Kodak D-163

Keith Tapscott. · Nov 14, 2006

Keith Tapscott. submitted a new resource:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) - Kodak D-163

Kodak D-163 B&W Print developer.
Water at about 50C. 750ml
Metol developing agent 2.2 grams
Sodium Sulphite (anhydrous) 75 grams
Hydroquinone 17 grams
Sodium Carbonate (anhydrous) 65 grams
Potassium bromide 2.8 grams
Water, to make 1 Litre.

A developer for bromide & chlorobromide papers, extremely versatile and very long lasting when stored in full stoppered glass bottles.
For use, dilute 1:3 and develop for approximately two minutes.
A very popular developer that is still made...

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

billybob · Oct 4, 2010

Hi Kieth, I'm trying to mix from a kodak D-163 powder set (admitidly ancient but sealed) . I have a white powder in a big bag and a crystalised formula in a smaller bag. Not tried mixing from powder before... how does one do this?

Billy BOb

Christopher Walrath · Oct 4, 2010

Inaccurate data. Deleted by Christopher Walrath.

Ian Grant · Oct 4, 2010

You can't take data for a formula like this from a Focal Encyclopedia comparison table of working strength diluted developer because it's not claiming to be the actual Kodak formula.

Kodak themselves published the formula as Kieth's listed it with two dilutions 1+1 and 1+3. Andrew Mannheim's table in the Encyclopedia is compared working strength Contrast developers, all the developer ratio's are adjusted to compare like with like, in a later table it's listed again this time all the devs have a 1+1 dilution (this is the 1+3 equivalent).

Mixed as you've posted will have poor keeping qualities.

Ian

billybob · Oct 4, 2010

Sorry to act dumbly, but are you saying that i need to add extra chemicals to the powder mix. How the the ratios work when mixing powder and water??

Ian Grant · Oct 4, 2010

No Kodak's powder mix is fine, as is Keith's posting of the formula. It's whether you then dilute 1+1 or 1+3.

Sometimes chemists want to see what's actually in the working strength dilute solution to make valid comparisons, that's what are in the Focal Encyclopedia. Chis makes a mistake thinking it's a different version of the formula, which is far from the truth.

Ian

billybob · Oct 4, 2010

But 1 part of what! to 3 parts of what! I'm guessing 1 part powder to 3 water, but how do you measure the powder out?

Liam

Christopher Walrath · Oct 4, 2010

Then I do stand corrected. Friendly query sent to you, Ian, via PM.

billybob · Oct 4, 2010

But 1 part of what! to 3 parts of what! I'm guessing 1 part powder to 3 water, but how do you measure the powder out?

Liam

Jim Noel · Oct 4, 2010

Mix the powder as directed on the package. Store this in a tightly capped, full, brown glass bottle. When ready to develop mix one part of this with 1-3 parts of water to make a working solution.

billybob · Oct 4, 2010

the box, un-opened previously, contained the D163 powder and a smaller bag with something else that i can only describe as crystal-like splinters. Perhaps one of them is the 'part A' and the other a 'part B' but there aren't any instructions or labels at all. Shed some light please!!

Liam

Christopher Walrath · Oct 4, 2010

I have searched high and low and can come up with nothing definitive about using the powder. I have seen sources that say mix it to 15 fl oz and add water after mixed to 20 fl oz. I have seen to add to 750cc and then add water to that mixture to make 1 litre. One thing I have seen is that the second pouch should be the potassium bromide. What else it might contain I cannot discern. The information is difficult to come by and I don't know how reliable what might be. Wait for better information. Wish I could offer more on the prepackaged powder.

Ian Grant · Oct 5, 2010

I have a box of D163 back in the UK with instructions, I'll be back there in about 2 weeks. The small bag is the developing agents Part A, the larger bag the carbonate etc.

Mix the small bag first in about 75% of the water (whatever the box states it makes) then slowly add the second bag, stirring well, then top up to the final volume.

Use 1+3 for normal use, or 1+1 for slightly higher contrast.

It was also sold as a Universal developer for films, plates & papers, gives very grainy negatives, It was once the standard Kodak print developer in the UK rather than D72 Dektol which was more common in the US.

Ian

Keith Tapscott. · Mar 2, 2011

billybob said:
But 1 part of what! to 3 parts of what! I'm guessing 1 part powder to 3 water, but how do you measure the powder out?

Liam

Sorry for not replying much sooner, but I have not revisited this page for a very long time.

Make a stock solution as described in the formula. Dilute 1 part of the stock solution with 3 parts of water just before you use it.

Kodak D-163

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