How Long Does Kodak Flexicolor Chemistry Last? I Could Use Some Help.

[Pioneer]

I have an odd request for help. A little over three years ago I had some heart surgery to replace a defective valve. Everything is just fine but a common side effect is loss of memory, usually from right around the time of surgery but it can also affect other memories as well.

Anyway without getting into too much detail I have located several large half-full bottles of Kodak Flexicolor Chemistry in a closet and I am unsure whether it is still any good. Obviously I purchased it prior to my surgery but I have no memory of it or of using it. As a result I am asking for some advice on whether it is still viable and, where to find reliable information and instructions related to its' use if it possibly still works.

This is what I have in the closet:
A. 5 Liters Flexicolor Fixer & Replenisher dated August 19, 2023
B. 1.2 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Starter expired December 2020
C. 1.2 Liters Flexicolor Developer Starter expired November 2018
D. 2 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Replenisher dated December 17, 2019
E. 4 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Replenisher dated December 18, 2019

As far as I can tell these bottles have been stored indoors in the back corner of this closet since sometime prior to March 2022 at between 60 to 75 degrees depending on the season. Although the bottles are not full they have probably not been opened at any point in the last three years. But I doubt that anything beyond room air has been introduced to the air space in those bottles.

Beyond knowing that these components are intended to be mixed in various ways and then used to develop C41 Color Negative film I know nothing else. Are any of these chemicals still viable? I really don't know. If so, where can I find good, reliable instructions on mixing and testing or using them?

 

[mshchem]

Bleach and both starters are fine. We are assuming that this is the original concentrate not some mixup of reusing a bottle

As long as the fixer is clear and doesn't have the rotten egg smell of decomposing fixer should be good.

Now, thanks to Cinestill you need to buy a case of everything, including the starters.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks.

As far as I can tell all of this is the original stuff with no cross mixing going on but I absolutely cannot vouch for that since I really have no memory of this stuff. I am sure I'll sort it all out eventually but right now it is all Greek.

The fixer is clear and does not smell like rotten eggs. The 4 liter bottle of beach replenisher has a tan, slightly brownish color. That is the only liquid that is anything besides clear.

I just looked through some of what Cinestill has on their website for C-41 and obviously this adventure will take a bit more research than I thought. It might be easier to mix the developer from the Cinestill developing kits I already have and then use the bleach and fixer until I run out.

 

[mshchem]

Thanks.

As far as I can tell all of this is the original stuff with no cross mixing going on but I absolutely cannot vouch for that since I really have no memory of this stuff. I am sure I'll sort it all out eventually but right now it is all Greek.

The fixer is clear and does not smell like rotten eggs. The 4 liter bottle of beach replenisher has a tan, slightly brownish color. That is the only liquid that is anything besides clear.

I just looked through some of what Cinestill has on their website for C-41 and obviously this adventure will take a bit more research than I thought. It might be easier to mix the developer from the Cinestill developing kits I already have and then use the bleach and fixer until I run out.

Sounds like a good plan. Just hang on to the starters. Also the bleach should be shelf stable at room temperature.

 

[Richard Man]

The bottles themselves should have the mix instructions on the label. That's what bleach looks like

 

[Pioneer]

Been doing a little research and deciphering what is on the bottles. I suspect that I will have a handle on what I need by the end of the week. Lots of info out there. I just need time to wade through it. I am sure I had a pretty good handle on this when I bought all of this so I just need to re-learn what I knew then. I'll get there. Every little bit helps so thanks for the info. It is beginning to look like what I have is still good but I may not have everything I need.

 

[mshchem]

 

[koraks]

A. 5 Liters Flexicolor Fixer & Replenisher dated August 19, 2023

Is it "Fixer replenisher" or "fixer & replenisher"? Note the difference. I expect it's the former.
Fixer is OK until it starts to sulfur out. If the liquid is clear and no muck floats in it, and also if the walls of the vessel it's in are not caked with dust/crusts, the fixer will be OK.

B. 1.2 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Starter expired December 2020

A bleach starter isn't very critical in home processing of C41.

C. 1.2 Liters Flexicolor Developer Starter expired November 2018

Developer starter generally lives forever; it's basically sodium bromide in solution. This is stable.

D. 2 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Replenisher dated December 17, 2019
E. 4 Liters Flexicolor Bleach Replenisher dated December 18, 2019

Bleach replenisher also lives forever; this is also true for the working strength bleach.
Be happy with the bleach as it's the most expensive part and you have enough to get you through years' worth of darkroom work!

All you need is some developer.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks @koraks

A bit more background. My wife and daughters were doing some house cleaning after the surgery and found this sitting on the floor in the hobby room. They tucked it into the back corner of that storage closet, which is a bit of a Fibber McGee's closet. Except in this case it typically contains a lot of her hobby items, not my own. Ceramics, sewing and other items are usually found there so it is not normally a place I dig around in. In this case I was looking for some parts for my wife's ceramic kiln and came across these chemicals.

I'm still looking. For all I know I may yet find some developer in there. This is not a normal closet in most people's sense of the word. It is not a good place to go digging around without care.

I did find a 5 pound jar of sodium thiosulphate in there. So at some point I must have been worried about fixer? Or more likely I probably bought a box of things off Craig's List, E-Bay or Etsy.

 

[Pioneer]

Also. According to the label I am supposed to mix a certain amount of water plus Part A (which is Bleach III Replenisher) plus Part B (which is the smaller bottle of Bleach III Replenisher) and top it all off with more water to make 10 liters of Bleach III. The label is a little beat up but that appears to be the directions.

Once I get to the point where I am mixing these chemicals I'll do a little better job of deciphering things.

And yes... Even though I shoot a lot of film, color and black & white, it looks like I have enough fixer to last me for quite a long time.

BTW - I am still working on the kiln, which takes priority (as I am sure some of you will understand), so if I do not seem immediately responsive sometimes I am sure you will understand why.

 

[koraks]

I am still working on the kiln, which takes priority (as I am sure some of you will understand)

Oh, yes, I do. My parents' kiln has been a work in progress for over 20 years. It's never left the list of top priorities. Mind you, it works most of the time. It's just that there's always a way to make it bigger, better, etc.