Liquidol - Holy Cow!

[Tim Stapp]

I just tested a mixed batch of Liquidol. The bottled concentrate was eight months old, the working solution two weeks old. I wasn't sure of the activity of the previously mixed batch, so mixed new. The activity of the two week old batch worked just as well as the newly mixed batch. Both were from from the eight month old concentrate.

I get into the darkroom infrequently, so often have to throw chemicals out. This stuff is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Did you use distilled water or tap??

 

[bdial]

Liquidol's longevity is awesome. I've mostly mixed with distilled, because I'm unsure about the iron content of my well water. But for most places, tap water should be fine.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Thanks Barry...sending some warmth your way!!
Best peter

 

[Tim Stapp]

Because my water is very hard, I've always used distilled.

 

[Peter Schrager]

This is a shout out and thank you to ron mowry...
I finally got into a darkroom today..my liquidol is about one year old..sealed bottle..
Stored poorly ..hot/cold you name it
Worked perfectly...gave me great tones on my favorite paper; foma 131
I normally would have used the ages WT developer bit freestyle was out
But who cares? This is a great developer!
And I made some great prints today
Thanks Ron!!!

 

[Peter Schrager]

Supposed to be AGFA WARMTONE..DEVELOPER

 

[Photo Engineer]

Thanks to all for using it.

PE

 

[rpavich]

Since sliced bread.
My thoughts exactly. It's awesome stuff.

 

[esearing]

Other than long shelf and tray life what are Liquidol's unique characteristics? Reviews are all over the place but mostly positive.
Does it work differently with different tone papers (cold, neutral, warm)? effects of dilution & time on the various tones of the print? affect on toning (if any)?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Eric, pretty much like Dektol.

PE

 

[silveror0]

I’ve posted this experience before, but it seems appropriate to inject it once more. I had some previously used Liquidol stored in capped bottles in the darkroom for a few months. Went to get something in the darkroom and was hit in the face with hot air when I opened the door. It was 108F in there according to my Kodak process thermometer hanging on the wall. My electric thermostatically-controlled wall heater was still running with the thermostat stuck in the ON position, and I couldn’t get it to turn off. Didn’t know which circuit breaker the heater was on, as I hadn’t got around to labeling it yet. Frantically tried to rip the thermostat out of the wall and luckily it turned off, then hurried to get all the heat sensitive materials out of the room - while running the exhaust fan full speed and a large fan in the open doorway. Immediately ordered some new Liquidol to test the bottled stuff – which I found out later was unaffected by the heat. Meanwhile, I had an electrician replace the thermostat with an ON/OFF switch that is only used when I’m in the room. Liquidol is TOUGH stuff; thanks Ron.

Here's the info on Liquidol:
http://stores.photoformulary.com/liquidol-paper-developer/

Tech info:
http://photoformulary.homestead.com/02-0200.pdf

 

[M Carter]

I recommend it to everyone. I've emptied a bottle and had a big crystalline thing fall out, it was so old - was going to mount it on a pinkie ring or something.

It's also a fantastic toner - if your highlights don't return after a bleach/tone process, very dilute Liquidol can bring them back (it will affect the other tones though - I've used it after 2nd pass lith and after variable sepia). I've done it dilute with added sodium hydroxide and it gives nice warm tones, and you can rescue some delicate highs that way.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Don't do that. Crystals can form as oxidation slowly starts. It does not affect the results up to a point, but Liquidol will finally go bad.

PE

 

[Peter Schrager]

Other than long shelf and tray life what are Liquidol's unique characteristics? Reviews are all over the place but mostly positive.
Does it work differently with different tone papers (cold, neutral, warm)? effects of dilution & time on the various tones of the print? affect on toning (if any)?

Only used one paper with it. Produced a slightly warm tone with foma 131...normal dilution

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

I keep a bottle on my shelf for when I can get my "darkroom" active again. I had good luck with the first one I used a while ago and learned to trust it.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I just tested a mixed batch of Liquidol. The bottled concentrate was eight months old, the working solution two weeks old. I wasn't sure of the activity of the previously mixed batch, so mixed new. The activity of the two week old batch worked just as well as the newly mixed batch. Both were from from the eight month old concentrate.

I get into the darkroom infrequently, so often have to throw chemicals out. This stuff is the best thing since sliced bread.

so is Rodinal