How to work with SPUR HRX?

[yesaroos]

Hi, I'm new here on APUG.. please help me with SPUR HRX, it give me blank negative.. twice ..


first time, I'm working on Across EI 50.. my method is precisely like in their dev chart which came with the developer.. dilution 1+20 : 250ml:21 = aprox 12ml (6ml part A + 6ml part B).. I mix the developer in these order: water > part A > part B.. 11 minute developing time, inverse twice at beginning & once every 60 sec in 19°.. because I'm too excited receive the developer, I'm not doing dev test in these time.. its brand new, why should I .. water stop (10-20-30), fixing time is twice the clearing time, fixer is fresh.. final wash with photoflo.. negative came out clear, not even film rebate..


second time, I work with Delta 100 EI 80 as their suggestion.. the dilution & dev time too.. but now I mix the developer in these order: part A > part B > water.. I do the dev test and its seems Ok, part A+part B only, give very dark spot almost instantly on the film leader, the final dilution give dark spot too.. I cut the fixing time half, as I suspect that I'm over fixing in my 1st attempt.. but the negative came out half fixed and just blank, not even film rebate..


fyi, its not the camera.. as I'm already got normal result from C-41..
so, what did I do wrong? any help would be appreciate..

Thanks in advance..

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I am not expert but may be you would need to develop in a than b ? not mixed ? I dont know but an idea !

Others will come with an answer , be patient.

Umut

 

[Rudeofus]

Your problem is indeed very odd, and the composition of SPUR HRX-3 isn't prone to sudden death of developer effects either.

Can you confirm, that

1. even the film leader and the edge markings came out completely clear?
2. your fixer is fresh and uncontaminated?
3. a short test clip exposed to broad daylight will also come out clear when you develop it in this developer?

 

[yesaroos]

Your problem is indeed very odd, and the composition of SPUR HRX-3 isn't prone to sudden death of developer effects either.

Can you confirm, that

1. even the film leader and the edge markings came out completely clear?
2. your fixer is fresh and uncontaminated?
3. a short test clip exposed to broad daylight will also come out clear when you develop it in this developer?

hi all, thanks for your help..

- the film leader that I test seems ok, I manage the fixing time by the same film leader and the spot is still there.. but the black spot from the final dilution is quite weak.. only the spot from the concentrate (part A+B) is remain dark..

- the fixer is fresh, its DIY plain hypo.. clearing time around 3 minutes..

- yes, the film leader is clear except the spot that I test the developer with..

it seems theres no developing at all from the final dilution, this confused me much..
well, might be I just stick with old trusted Rodinal..

 

[Rudeofus]

Of course the spot you get from final dilution is quite weak. A droplet is not a whole lot of developer compared to what you have in your tank, and you probably didn't give it much time either. But you should getvisible images on your film, and it is quite puzzling that after your developer proves its activity as a test droplet it fails completely in the tank.

Is there anything you modified in your tank, which could possibly explain the sudden death of your developer? A while back I put some copper wire onto my spindle to keep small test clips in place. After that copper wire became oxidized, it killed every developer it got in contact with. That would be just one example wherea seemingly minor modification would have grave and sometimes unexpected effects.

That's the reason I asked you to take a short test clip, expose it to broad daylight, then put it in your tank and try develop it: such a test would reveal at which point your problems start. You can do this test with or without your spindle, in your tank or some other container, with or without your tank lid.

 

[Ashfaque]

Hi yesaroos,

Sorry to hear about it. I'm curious to know the reason as well. Could you please let me know if your HRX came in 100ml×2 bottles or in 250ml×2 bottles. Also by any chance, did your solution B bottle leaked when you received it?

There was a complaint in SPUR's blog, in the English section. It is about leakage in Solution B bottles. It happened to him more than once with items being bought from different sellers. SPUR responded by acknowledging some kind of problem with bottles. My hypothesis is that there is a possibility of the developer being massively oxidised due to bottle issue. I'm no chemist, so this is just a hunch.

Please keep us posted, because I have a new 100ml×2, that I haven't opened yet and there was a slight leakage.

