Is this bottle of HC-110 still usable?

[logan2z]

I've got an almost full bottle of the original HC-110 formula. It expired in late 2019 and I've since used it to develop exactly one roll of film without issue.

I just took it out and planned to use it to develop some Tri-X but there's some oxidation at the top of the bottle, although the rest of the syrup looks fine. Most of the oxidation is in the air gap at the top of the bottle but there's a bit at the top of the developer as well. I'm just wondering if it's worth trying to extract 5ml of developer from this bottle (with a syringe) and use it to develop some film, or if I should dump it and purchase a new bottle of developer before attempting to develop any more film.

Here's the bottle...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Mix up a small portion of the developer and drop a strip of 35mm film into it. If the strip turn black in a few minutes it is still good. Film developer survives time much better than paper developer.

 

[logan2z]

Mix up a small portion of the developer and drop a strip of 35mm film into it. If the strip turn black in a few minutes it is still good. Film developer survives time much better than paper developer.

Good suggestion. I feel stupid for not thinking of that myself.

 

[Sirius Glass]

There are no stupid questions. What can be stupid is not asking the question, even if you think that you may know the answer. I have found that if I ask, other people have better answers than I do.

 

[logan2z]

Thanks for your help.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Looks pretty fresh and youthful compared to mine, and mine still works as advertised!

 

[Tel]

It only expired ten years or so ago. Practically fresh!

 

[MattKing]

It only expired ten years or so ago. Practically fresh!

Actually I think that may be a 2019 date - still a youngster!

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

As others have stated, do not worry. It is still good. It will probably still be good in 2049. Maybe there is somebody somewhere that has a bottle that has gone off with age but that somebody has never made himself known.

 

[NedL]

I've seen that color appear in HC-100 that was not in a completely full bottle ( I decant it into full 120ml glass bottles, and then use them one at a time )... I just mixed it right in and it worked perfectly. I think you're going to be fine.

 

[BradS]

looks fine to me. The syrup will change color, toward a deep orange, over time (years) too but it will still work fine.

 

[BradS]

As others have stated, do not worry. It is still good. It will probably still be good in 2049. Maybe there is somebody somewhere that has a bottle that has gone off with age but that somebody has never made himself known.

I'm still using a bottle first opened in 2004, with a use by date in 2007.
It has turned orange and thrown down a precipitate but it still works fine.

 

[logan2z]

Thanks for all of the responses. I tested the developer on a small snippet of film as @Sirius Glass suggested and it seemed fine, so I developed a roll and it looks to have turned out ok.

i wonder if the new formulation will have the same longevity.

 

[logan2z]

Actually I think that may be a 2019 date - still a youngster!

Yup, it's 2019. The camera in my phone does not seem to want to focus properly anymore...

 

[drmoss_ca]

i wonder if the new formulation will have the same longevity.

We'll find out in ten years or so!

 

[AnselMortensen]

Bah!
Kids these days!
This is from c.1985.



I'm off to go yell at some kids having fun on my lawn.

 

[Dusty Negative]

Bah!
Kids these days!
This is from c.1985.

View attachment 295230

That looks horrifying!

 

[drmoss_ca]

That looks horrifying!

Looks like developer to me!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Bah!
Kids these days!
This is from c.1985.

View attachment 295230

I'm off to go yell at some kids having fun on my lawn.

So you forgot about the bottle, use another developer, are not that active in the darkroom ... Interested readers want to know!

 

[newtorf]

I have 1/3 bottle of HC-110 left over since I paused my b&w film journey in 2016. When I picked up film again in 2021, HC-110 in that bottle has turned into deep orange over the years. It worked just like fresh developer. So yes, your bottle is pretty fresh. Enjoy!

 

[AnselMortensen]

So you forgot about the bottle, use another developer, are not that active in the darkroom ... Interested readers want to know!

Last time I used it, oh, about 2 years ago, it worked fine.
I primarily used it, back in the day, for economy reasons when processing 4x5 & 5x7 in deep tanks with hangers.
I preferred other developers for 35mm/120 at the time.
Since I got B/W King stainless steel tanks, I have standardized on Rodinal, so the HC-110 has been at the back of the shelf.
This thread has motivated me to take it out of semi-retirement and give it a whirl.
(Ha! Pun intended).
If it's still good, (probably), I really should use it up....who knows, maybe I'll do an A/B test with Rodinal.