HC110 Agitation

It's a very versatile developer

Peterpan said:

I have decided to start using HC 110 the goo type for its keeping property.
I have read several articles on the use of HC110,and of the different dilutions.
Kodak suggest vigorous agitation,of 5 secs at start and then every 30secs.
In Greg Mironchuk's article he states that he only agitates at the beginning of development process and once half way through the process.The reason being that to agitate more makes the negs too contrasty.
Has anyone got any other thoughts on the subject.

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One thing I have to say is you have to be consistent with your exposure and your development which goes without saying. I normally use it in dilution "B" which is 1 part concentrate to 31 parts of water. I agitate for the first minute and 15 secs for every minute until the film is done with the developer. I also use it 1:100 with stand development. I agitate for the first minute and let the film stand for an hour. So far, the stand development works with Arista EDU 100 and 400. It seems to work with other films too. I use this technique to tame contrasty negs. But you'll have to do some test to see what works for you and take detailed notes. I've been using HC-110 for over 30 years and the syrup is bullet proof. Even when it goes brown.

I've always liked HC-110 and Rodinal. Some films respond better with one over the other in my experience. Agfapan 400 was superb with Rodinal but, unfortunately Agfa it's no longer available.

I think stand developing would make me nervous to try. I'll stick with the old ways but, that's just me.

ColColt said:

I've always liked HC-110 and Rodinal. Some films respond better with one over the other in my experience. Agfapan 400 was superb with Rodinal but, unfortunately Agfa it's no longer available.

I think stand developing would make me nervous to try. I'll stick with the old ways but, that's just me.

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Makes me nervous too David. I am cautiously progressive though and compromised at semi-stand/minimal. One day I WILL get my enlarger out and use it again. Untol then I am making the best negatives I can. I hope they will print well when I get my S#it together eventually !

I think if it weren't for the time involved with printing I might drag my old Besler out again. I don't like closing the door to the dark room for hours with just periodic checks on my dog. He's getting old and I don't like leaving him alone much. Even though he's in the house with me, what time we're not out in the yard together, it would still bother me to leave him by himself. Just a quirk of mine, I suppose.

I did run across my enlarger lenses-the Rodagon 50 for 35mm and my Schneider 100mm for 6x7 so, I have most all I always did. It would be a matter of setting it all up. The worse part is taking all that reloading equipment off the former enlarger table and all those boxes of stuff I have currently sitting inside the sink area.