Legacy Pro L-76 is it really the same?

[cmacd123]

I had a backlog of film to process and decided to try using the replenish method with D-76 . I actually bought some of the legacy pro L76 and also the replenisher in the "to make" 3.8 litre bag. I mixed it and put it in a gallon Brown glass jug, and put the replenisher in several smaller brown glass bottles. Since I don't use T-max, instead using a mixture of FOMA, Legacy pro, arista and Ilford films, I used the conventional method of adding 1 US Fl Oz per roll of replenisher before pouring the developer back in the jug, and throwing away any used developer that would bring the jug over the original fill mark.

I did several batches over three weeks, but near the end, there was a deposit on the inside of the jug, which eventually started breaking loose. The developer took on a purple colour and became cloudy, and the last batch of film seemed to be fully detailed but "thin".

The replenisher stayed clear. I am guessing that the colour was just dyes from the film.

Was I just expecting too much? is the LP version not as well buffered as the REAL version. Should I be using MORE replenisher? Did I miss something important? My darkroom is in the basement and stays very close to 20C summer and winter.

 

[PhotoJim]

Why replenish at all? Going 1:1 one-shot is sharper and consistent.

Replenishment is for high volume labs that value economy first so I am not a big fan of it.

Jim

 

[mikebarger]

I don't replenish, but I wonder if pouring the developer through a coffee filter would help with the deposit buildup.

Hang in there, I know there are numerous people here using, or have used, replenished D76.

Mike

 

[cmacd123]

Since I was near the end of my backlog, I did not get a chance to try any remediation. I was surprised that I got the "coating" on the inside of the bottle. I did pass the stuff through a coffee filter and some of the black stuff did stain the filter..

For the next while I will probably go back to HC-110 or the Legacy Pro equivalent. I am just wandering if I did anything stange to cause the problem if I get a backlog and decide to try the L-76 again... It was convienient to just pour the developer into the tank and pour it back out.

 

[fschifano]

I'll go on the assumption that L-76R is the same as D-76R. My rather limited experience with the Legacy Pro line of chemicals from Freestyle makes me believe that it is. If that's the case, you might want to read Kodak's document J-78 which gives detailed information about D-76 and D-76R. Find it here.

 

[markbarendt]

I don't replenish, but I wonder if pouring the developer through a coffee filter would help with the deposit buildup.

Hang in there, I know there are numerous people here using, or have used, replenished D76.

Mike

Yes, hang in there.

The coffee filters work fine, roughly one per liter, I replenish (Xtol) and do this on occasion.

I also use a funnel with a screen to get the working solution "I just used" back into my working solution storage bottle.

I was a bit skeptical of replenishment before I started, but now, after a year and a half, I truly don't understand why people avoid it.

I like it so much that I now use replenishment schemes on all my chemicals. C-41, RA-4, B&W paper & film.

It is consistent, economical, and easy. I also never have to worry if a solution, like fix, is reaching it's limit because its always as fresh and ready as when I started a session.

 

[jon.oman]

I'll go on the assumption that L-76R is the same as D-76R. My rather limited experience with the Legacy Pro line of chemicals from Freestyle makes me believe that it is. If that's the case, you might want to read Kodak's document J-78 which gives detailed information about D-76 and D-76R. Find it here.

This was the information I was looking for. The L-76R package has some cryptic instructions that just did not make sense!