.
Hydroquinone 12 gm.
Sodium carbonate, monohydrated 80 gm.
Potassium bromide, anhydrous 2 gm
Cold water to make 1 liter

Dilute 1 part D-72 to 2 parts water for use. This formula makes a print developer similar (if not indistinguishable) to Dektol.

http://www.afterness.com/kod_d72.html

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This is the original. Buy a little balance 5 or 6 ingredients. D-52 is warmtone print developer, D-72 neutral , D-76 film developer.

MattKing said:

Check to make sure that your glossy paper isn't the cooltone paper, and the pearl isn't the warm tone paper.
As I understand it, there may also be a slight difference in tone between the former MGIV and the very recently introduced MG (V).
Finally, if your viewing light is warm, it may be the case that a pearl paper will look slightly warmer than the more reflective glossy.

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I bought some of the cooltone Ilford, it's dyed, not my preference.

MattKing said:

Check to make sure that your glossy paper isn't the cooltone paper, and the pearl isn't the warm tone paper.
As I understand it, there may also be a slight difference in tone between the former MGIV and the very recently introduced MG (V).
Finally, if your viewing light is warm, it may be the case that a pearl paper will look slightly warmer than the more reflective glossy.

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Yeah, I wasn't surprised. It looked exactly just the way I thought it would. I was responding to the suggestion that the Dektol may have been staining the paper. Which, I don't know if it is or isn't, but the glossy cool stuff doesn't look stained to me.

guillermo alvarez said:

.......That is for me a NO GO and a complete failure on the side of Alaris. I have decided to quit using their products at all... but: what are the alternatives?
thanks!

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I'm not worried about Kodak developers because there are lots of alternatives. What terrifies me is the supply of film and paper. No particular problems at the moment, but what's in store for us?

jnantz said:

hi Bruce
don't forget sometimes these days international shipments take way-longer than expected. I hate to make this suggestion because it has nothing to do with your question and getting reimbursed (via chemistry) for your bad batch, but you might look into buying a digital scale from balances.com or eBay or amazon and raw chemicals from someplace ( like artcraft, or formulary or bostick and Sullivan, or amazon ) and mix your own from scratch. it really doesn't take too long to weigh out and the ingredients are readily available ( potassium bromide, sodium sulfite, metol hydroquinone, washing soda and ... ) , and that way you know you aren't getting a bad batch... if you add glycin into your recipe ( like with ansco 125 or 130 ) you will have a developer that lasts a very very long time. I had ansco 130 last over a year in a partially filled 1gallon bottle of stock solution. Glycin costs a little bit but in the end its like magic.

good luck with your situation!
John

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I second the suggestion of mixing your own. I'm doing that for years now and never had a failure. Don't expect saving any money But you will get consistent quality of your developer I am always a fresh batch when you need it.

RalphLambrecht said:

I second the suggestion of mixing your own. I'm doing that for years now and never had a failure. Don't expect saving any money But you will get consistent quality of your developer I am always a fresh batch when you need it.

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I'm moving back towards this approach myself. The other advantage is that if your usage varies a reasonable amount as does mine, you can mix up the amount you need, whether 1 litre or 10 litres, without having to worry about manufacture pack size.

I have been using the dark Dektol with Ilford Multigrade Classic FB. It definitely is NOT staining the paper.

Three bags brown. Was about to give up. Got out the ceremonial can-opener and emergency can.

Then I found it! One bag of Dektol that is not brown!

My others had all been oxidized. Not by the Kodak supplier issue but by oxygen getting into the packaging. Two by mice, one by old age and bad luck. Since I found the brown Dektol turns my prints cream-colored, I am not willing to use it. Besides, with it really being oxidized I think it’s really ruined (as opposed to a harmless manufacturing impurity).

Anyway the can lives another day to be on hand for another emergency.

I'm not sure why you called Kodak. I would have just called whomever I bought the bad Dektol from.

Me, no. I didn’t call anyone. I can’t blame camera store or Kodak. I had a lifetime supply given to me when they retired the “Headliner” at Burroughs back in 1985. The vintage multilayered plastic/foil/paper bags were well engineered and gave superior protection against breeches in most bags except when something sharp breached it. The next generation all plastic bags will breech if you fold it wrong. But in my case they were breeched literally by mice. Except this one I am mixing now. This one is going to be fine. A gallon lasts me a long time so I might be good for six months or a year unless some fury of desire calls. But that’s it, I am out now except for the can. Looking for more but have a couple months before I really need it.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the darkroom because you have the potential to accumulate a supply stockpile that will last forever or six months whichever comes first.

The new batches where supplier is suspected is another unrelated issue with Dektol. I don’t have that. But am suspicious if I did it would stain my paper just the same.

New seals for the plastic bottles…

Bill Burk said:

[Got out the ceremonial can-opener and emergency can.

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Ooooh, I covet your can opener.

I keep flour and yeast on hand - in case I run out of bread and there is a snow storm raging. Even though I am not much of a baker (the dutch oven trick works, BTW).

I used to keep backup raw chemicals on hand in case I ran out of packaged chemicals. Now I almost always mix from scratch. I have only had Catechol go bad on me, but that was no great loss at all.

Bill Burk said:

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Three bags brown. Was about to give up. Got out the ceremonial can-opener and emergency can.

Then I found it! One bag of Dektol that is not brown!

My others had all been oxidized. Not by the Kodak supplier issue but by oxygen getting into the packaging. Two by mice, one by old age and bad luck. Since I found the brown Dektol turns my prints cream-colored, I am not willing to use it. Besides, with it really being oxidized I think it’s really ruined (as opposed to a harmless manufacturing impurity).

Anyway the can lives another day to be on hand for another emergency.

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The can opener is Beautiful! I have emergency cans as well. I panicked when Ilford went into receivership 15 years ago, I bought 10 or 12 5L packs of Bromophen. I used the last one a couple years ago, perfect. I panicked again when Tetenal got in trouble, I bought XTOL, Kodak Rapid fixer, and more Bromophen . The XTOL move turned out OK. And the other stuff will keep. I'm definitely a "just incase" not "just in time"