HC110 shelf life

Don Wallace · Jul 17, 2008

ANOTHER thread on chemistry shelf life.

I know that HC-110 in full, unopened bottles will last forever. Several bottles were found in the same cave as the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they was still good.

I found two bottles of HC110 at the back of my photo closet. They were the more or less clear plastic bottles of about 750ml, each of which had been opened and was about 10% empty, i.e., it was not full right up the neck, but was a lot more than 3/4 full. Each of them looked slightly pink, which I took to be oxidization, but when I started to dump one, lo and behold, it was that lovely rich yellow. There was definitely pinkish brown residue at the top of the bottle, on the sides, above the remaining developer, but nowhere else.

What do you think? Use or dump?

Konical · Jul 17, 2008

Good Morning, Don,

Try it on a non-critical roll and see what happens.

Konical

RobC · Jul 17, 2008

It'll be fine. Use it.

Deckled Edge · Jul 17, 2008

Yellow is mellow, orange or reddish is NG. In between, you decide. I've used old HC110 for years and never had a problem, though I dump at rusty orange. The old wives tell of using it when rusty with no ill effects, but Konical is correct in suggesting a test.

df cardwell · Jul 17, 2008

Red HC-110 is currently paying off my mortgage.

Tested, of course.

jim appleyard · Jul 17, 2008

If you're not sure, you can always use it as a paper dev.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 17, 2008

USE IT! USE IT! USE IT! Oops, sorry. Flashback.

df cardwell · Jul 17, 2008

Christopher Walrath said:
USE IT! USE IT! USE IT! Oops, sorry. Flashback.

Chris, here, man. Have a TWINKIE.

mikebarger · Jul 17, 2008

I suspect its shelf life is longer than mine

Mike

donbga · Jul 18, 2008

Don Wallace said:
ANOTHER thread on chemistry shelf life.

I know that HC-110 in full, unopened bottles will last forever. Several bottles were found in the same cave as the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they was still good.

I found two bottles of HC110 at the back of my photo closet. They were the more or less clear plastic bottles of about 750ml, each of which had been opened and was about 10% empty, i.e., it was not full right up the neck, but was a lot more than 3/4 full. Each of them looked slightly pink, which I took to be oxidization, but when I started to dump one, lo and behold, it was that lovely rich yellow. There was definitely pinkish brown residue at the top of the bottle, on the sides, above the remaining developer, but nowhere else.

What do you think? Use or dump?

I can assure you that it will be good. Use it.

df cardwell · Jul 18, 2008

I cleaned out a friend's chemical stash after his death; carted it all away under direction of the family. I put all the Flemish Toner and Gold Chloride in a special box .

I thought I'd keep the boxes of stuff for a couple days (great, ANOTHER 50 lbs of Polydol) and then sneak it into a dumpster someplace (um, just kidding, ahem). There were a dozen partially full small bottles of HC-110, of various eras. I had been drinking some really nice rum, and thought I would try something stupid in celebration of my pal.

I mixed up the HC-110. First, I decanted all the concentrate, blending 35 years of HC-110 into a common, orangish goo. Then, I made it up into Stock, and then made a liter of Dil. B. Had more rum. Souped an FP4 control strip, with Stevie Ray Vaughn blasting through the darkroom speakers. Dead-on. Next day, did some Tri X in it, and it was fine. No, exactly right. I've been running it as a replenished tank all summer, using, of course, vintage replenisher.

I KNOW it shouldn't work, and I would NEVER suggest anybody try this themselves. And, yeah, I test it before developing ANYTHING in it.. but that's OK, I don't mind.

I know my old pal, who was a total cheapskate, would NEVER have passed on knowing he had so much good developer left.

Let this be a lesson !

CBG · Jul 18, 2008

Don,

Don't listen to them! These terrible people are hoping to fool you into ruining perfectly good film. HC-110 only lasts a week or two at best - and that's if you keep it cold. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it properly. I won't charge you anything.

C

Tom Hoskinson · Jul 18, 2008

DON'T USE IT!! SHIP IT TO ME!

hawkwind · Jul 19, 2008

My HC110 is very orange, and it still does just fine.

My first post here.
-Gary

Phillip P. Dimor · Jul 20, 2008

I have a bottle that is 3/4ths full, at least 3 years old. It is like maple-syrup colored and it seems to be oozing through the plastic. I will wipe and clean the bottle, and it will still leave a sticky black ring of goop on whatever surface I place it. I even put it in a plastic ziplock bag and it is slowly erupting into the ziplock bag. It's kind of curious.

DF, I was waiting to read that you had mixed the HC-110 with the rum and imbibed it in honor of your friend!

df cardwell · Jul 21, 2008

DF, I was waiting to read that you had mixed the HC-110 with the rum and imbibed it in honor of your friend!

I thought about it,
but am quite willing to wait to join him....

Werewolfman · Dec 4, 2014

Kodak Polydol Developer

If you have any more Polydol, I seriously want some as that was the BEST developer Kodak ever made and does wonders on Kodak TMax films! Contact me, please?

frank · Dec 4, 2014

I wouldn't use it on critical rolls, but HC-110 will love you long time.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 4, 2014

I think he made his decision 6 years ago....

NedL · Dec 4, 2014

Yeah these old threads are great, aren't they!?

frank · Dec 4, 2014

Ill bet that HC-110 is STILL good.

It seems that some people do and others don't, prefer old thread resurrection, to starting a new thread on the same topic/question.

NedL · Dec 4, 2014

we could continue (there was a url link here which no longer exists)!
( I couldn't care less if people want to revive old threads, I think it's kind of fun when a really old one pops back up )

Werewolfman · Jun 9, 2017

Although the last reply was made 3 years ago, I've used Kodak HC-110 developer when the concentrate was a deep purple in color. I can tell you from first hand experience that there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Use as directed and you'll still get optimum results. Aside from my Polydol, I use HC-110. I bought a 1 pint bottle of HC-110 developer that was apparently made back in the early 70's. It was the old square shaped clear bottle with Kodak's imprint below the cap on the bottle. It still works! Trust me on this one! Kodak HC-110 developer is just as tough and as potent as Rodinal in concentrated form. The color of the concentrate doesn't matter! HC-110 Developer concentrate still kicks butt no matter how old it is!

Jeff Bradford · Jun 11, 2017

If the OP hasn't finished off those found bottles of HC-110 yet, they're still good even today nine years after he asked.

Gerald C Koch · Jun 16, 2017

Deckled Edge said:
Yellow is mellow, orange or reddish is NG. In between, you decide. I've used old HC110 for years and never had a problem, though I dump at rusty orange. The old wives tell of using it when rusty with no ill effects, but Konical is correct in suggesting a test.

When dealing with concentrates the depth of color is not an accurate measure of any spoilage. People use Rodinal that has become black without any problems. Developing agent oxidation products are usually deeply colored and a small amount can seriously effect the color of the concentrate. A similar situation applies to HC-110. If there is any doubt then do a clip test with working strength developer.

HC110 shelf life

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