I’m seriously considering getting the ingredients for H&W control because I’ve heard that it is great for techpan, and could potentially be amazing for the microfilm I’m planning to get.
Does anyone have any advice for using this developer? I saw a thread on here about dissolving part a in propylene glycol to prolong shelflife, is that worth trying?
Yes, so I’ve heard. That’s why I was interested in the propylene glycol variant, apparently that lasts much longer.I used it in the early 70s. It oxidized very quickly after opening. If the formulation is the same, use with care.
Yep! Exactly what I was referring to.Here is the propylene glycol version:
I gave up on it for Adox CMS 20 II because of posterization, but I believe H&W intended it for a less contrasty film and it may well work better with microfilms other than CMS 20 II.H&W Control developer in glycol
Low contrast developers for microfilms are discussed in The Film Developing Cookbook 2020 p129-138 and in FDC 1998 p95-102. Amongst commercial developers are Adotech IV, Rollei RLC and Photoformulary TD-3. Dilute "ordinary" developers may work if the film EI is reduced sufficiently from box...www.photrio.com
Are you sure? I ask because when H&W came out with their film we speculated that it was Agfa microfilm. I don't recall the number. We could have been mistaken.I remember it very well. It was specifically formulated for Kodak High Contrast Copy film, or their own H&W film, which was probably re-spools of the same film.
Propylene glycol. I did not keep that particular sample but similar solutions eg for PC-512 Borax are reported to keep for years in containers with a lid (PG is hygroscopic and will absorb water from the air with no lid).
Some process their film in coffee and beer and every other damn thing, so maybe antifreeze is not so far off?I’m pretty sure putting your film in antifreeze wouldn’t work out super well.
Propylene glycol is also 'antifreeze'. I'm quite sure that you could substitute ethylene glycol for propylene glycol without any problem in a photographic developer. AFAIK the main reasons why people prefer propylene glycol is the good availability in the consumer/retail market (it's used for various applications, including e-smokes/'vapes' and it's fed to livestock to facilitate lactation) and in particular the fact that the propylene species is non-toxic, whereas ethylene glycol is toxic., I did mean propylene glycol not ethylene glycol. I’m pretty sure putting your film in antifreeze wouldn’t work out super well.
If you heat the glycol to something like 60-80C (140-180F) and put it on a stirrer, phenidone will dissolve completely within about a minute.The Phenidone took forever to dissolve but it did eventually.
I dissent from this on the grounds that it may be dangerous to the inexperiencedPropylene glycol is also 'antifreeze'. I'm quite sure that you could substitute ethylene glycol for propylene glycol without any problem in a photographic developer.
If someone happens to have ethylene glycol on hand, it would be a perfectly fine alternative. The toxicity argument is really moot if you start loading stuff like hydroquinone into it anyway. Just mark the bottle and store it where pets and kids can't get to it. As you'd always do for developers.
I dissent from this on the grounds that it may be dangerous to the inexperienced
Not any more dangerous than handling e.g. the dry hydroquinone that goes into the developer. It's a moot point. We trust consumers to be able to top up the coolant in their cars in case it's necessary (which is ethylene glycol + water). By the same logic, someone can safely poor 500ml of ethylene glycol into a cup.
Considering the wide scope of photographic knowledge and experience on a public forum (granted, getting more and more weighted towards the experienced), and considering the educational and historical value of the information here, such 'best practices' are always best to be considered and be brought forward.The formula of H&W Control with glycol posted by me uses propylene glycol in accordance with best practice established for many years. Dissent from such best practice is a novelty.
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