Fein's Amidol

[noseoil]

I've started using amidol again and am wondering about the Fein's formula I found on Ed Buffaloe's site. It uses a lot more citric acid than any other formula I have seen in print (13.5g), as well as the relatively large amount (58.5g) of sodium sulphite. Does anyone have any experience with this developer and J&C's pwt paper? I've been using the MAS formula (with and without bzt) so far, but want to see about the Fein's as an alternative. The bzt I have is mixed in a 1% solution, so I'm thinking that the 0.8g of the dry chemical can be used as a solution of 80ml, for the sake of convenience. Easier to draw off 80ml than using the scale for such a small amount.

Ed's description deals with the use of this developer with azo paper, but I'm interested in an enlarging paper formula. Can anyone offer ideas about the keeping properties, activity level or other insights which may affect the use of this developer on enlarging paper? It would be nice to find an amidol formula which keeps better (and would last a couple of days) in a jar, for a longer than 1-shot time frame. Any other formulas out there for enlarging paper which would be worth trying? Thanks for any ideas. tim

P.S. Ed's site link http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Amidol/amidol.html

 

[Gerald Koch]

My copy of the formula says that the developer does not last and should be made up just before use. Amidol developers have very poor keeping properties. Years ago people tried various methods to make them last longer. Nothing was very effective. The best solution seemed to be to add the amidol just before use. I personally do not use amidol because of this problem.

 

[User Removed]

Always mix up your amidol fresh before working. It's not that hard any only takes a few minutes time.

 

[Will S]

I've been using the Ansco 113 (what Photoformulary used to sell before they switched to MAS - or maybe they still have it) on Ilford MGIV and Gallerie grade 3. The blacks are very good, but it does take longer in the tray which seems to be a potential source of problems with these developers. I'm going to try the MAS formula and just bought some benzotriazole to try the Fein's.

I have not been diluting the Ansco 113 as Mr. Buffaloe recommends, but just using it 1:1 w/out citric acid. I'm going to give that a try too, but I've never had problems with tray life as I usually only work for 2-3 hours at a time, and with a couple of pounds of Amidol on hand I'm not as worried about using it up any longer. Still, economy is always wise.

Please let us know what you find, as, while I do use Amidol on Azo, I'm now switching to it for everything (except, perhaps, warmtone). It stains, turns orange in the fixer, and requires some care when handling the powder, but I finally feel like I am making real prints.

Thanks,

Will

 

[Mark Layne]

I have used a lot of Feins. It's excellent but I haven't yet tried the MAS formula.
I have also used Peckhams- it does keep but seems inclined to warm (stain) the paper base.
Mark

 

[chrisf]

Tim,
While I haven't used Feins formula I can tell you I have had some short printing sessions and didn't want to throw away the MAS formula I use so I filled a wine bottle up all the way leaving just enough to fit a cork into the bottle. Then when I come back up to a week later it still works. If you print the next day there is almost no additional time necessary in the developer, after a week though it takes longer and the developer exhausts pretty quickly.
chris

 

[Earl Dunbar]

I have only used the Formulary Weston Amidol with Brilliant and Ilford papers. Very nice. Like all Amidol developers, mix just before use. I used to use high dilutions and long times to enrich blacks, but I'm not sure that was necessary.

 

[noseoil]

Quick report on the Fein's amidol. Ria mixed a batch last night with some "new" amidol from tom h. (thanks tom) which arrived yesterday afternoon. It seems to do very well, but I need to try some on a print I have done before to see about the high value separations. I'm still amazed at the ability of amidol to render a print I have done previously with dektol. The amidol wins every time. Will do a test with the Fein's and compare the print to the MAS with bzt variant and post results. tim