Developer cost is the least in photography.
Developer cost is the least in photography.
No. I thought post #151 was pretty detailed concerning my primary reason for using XTOL. I use it one-shot. It has high capacity (permitting development of four 8x10 sheets simultaneously, even when diluted) and other benefits. Cost is not a reason I settled on it.So it is about cost?
So it is about cost?
Developer cost is the least in photography.
"in photography small saving bring big problems"
Milhous Adams (Ansel's hidden brother). ;-)
To get a similar solvent developer with a visual indication that it is going bad, ie goes dark brown, means replacing ascorbate in Xtol with hydroquinone.There is no such developer in The Film Developing Cookbook and it seems it was never investigated.
Generally inorganic compounds will not dissolve significantly in TEA so the result would be a sulfite sludge.Will it work as a developer if water is replaced with TEA in x-tol? But then TEA is highly viscous...
Also it seems better to be careful about using canned "air" to prevent oxidation of Xtol:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
Thomas,I know some people are having problems with them, but there's something to be said for accordion bottles. Or, any other method to remove the empty volume in the storage jar, like using marbles, or maybe even using small enough bottles where it will never be exposed to air long enough for it to matter, like 250ml ones. In processing 3-4 films with replenished solution the bottle would be empty and it's time to begin on the next one. After mixing a 5 liter packet there'd be qty (20) 250ml bottles.
My experience with accordion bottles is good. I never had a failure because of them, and they appear to keep the replenishing solutions going strong for months.
Mine failed after about two years on one and about three or four on the other. the one that failed first was a smaller one the one that lasted longer was about 2 liter size if I remember right. I would have bought more, but it just happened that a very good photographer friend of mine passed away and his wife wanted me to clean out the basement. Long story short, I have many Boston browns and just switch to using those instead. I keep my Xtol-R in mylar wine bags and the same goes for my homemade FX-37 and Perceptol. I keep my user-stock Xtol in a gallon Boston brown topped off full, but the Xtol replenisher is in the mylar wine bag. My Pyro developers are all in Boston browns. It all seems to be working just fine this way and I hope it stays that way too.I use accordion bottles. They do keep the air out but sooner or later they fail. If they fail shortly after purchase, FreeStyle will either exchange them or refund your money.
Mine failed after about two years on one and about three or four on the other. the one that failed first was a smaller one the one that lasted longer was about 2 liter size if I remember right. I would have bought more, but it just happened that a very good photographer friend of mine passed away and his wife wanted me to clean out the basement. Long story short, I have many Boston browns and just switch to using those instead. I keep my Xtol-R in mylar wine bags and the same goes for my homemade FX-37 and Perceptol. I keep my user-stock Xtol in a gallon Boston brown topped off full, but the Xtol replenisher is in the mylar wine bag. My Pyro developers are all in Boston browns. It all seems to be working just fine this way and I hope it stays that way too.
Tetenal has discontinued it's canned preservation spray , it was simple butane . I use my wife's little torch , but a disposable lighter would work .Thomas,
I had some Paterson accordion bottles and after much use had to ditch them. They just would not stay compressed. I am now using mylar wine bladders and love them. Only problem is I can't get them in the USA anymore. I had a very nice and thoughtful fellow on this forum send me some from Australia where they are still in use. When I was using Boston brown bottles I would hit them with Acetylene gas from my torch set since I know it's heavier than air. We used it to blow tunnels in Vietnam since the gas would flow down instead of rise up. I tried propane and it seemed to work also, but I never tried it for any length of time to know the long-term outcome.
I use accordion bottles. They do keep the air out but sooner or later they fail. If they fail shortly after purchase, FreeStyle will either exchange them or refund your money.
Mine failed after about two years on one and about three or four on the other. the one that failed first was a smaller one the one that lasted longer was about 2 liter size if I remember right. I would have bought more, but it just happened that a very good photographer friend of mine passed away and his wife wanted me to clean out the basement. Long story short, I have many Boston browns and just switch to using those instead. I keep my Xtol-R in mylar wine bags and the same goes for my homemade FX-37 and Perceptol. I keep my user-stock Xtol in a gallon Boston brown topped off full, but the Xtol replenisher is in the mylar wine bag. My Pyro developers are all in Boston browns. It all seems to be working just fine this way and I hope it stays that way too.
The wine bag/bladder for the Xyol replenisher is really the cats meow. I just stick my little ml cup under the spigot and run out 80 or 90ml, dump it in the brown gallon jug and then top it off with the leftover developer. Slick as a whistle.I should really get some wine bags for the XTOL.
It still seems to be for sale and the msds confirms it is not simply butane.Tetenal has discontinued it's canned preservation spray , it was simple butane . I use my wife's little torch , but a disposable lighter would work .
Best Regards Mike
Generally inorganic compounds will not dissolve significantly in TEA so the result would be a sulfite sludge.
An alternative would be "Mocon" , a concentrate devised by Albada where the sulfite solution is added separately.
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