Kodak C-41 Developer Starter

There are different versions of this starter, one for C-41RA as an example. Can I use exhausted C-41 developer as a quick and dirty starter substitute? I know it may not have a precise chemical content as a formal starter but how far off could it be? I know the starter is cheap but if exhausted developer can be used as a substitute I simply have plenty of it any time. I know mini-lab operators rarely used a developer starter. They simply added replenisher to their exhausted or near exhausted developer then moved on. They rarely ever mix a fresh batch of developer in which a starter would be necessary. Oh, I forgot to say, I mix my developer replenisher and a starter to produce my working developer. I seem to run out of the starter all the time. I guess I will be more than happy to be able to use my exhausted developer as a starter.

It's questionable whether the exhausted developer would have the chemical makeup to give you proper results when added to the replenisher to make a working solution, if that's what you are after. It would certainly contain halides that need to be added to the replenisher, but you will be adding more chems to what is already there which could upset things. You would need to measure and adjust pH. You would need a control strip or other means to test it. Just a guess, but you might do better simply by adding some bromide to the replenisher (and proper dilution) and adjust pH, to make a working solution.

Thanks for the reply, RPC.

Isn't a replenisher added to and for rejuvenating a tired developer? I know it is not that simple. It does require some precision in terms of how much and when it is added to the developer. And control strip checking may be required for checking the replenished working developer. Commercial processors probably use a computerized automatic replenishing program to accurately do the job. Besides, my processor is a Jobo ATL-2300. If I remember it correctly Kodak did not recommend replenishing for rotary processing. So I guess it will be very difficult for me to carry out an accurate replenshing process. For me my goal is to produce the working developer by adding small amount of exhausted developer (as a starter) to my fresh replenisher at a much larger volume. This is quite different from actual replenishing a working developer in which a small amount of replenisher is added to a large volume of working developer. The two are so different so I guess my thought of using exhausted developer as a starter is invalid in theory to begin with. I just though maybe someone has done it and it maybe still doable. By the way, I do have a PH meter for years. But I have never actually used it. I do not have a chemistry background from which I would need the knowledge in setting it up and keeping it in working order before I can use it for any measuring of ph of anything. I guess I will eventually sell it or give it away someday.