Do Impotent B&W Developers Change Color?

[Snapshot]

Hi All,

I have a question regarding B&W developers. Do the majority of B&W developers change color as they lose potency? I know XTOL doesn't change color but I have some D-76 and FX-37 that looks clear. However, I haven't used them in 6 months. I wondering if they are still useful or should dispose of it. I could do a "snip test" but it's hard to glean potency loss with such a test.

Any guidelines as to what to do? I guess "tossing" it is better safe being sorry about using it. Unfortunately, I have a "waste adverse" conscience to appease.

 

[jim appleyard]

I know what you mean about waste, but chucking it is probably the best bet. Just think how PO'd you'd be after spending gas, travel time, cost of film, etc., only to soup your film in a dead batch of dev.

I'd start fresh and on your next gallon of D-76, store it in glass with marbles to take up the air space. This will help it last longer.

BTW, my D-76 turns a slight yellow with age, but I chuck it at that point.

 

[DBP]

Usually, except for Rodinal and Diafine.

Or, if you are referring to the people doing the developers, I would expect a slight reddish coloration or possibly a lightening of the normal color upon realization of the problem.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Do the old strip test. Put some 35mm leader into the developer and see if you get Dmax in the normal development time. If not, it is bad. But in general, developers do turn yellow or brown when they are bad, and the darker they are, the worse they are. This is not always true. Some can be very dark and be good (amidol) and some can be clear and be bad (XTOL).

Be safe, run the test.

PE

 

[DBP]

Do the old strip test.

Is that for determining whether the developer is impotent?

 

[kevs]

Hi Snapshot,

Your D-76 should still be good if it's stock solution and has been stored in an airtight container. I have some 4 litres of ID-11 stock (same formula as D-76), which I mixed in February this year and is stored in a cool dark place in a 1 gallon bottle, and it's fine. Further ID-11 is stored in a half-full plastic pop bottle, and is also fine.

I can't say for the FX-37 dev, as I've no experience of it.

 

[ricksplace]

I just used some 6 month old d76 from a full glass bottle. It was clear and worked fine.

 

[jim appleyard]

BTW, always add Viagra to impotent devs. )

 

[Photo Engineer]

Impotent developers, failing the dip test, turn blue in the face trying to pass the dip test.

PE

 

[Paul Verizzo]

The cure for impotent developers is D-Viagra. Available at B&H and Freestyle. If your developer stays potent for more than 12 months, cease usage.

Back to earth, I have some ID-62 (plus lots more sulfite) PQ developer at 1:1 for paper that I've been seeing how far I can abuse it. It's been sitting in an open tray for 5 days, 80-90 degrees, mostly doing test strips and some 5x7's, maybe a total only a total of 10-12 8x10 equivalents. It has turned medium brown, but shows no sign of slowing down. Just as fast, just as good Dmax.

I tell you, that D-Viagra works. Or maybe it's the sulfite.

 

[kevs]

Maybe you can restore the impotent devs by developing some hot nude photos...

 

[srs5694]

Back to earth, I have some ID-62 (plus lots more sulfite) PQ developer at 1:1 for paper that I've been seeing how far I can abuse it. It's been sitting in an open tray for 5 days, 80-90 degrees, mostly doing test strips and some 5x7's, maybe a total only a total of 10-12 8x10 equivalents. It has turned medium brown, but shows no sign of slowing down. Just as fast, just as good Dmax.

Have you been covering the trays with plastic wrap or otherwise protecting the developer between uses? If not, then that's truly impressive. I'd been under the impression that typical developers go bad in a few hours in open trays.

Then too, my own experience with DS-14 is in open trays. I replenish, but probably only 50-100ml per session. (I just top up the main bottle.) With each session lasting about 2-5 hours, that's quite a few hours in open trays before even half the volume gets replenished.

 

[Snapshot]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll just do the snip test and see what happens. I just won't develop critical film with these developers.