dektol gallon pack question..

[Sean]

I picked up a gallon pack of dektol today and am unfamiliar with the mixing.. It says "to make 1 US gallon", am I to assume this means a gallon of stock solution or working solution? This has probably been asked before but I couldn't find the answer with a quick search. Thanks

 

[Curt]

To make one gallon of stock then diluted 1:1, 1:2 with water to make the working solution. It can be confusing figuring out the scant instructions. Yes, you will first make one gallon of stock.

 

[kwmullet]

..on the off chance you've had as little caffine as me and couldn't quite wrap your brain around Curt's answer, here's my opinion, just in case another post/possible answer has merit. Apologies if it's wrong, unnecessary or redundant.

That one US gallon you mix from the powder is stock solution.

In my experience, I've mixed that either 1+1 or a more dilute 1+2 with water for the working solution. The latter doesn't last as long, but it uses less stock (obviously) and I think it might be a smigeon lower contrast & longer tonal range.

It's probably risky (from a quality point of view) to try and use the working solution across more than one session.

-KwM-

 

[rwyoung]

The yellow package makes one gallon of STOCK solution. Best suggestion is to divide that among smaller bottles so you minimize the head space at the top of the bottols.

I suggest you DO NOT mix it down to 1+1 or 1+2 until you are ready to use it. And once mixed, it should be considered a one-shot developer (per printing session). Soup and dump (safely).

There are capacity charts around for Dektol based on 8x10 sheets. But in general, mixed 1+2, 500ml of solution fresh solution should be good for 20 to 40 sheets of 8x10. After 20 sheets, look closely at your highlights. If they suddenly stop "popping" or look grainy dump out and remix. Or, depending on the color tray you are using, if the solution goes dark and muddy it has oxidized and should be replaced.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Sean;

Add the pack to 3 liters of water at 38 deg C and dissolve, then dilute to 3.8 liters with water at 38 deg C. This is stock and will keep in a sealed bottle for about 1 month. Use shortens life. Air shortens life. I use a nitrogen blanket.

Use 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3 for processing. I use 1:3 mostly due to the rapid activity with modern papers.

It is good with most films 1:3 for 3' or 1:7 for 7'.

PE

 

[jstraw]

Sean, have you considered filling an inkjet printer with this Dektol?

 

[lee]

Sean,

Also when you got the Dektol in the tray try for an exposure that works with a development time of about 2 min with fiber paper and about 1 min with RC

lee\c

 

[Neal]

Dear Sean,

One last note. Per the Kodak Black & White Darkroom Dataguide, stock dektol will keep 6 months in a full sealed container. I have found this to be a conservative estimate, YMMV.

Neal Wydra

 

[Dave Krueger]

Dear Sean,

One last note. Per the Kodak Black & White Darkroom Dataguide, stock dektol will keep 6 months in a full sealed container. I have found this to be a conservative estimate, YMMV.

Neal Wydra

In my experience, Dektol keeps quite well even in working strength (1:2 for me) dilutions. For some time now, I've always run a test when I get ready to dump developer. I make a print of whatever negative is in the enlarger using the developer I'm about to dump. I then make the same print again with the new fresh developer. Aside from the need to increase developing time a bit, I never detect any difference. I should also note that I rarely use developer to the full capacity specified by Kodak. I usually just just dump it because of the color and how old it is.

In terms of the increase in developing time, I usually use 1.5 minutes for RC prints with fresh solution and then increase to 2 minutes as the solution ages, depending on how long it takes the mid tones to pop out. I do fiber prints at 2 minutes increasing to 2.5.

While devloper is admittedly cheap, a printing session for me only amounts to printing one or two negatives, for a total of four to twelve 8x10s or one or two 16x20s. I'm not going to throw the developer away after each session without a good (visually detectable) reason.

 

[BBarlow690]

I mix the gallon, then decant into smaller bottles. I use 16 oz water bottles with tight-fitting screw caps. Fill to the brim and leave no air. I've kept Dektol stock for a year and more this way. For me, 16 oz Dektol stock with 32 oz water works well in a 10x12 tray using 8x10 paper. Soft drink bottles work well, woo, and the 20 oz size would be pretty close to perfect for my uses.

 

[Curt]

Was I really hard to understand? If so, then I will be more careful with explanations.

 

[kwmullet]

Was I really hard to understand? If so, then I will be more careful with explanations.

apologies. I really didn't mean to offend. I just found the syntax a little difficult. Probably 100% due to the early hour I was reading/posting and nothing to do with your post.

-KwM-

 

[C A Sugg]

divided storage

I mix the gallon, then decant into smaller bottles. I use 16 oz water bottles with tight-fitting screw caps. Fill to the brim and leave no air. I've kept Dektol stock for a year and more this way. For me, 16 oz Dektol stock with 32 oz water works well in a 10x12 tray using 8x10 paper. Soft drink bottles work well, woo, and the 20 oz size would be pretty close to perfect for my uses.

I've found that pint "swing top" beer bottles work quite well. (Grolsch is the most commonly found.) Just fill to the top then clamp. You'll loose a few drops of solution, but the rest will have no air with it.

Charles