Floaters in D-76

[ITD]

Hi, I'm looking for a little advice. I've got most of a US gallon of D-76 made up and stored in brown bottles with all the air removed.

They've been there more than the recommended 6 months, but the colour still looks fine. There are a number of whispy particles floating in the solution though, and they don't appear to go away if I shake the bottle.

They're stored a little cool, the room's at about 12degC, so I'm warming up the solutions to see if that helps.

I'll bung a film leader in to check for activity, but do these particles indicate that the solution's completely gone, or can I just filter them out?

Thanks

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Hi, I'm looking for a little advice. I've got most of a US gallon of D-76 made up and stored in brown bottles with all the air removed.

They've been there more than the recommended 6 months, but the colour still looks fine. There are a number of whispy particles floating in the solution though, and they don't appear to go away if I shake the bottle.

They're stored a little cool, the room's at about 12degC, so I'm warming up the solutions to see if that helps.

I'll bung a film leader in to check for activity, but do these particles indicate that the solution's completely gone, or can I just filter them out?

Thanks

D-76 sometimes kicks out a bit of gunk. Don`t worry, it`ll be fine.

 

[Ian Grant]

Just live with it

Ian

 

[paul_c5x4]

I had a glob of wispy "stuff" in a bottle of stock D76 too. This particular batch was just over a month old. I filtered and used it last night with no ill effects.

 

[ITD]

Marvellous, thanks all.

 

[photomem]

I have the same thing. I just ignore them and move on. In my experience it doesnt scratch the emulsion or anything when you are agitating, though I am not sure I would use it for a soft emulsion film like Adox CHS or anything. But, I use Rodinal for that anyway.

 

[fschifano]

It's not a big deal. Filter it if you like, but that's not necessary at all. If you use your D-76 1+1, chances are good that any undissolved solids will go into solution when it is diluted.

 

[Photo Engineer]

If you have any floating material, you should make an effort to filter it out if it does not dissolve when you warm or dilute the developer in preparation for using it. The floaters might damage the film.

PE

 

[Mike1234]

Floaters?? Perhaps you should stop mixing chems in your toilet.

 

[Existing Light]

Floaters?? Perhaps you should stop mixing chems in your toilet.

That's the floaters I was thinking of as well. That kind of thinking must be a southern thing

 

[ITD]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm certainly going to filter it, the bits don't look very scratchy but knowing my luck they'll stick to the film. Better safe than sorry.
I thought the 'floaters' thing might get Brits sniggering, but toilet humour obviously affects the US too!

 

[Mike1234]

Yeah, we Americans are every bit as lowbrow as the Brits, I'm ashamed to admit.

 

[Jeff Searust]

I have seen "floaters" in several types of developer, and never bothered filtering, but I suppose it might be fairly easy to use a paper filter and pour into another bottle.

 

[Mike1234]

A coffee filter is better.

 

[Photo Engineer]

A coffee filter is better.

Often, that is not fine enough.

PE

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Done tests and D76 is perfect for 6 months and after that is loses activity slowly. Brown glass jugs sealed and full and kept in the dark. In fact it is perfect for 6 months. Partial full bottles go off after a week regardless of what Kodak says. So I use 8 oz bottles, enough for one film.

You will get a decent image in the 7th month, less contrast in 8. It does not turn brown at 6 months, but the deterioration is started.

Developer is cheap. Getting a decent image on film is hard. So you decide.

I now scratch mix a liter at a time.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

floaters should be filtered out or you can syphon off the good stuff from the top.

 

[stm]

I wouldn't sweat it. I have seen the same thing several times before but never had any problems with the developer.

 

[Photo Engineer]

I wouldn't sweat it. I have seen the same thing several times before but never had any problems with the developer.

Wait until you do though. It may be with the best shots you have ever taken and then you find little white dots and "hairs" in the final print. UGH.

Floaters have been known to embed themselves in the wet swollen emulsion and once there they are permanent.

What a loss.

PE

 

[ITD]

Developer is cheap. Getting a decent image on film is hard. So you decide.

Thanks, I'm certainly not going to use this for any once in a lifetime shots or where I need perfect results - I've been unable to get in the darkroom much this year, so I'm doing some practice.

I think that mixing my own might be the way to go, given my irregular time in the dark, but sometimes I go from nothing for months to easily getting through a 3.8L batch in 6 months.

PE, when you say that a coffee filter may not be enough, are you talking about the mesh ones, or is a paper coffee filter not fine enough? I'm going to try it anyway, but I'm interested in clearing that up.

Thanks all