Kodak Ektalfex Developer/Activator solution - Is there an alternative?

[beausuf]

Hi guys,

My first post here so not sure if I'm posting in the right area, I was directed here after posting on another forum.

Long story short, I recently picked up some gear as I'm in the process of building a dark room at home. I acquired a Kodak Ektaflex printer along with 150 8x10 sheets of paper along with the other gear I was getting for a mere $20AUD. I figured if I can't use it, it could be a cool collectable way down the track. I would love to use it but I can't find a single place online that has the activator for sale. I've tried eBay and heaps of general google searches to find ANY ONE that might still have some floating around, even if it's on the other side of the planet. I know this stuff must have gone out of production a long time ago (Late 80's early 90s?) - from what I have read Polaroid won a court case against Kodak which essentially forced them into ceasing production of everything Ektaflex? If any one has any information at all as to where I may be able to find this stuff that would be amazing. I would also love to find out more information on every thing Ektaflex as well so if any one has any information at all feel free to post it.

Also if there is a possible alternative? Using some kind of other developer in it's place or if it would be possible to mix your own solution (assuming there is a recipe for this somewhere).

Thanks guys,
Beau

 

[Ian Grant]

I used to make up my own Activator for an Ilfoprint machine, I used Sodium Hyroxide, Sodium Sulphite and Potassium Bromide the sulphite and Bromide help prevent base fogging but I was using the first Ilfospeed paper. it's over 25 years since I last made some, I've no idea where my notes are.

Try a 1% solution of Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide as the activator, I used Hypam 1+2 isnstead of stabiliser and then placed the prints in Hypam at 1+9. If needed add 20g/l Sodium Sulphite plus 1g/l Potassium Bromide to the Activator.

The paper will develop in and print developer very quickly.

Welcome to APUG BTW.

Ian

 

[heterolysis]

Oh no!

I was recently in a similar situation. An old newspaper building was sold and I looted the darkroom. There was a whole closet of this stuff, but I had no means of transporting, storing, or using any of it! So it all went to the hazardous waste plant...... If it's any consolation, it was really old and looked pretty gross. The building dated back to the 1850's, so it was really musty and had no A/C, and I can't imagine any of the chemicals were particularly stable at this point. I kept the trays they had used for this stuff and they smell bad​. Good luck with your hunt!

 

[nyoung]

Loss of Ektaflex broke my heart, loved the speed and the quality of color print it could produce. Sadly, we are about 10 years out of phase with one another as my garage sale find included the printer and two gallons of activator BUT no paper. Can't remember now who I gave it to but I know I didn't throw it away.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

I know this stuff must have gone out of production a long time ago (Late 80's early 90s?) - from what I have read Polaroid won a court case against Kodak which essentially forced them into ceasing production of everything Ektaflex? If any one has any information at all as to where I may be able to find this stuff that would be amazing. I would also love to find out more information on every thing Ektaflex as well so if any one has any information at all feel free to post it.

Ektaflex used the same dye releasing developers used in Kodak Instant Film. When Kodak lost the patent case with Polaroid, although Ektaflex wasn't part of the case, Kodak decided the dye releasers were to expensive to continue manufacturing for the much smaller Ektaflex market. They traded off the dye releaser patents to Fuji for some reversal film color couplers and Fuji went on to use the dye releasers in their very successful Pictrography printers.

I believe the Ektaflex activator solution was primarily KOH

BTW, I hope you have both the donor and receiver material sheets.

 

[bvy]

I'll be following this with interest. It would be great if you (or anyone) could revive Ektaflex to some usable extent -- understanding it would be a short-lived revival.

 

[Photo Engineer]

You need the Ektaflex R or C donor paper and the Ektaflex receiver paper to make a set with the activator.

PE

 

[AgX]

I recently picked up some gear as I'm in the process of building a dark room at home. I acquired a Kodak Ektaflex printer along with 150 8x10 sheets of paper.

Keep in mind that Kodak as well as Agfa employed these diffusion processes. However the amateur process from Agfa used a single sheet material, whereas Kodak employed a transfer process.


That means you need films AND receptive paper. And activator of course.

In case you have not got the receptive paper you might improvize on that though. But you need those films in any case.

 

[gordrob]

I have a quantity of Ektaflex film and receiver paper that I would like to try out to see if it is still any good. The film has been in the freezer for years but with no activator it just sits there. I found this link (MSDS) that had information on ingredients/composition.

http://www.hazard.com/msds/f2/bgn/bgnjk.html

My question is - is there enough information in the document that would allow you to mix a batch of the activator. I don't have enough of a chemistry background to interpret the MSDS document so maybe someone here can shed some light on this.

Gord

 

[Photo Engineer]

Gord, that is a correct document. The solution referenced is about 5% KOH. If you get fog, then some KBr might help, say about 1g/l.

The R paper did not keep as well as the C paper.

PE

 

[gordrob]

Thanks PE. I will try and track down some KOH and give it a try.
Gord

 

[scott laursen]

I know this is an old post, but does anyone have experience/knowledge of shooting Ektaflex Negative directly in an 8 x 10 camera? I have a bunch of neg and paper material and a processor, and some KOH and KBr for activation. Just wondering if anyone knows why this would not work directly in camera. I have had success shooting Cibachrome directly in my 8 x 10 why not Ektaflex? If you have seen it successfully done what speed would you suggest as a starting point?

Thanks!