Bests,
Ashfaque

 

[yesaroos]

Of course the spot you get from final dilution is quite weak. A droplet is not a whole lot of developer compared to what you have in your tank, and you probably didn't give it much time either. But you should getvisible images on your film, and it is quite puzzling that after your developer proves its activity as a test droplet it fails completely in the tank.

Is there anything you modified in your tank, which could possibly explain the sudden death of your developer? A while back I put some copper wire onto my spindle to keep small test clips in place. After that copper wire became oxidized, it killed every developer it got in contact with. That would be just one example wherea seemingly minor modification would have grave and sometimes unexpected effects.

That's the reason I asked you to take a short test clip, expose it to broad daylight, then put it in your tank and try develop it: such a test would reveal at which point your problems start. You can do this test with or without your spindle, in your tank or some other container, with or without your tank lid.

I'm using standard kindermann single spool stainless tank with water bath kept at 19°-20° using distilled water for developer & final wash..
I'll try with jobo tanks next time.. it might be hate steel tank & reel

 

[yesaroos]

Hi yesaroos,

Sorry to hear about it. I'm curious to know the reason as well. Could you please let me know if your HRX came in 100ml×2 bottles or in 250ml×2 bottles. Also by any chance, did your solution B bottle leaked when you received it?

There was a complaint in SPUR's blog, in the English section. It is about leakage in Solution B bottles. It happened to him more than once with items being bought from different sellers. SPUR responded by acknowledging some kind of problem with bottles. My hypothesis is that there is a possibility of the developer being massively oxidised due to bottle issue. I'm no chemist, so this is just a hunch.

Please keep us posted, because I have a new 100ml×2, that I haven't opened yet and there was a slight leakage.

Bests,
Ashfaque

It came in 100ml×2 bottles.. not sure about leakage, but I do smell developer-like scent when open the plastic bag (which is air tight when came).. also slight soapy feel when hold one of the bottle, might be that the leakage ..

 

[yesaroos]

I'll try to contact them trough the link Ashfaque mentioned..

 

[Sirius Glass]

yesaroos, well come to APUG.

I do not have experience with SPUR HRX, so I can't help you.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Is it possible that the fixer was accidently used before the developer. This is often the explanation of perfectly clear film with no edge markings. However to do this twice is another matter.

 

[yesaroos]

yesaroos, well come to APUG.

I do not have experience with SPUR HRX, so I can't help you.

thanks for the welcome sirius..

 

[yesaroos]

Is it possible that the fixer was accidently used before the developer. This is often the explanation of perfectly clear film with no edge markings. However to do this twice is another matter.

I'm sure the film isn't accidentally pre-fixed before being developed.. it might the developer gone bad in the delivery process, its quite long trip from Germany to Java..

 

[Athiril]

I remember this has happened with a whole batch of Rollei RLS, even though I confirmed that leaving film out in the light in developer solution it still developed, obviously it was much weaker than intended through some means.

 

[Ashfaque]

Just an update:

My previous HRX (100ml×2), more specifically, Part B bottle had a leakage. According to Heribert (of SPUR), there was a problem with their 100ml HRX bottles and that they've stopped producing those. So when conctacted, he sent me the 250ml×2 bottles absolutely free. There is no leakage or anything odd with these ones. Thanks Heribert.

Bests,

Ashfaque

 

[yesaroos]

Just an update:

My previous HRX (100ml×2), more specifically, Part B bottle had a leakage. According to Heribert (of SPUR), there was a problem with their 100ml HRX bottles and that they've stopped producing those. So when conctacted, he sent me the 250ml×2 bottles absolutely free. There is no leakage or anything odd with these ones. Thanks Heribert.

Bests,

Ashfaque

Nice to hear.. is it possible that I can get those replacement too? -edited- I'm already sent my shipping address, lets wait for the good news to arrive

 

[yesaroos]

its arrived.. I'll do some test as soon as I have time

thanks Mr. Schain

 

[yesaroos]

Since I don't have much time to try HRX replacement from Mr. Shcain, I ask my colleague to do the test.. he is so SATISFIED with the result, so do I.. here couple of them..