Experiences with Hp5 in Pyrocat HD for Continuous Agitation

[ColdEye]

What are your experiences with the combo above? Finally got time set up for tomorrow to do some developing, and I have quite a few rolls of Hp5 exposed at 400 to develop. So far the times I have found is 10mins at 1:1:100. Any other experiences or suggestions? How about Rodinal via continuous agitation?

 

[Ian Grant]

All the details were on the Pyrocat-HD website, the site's no longer online but the link is to the Wayback Machine
https://web.archive.org/web/20170722230119/http://www.pyrocat-hd.com/html/times.html
Ian

 

[Alan9940]

All or most of the info from the old site is here too: Pyrocat HD - Film Developer (5x4.co.uk)

I've processed HP-5, FP-4, Delta 100, Fomapan 100, Fuji Acros, and TMax 100/400 over the years with Pyrocat-HD 1:1:100 in Expert Drums on my Jobo without issue. If running a Jobo, set the rotation to its slowest speed. I've also processed a few of these films with BTZS tubes.

 

[pentaxuser]

Just a thought but is there any particular improvement you expect to find in rotary processing either with Pyrocat HD or Rodinal? Unless you have evidence of a definite improvement and no evidence of any likelihood of a deterioration , might it not be safer to stick with non rotary inversion?

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've used that combo since 2002. EI 250. 1+1+50 (10ml + 10ml + 500ml water). Continuous agitation in BTZS tubes. 9:30. 21C.

 

[Ian Grant]

All or most of the info from the old site is here too: Pyrocat HD - Film Developer (5x4.co.uk)

I've processed HP-5, FP-4, Delta 100, Fomapan 100, Fuji Acros, and TMax 100/400 over the years with Pyrocat-HD 1:1:100 in Expert Drums on my Jobo without issue. If running a Jobo, set the rotation to its slowest speed. I've also processed a few of these films with BTZS tubes.

Unfortunately Alan for some reason Ian Barber has removed some of the original pages and created or edited the developing times page. I'd wanted to check Pyro Uno only to discover all the variants etc had also been removed.

This is the correct link: https://web.archive.org/web/20170722230119/http://www.pyrocat-hd.com/html/times.html

The main reason Sandy King came up with Pyrocat HD was in fact for rotary processing, as PMK isn't suitable.

Ian

 

[ColdEye]

I just want it to be more consistent, specially since I have a bunch of Acros and their times with pyrocat is pretty long (aka I don't want to be doing that manually for 15+mins). Plus I have never tried using continously agitating it.

Thanks for the links on way back machine, I keep forgetting to utilize that.

 

[Alan9940]

Unfortunately Alan for some reason Ian Barber has removed some of the original pages and created or edited the developing times page. I'd wanted to check Pyro Uno only to discover all the variants etc had also been removed.

Thanks for the clarification, I did not know that. I'm not surprised he made some changes to the developing times because at one point, on the UK LF Forum, he asked for member feedback on personal times. I kind of thought he would create a second repository for this info, but it doesn't sound like it. No matter, really, because any time is really simply a starting point.

 

[Alan9940]

I just want it to be more consistent, specially since I have a bunch of Acros and their times with pyrocat is pretty long (aka I don't want to be doing that manually for 15+mins). Plus I have never tried using continously agitating it.

Thanks for the links on way back machine, I keep forgetting to utilize that.

FWIW, my tested development time with Pyrocat-HD 1:1:100 for Acros roll format is: 15 mins @ 21C, continuous agitation for the first minute, followed by 4 inversions (roughly 10 secs) at 10.5 mins, 7 mins, and 3.5 mins. No water pre-rinse; in a Paterson tank. On my Jobo, I do LF sheet film in Expert Drums, rotating at the slowest speed, for 10 mins @ 21C.

The small tank development certainly involves a bit of time, but the resulting negatives are worth it IMO!

 

[Alan9940]

The main reason Sandy King came up with Pyrocat HD was in fact for rotary processing, as PMK isn't suitable.

Some years ago, I did use PMK successfully in Expert Drums on my Jobo. The "trick" is to use 2L of working developer, change it out halfway through the development time, and run the processor on its slowest speed. I moved on to other formulas because the stain and printing characteristics of PMK were just not to my own personal taste.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

And if one wants the characteristics of PMK in continuous agitation, one can use Rollo Pyro, which is PMK, but formulated for such development.

 

[markbau]

I used PMK on a Jobo for years with no problems. I did use quite a bit more developer than Jobo recommended, slowest speed but I did NOT change out the developer half way through. I don't know why so many people had problems with PMK in a Jobo.

 

[pentaxuser]

I just want it to be more consistent, specially since I have a bunch of Acros and their times with pyrocat is pretty long (aka I don't want to be doing that manually for 15+mins). Plus I have never tried using continously agitating it./QUOTE]

Thanks for the reply about your reasons. If it works for Pyrocat HD and it would seem so then great. I hope you get answers on Rodinal as well

pentaxuser

 

[ColdEye]

Results are decent, I used 11mins. Its nice not to have to stand there for 15mins waiting to agitate. More experimentation is needed. Forgive the water marks.

 

[Craig]

Just a thought but is there any particular improvement you expect to find in rotary processing either with Pyrocat HD or Rodinal? Unless you have evidence of a definite improvement and no evidence of any likelihood of a deterioration , might it not be safer to stick with non rotary inversion?

For sheet film the Jobo tanks make life much easier than other ways of processing sheet film. I can load my film in the tank, put it in the Jobo, program the time, push start and walk away and have a cup of tea; come back when the machine beeps and tells me that the film is done. Couldn't be easier.