Home-made Rodinal?

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm into making my own processing chemicals from bulk materials.However the process of making Rodinal is rather complex and not as easy as mixing chemicals.My question is:Is Crawley's FX37 a close enough substitute for Rodinal or is there a better formula in the public domain?:confused:

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Ralph, I have been experimenting with TMAX 400 in Beutler's developer, as well as a Beutler's-inspired version of Barry Thornton's two bath, with a lower sulfite content and Sodium Carbonate in the B-Bath. 20" prints from 6x6 negs show a very tight grain pattern (not excessive by any standards) with superior sharpness, even compared with Pyrocat HD.

I know it's not Rodinal, but you might find it to be a good substitute. Only three chemicals needed.

I'll see if I can post some samples.

 

[pdeeh]

I've not heard fx37 described as a rodinal substitute before.
Making a "rodinal" isn't hard. I've regularly made the paracetamol version with excellent results. Though whether a professional photographer would want to rely on it is another matter.
Search the forum for "Kalogen" if you want a rodinal.type made with common chemicals. Perhaps Gerald Koch will direct you to his formula for it if he sees this thread

 

[mrred]

Gerald Koch posted this optimized version of Kologen. It's not Rodinal, but is Rodinal like. I use it because it's pretty cheap to make and lasts forever. Gerry said he has had one on the shelf for over 7 years. I use it for reversals, so I can go through quite a lot of it.

Kalogen

Distilled water 750ml
Metol 12.5g
Sodium Sulfite 150g
Potassium Bromide 7.5g
Benzotriazole, %1 50ml
Hydroquineone 45g
Sodium Hydroxide 22.5
Distilled water to make 1l

Expect undissolved chemicals until lye is added.

Let stand 4-5 days to cure. Filter out impurities and bottle.

If any crystals form during storage, warm and shake to redissolve.

Film dilution 1:49, 6-11 minutes
Paper dilution 1:11

 

[Gerald C Koch]

May I second the suggestion to use Kalogen. It was formulated to be a substitute for Rodinal and like it is based on the use of very stable phenolates as developing agents.

Rodinalv is not hard to make. However the developing agent p-aminophenol does not keep well. The hydrochloride salt keeps better but oxidizes quickly and requires an additional step. This limits one to buying small amounts of either at higher cost.

 

[mrred]

I never seem to have Benzotriazole on hand so I just up the amount of Potassium Bromide to 9g.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I never seem to have Benzotriazole on hand so I just up the amount of Potassium Bromide to 9g.

That is what the previous formula called for. I adjusted the amount of bromide and added some benzotriazole because I use the developer also for prints and wanted a neutrol black tone. Then too the Rodinal Wolfen recipe called for both potassium bromide and an antifoggant.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I will give that a try but 'm also temptedto try FX37 by Crawley according to the film DevCookbook. many thanks for the eply. I'm always very hesitant to alter published formulae as I know how sensitively they were developed by people who know so much more about it than I.Oh ,I wish I had paid better attention in chemistry class;regrets...Those teachers would have my full attention now.Well,maybe,they should have ecouraged us to start photography then?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

FX-37 was developed specifically for T-grain and Delta type films. It really has no relationship to Rodinal other than they are both developers. FX-37 is similar to such developers as Microphen.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Ralph,
FX-37 is just about the only formula that is wrong in the FDC! There is too much benzotriazole.The correct formula is in APUG articles section.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Yes, but the benzotriazole amount is correct in the latest version of the FDC.

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