Looking for the Rodinal of paper developers. One shot, lasts forever.

ppg677

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I developed and printed for the first time in 15 years yesterday. I knew to use my old old bottle of Rodinal for film developing which worked fine.

For paper developing, I had nearly full bottles of Ilford Multigrade, Ilford PQ, and Agfa Neutol. All 15+ years old. All failed.

I ended up doing some prints using....Rodinal! It worked fine... no idea what dilution I used because I just dumped some in some water without measuring.

Is there anything better?

Fwiw, I've done my own mixing before. Instant Mytol was a favorite of mine and I still have some TEA (and glycol), vitamin c, and a phenidone solution mixed in either glycol or tea which I think preserves it (?)
 

Kino

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Ethol LPD and Photographers Formulary Liquidol are long lasting paper developers...

I am working with Ethol LPD stock solution that is over a year old and it works just like new. I keep it in well sealed brown, glass bottles; kombucha growlers.
 

pentaxuser

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ppg677 said:
Is there anything better?
Click to expand...
In terms of lasting 15+ years I seriously doubt it. Whether any paper developer last substantially longer say Ilford MG developer remains an open question to which there isn't or doesn't seem to be a definite answer - at least not for me

pentaxuser
 

Rolleiflexible

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Another vote for LPD. I used it religiously.

I cannot recommend it from personal experience, but you might also look into Ansco 130, now made by Photographer’s Formulary. It is a stable version of Amidol — people who use it swear by it.

​

 

cmacd123

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Liquidol was about the last developer that the late "Photo engineer" designed. unfortunatly B&H will not ship it to canada last time I looked.


some folks report very long life from "MIXED" Ansco 130 from Photographers formulary. it is unusual as the developing agent is not stable as a powder, but is stable when mixed.

LPD is also claimed to last ages in the bottle.


BTW, Rodinol was marketed when it first came out (1890s) as a paper developer, But the price teses days is a touch high to use it that way.
 

Keith Tapscott.

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ppg677 said:
For paper developing, I had nearly full bottles of Ilford Multigrade, Ilford PQ, and Agfa Neutol. All 15+ years old. All failed.

Is there anything better?
Click to expand...

At 15+ years old, I doubt any paper developer would be any good.
I buy Ilford Multigrade developer and decant it into several small glass bottles and it keeps very well.
 

Slixtiesix

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Adox Adotol Konstant lasts practically indefinitely as a powder. Even when mixed, it has a very long shelf life.
 

miha

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Two weeks ago I've been using a bottle of Ilford Bromophen mixed in March 2022 with great result. Moersch offers some very robust brews like their ECO 4812 with excellent keeping properties if one prefers liquids. Decanting into smaller bottles helps, as does heavy gas.
 

Don_ih

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Buy some metol, hydroquinone, sodium sulfite, potassium bromide, and sodium carbonate and mix up D72 whenever you want, as much as you want. In nicely sealed containers, the powders will last a very long time. Buy a box of Borax and you can also make D76.
 

MTGseattle

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If you're already invested in some liquid concentrates, how about glass marbles added to displace the air? Is that a valid strategy for photo chemicals?
 

Paul Howell

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Photographers Formulary and Freestyle sell Liquidol. I think PF makes it.
 

grain elevator

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MTGseattle said:
If you're already invested in some liquid concentrates, how about glass marbles added to displace the air? Is that a valid strategy for photo chemicals?
Click to expand...

Sure, many advocate this. I find it impractical for myself, I use soda bottles and squeeze them to get the air out or but butane in glass bottles.
 

Doremus Scudder

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I'll second this as well. To make things easier when mixing print developers, you can use spoon measures. High precision isn't needed for D-72.

Here's my spoon recipe:
D-72: To make 2 liters of working solution
Water at ~110°F ------------- 1 liter
(add a pinch of sodium sulfite)
Metol ------------------------- 2/3 tsp
Sodium sulfite ---------------- 4 tsp
Hydroquinone ---------------- 1 Tbsp
Sodium carbonate (mono) --- 3 Tbsp
Potassium bromide ----------- rounded 1/4 tsp
Water to make ---------------- 2 liters

EZPZ, fast and the dry chemicals will last for years. I make ID-62 and a few other print developers as well this way (requires a 1% solution of benzotriazole, which lasts for years too).

Hope this helps,

Doremus
 
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