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Mixed Film Developer - Longevity

SilverGlow

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Oct 21, 2008
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Orange Count
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35mm
I just mixed a gallon jug of film develop, using Clayton F76+ with water at 1+9 ratio.

Now I think I should not have done that because I think it might go bad before long.

How long is that developer good for? It is stored in a dark closet at 66F, and in a new capped 1 gal jug I bought at a photo supply store. I develop only 1 shot, if that matters; so I never pour back used product into the jug.

I was hoping it would last months....now I have my doubts...

Anyone? Thanks in advance.
 
I am not familiar with Clayton (liquid version a D76, right?). Whe I first started developing my own film I was (and am) using HC110. I mixed a gallon. It was kept similarly and after three months it still worked fine. Probably would have a little longer.

Your worst enemy is going to be air. The more air, the more rapid the degradation will become. However, this becomes problematic regarding the economical pricing of F76+. I would just roll with it until it seems to be loosing effectiveness in developing action and then discard the remainder. If you are like me and do more printing than developing, or simply don't process film with any frequency, you might consider mixing one shot chemistry PER USE. Takes up less space and you don't have to worry about underdeveloped prize film.
 
*******
Make sure there is NO air in the top of the bottle. Use marbles if you have to bring the fluid level up. And test before souping your film by developing a snippet of exposed leader.
 
Thanks Chris, John...yes F76+ is a D76 generic, so I was told. So is it safe to assume that it should last a few months?
 
Working Strength?

SilverGlow said:
I just mixed a gallon jug of film develop, using
Clayton F76+ with water at 1+9 ratio.
Click to expand...

Using it one-shot I'd split that gallon into smaller
containers ready for one-shot use. If necessary
top off the bottles with a little additional water.
How many 'servings' do you expect from
that gallon? Dan
 
Is there anything about longevity of the working strength solution on the label?

I checked the pdf blurb from the manufacturer, which is silent on the issue, other than calling it a "a long lasting phenidone-based developer".

Matt
 
I think Dan's idea is spot on and even go so far as to seal the unused containers with good tape or even candle wax.
 
Do you mean you had a gallon jug of F76 then mixed it all 1+9 and now have 10 gallons?

If so, you should just mix up what you as you develop film. Say 50ml to 450ml of water to make 500ml of working developer.
You may also want to decant the full strength developer from the large jug in to smaller bottles filled to the brim as it will last a lot longer.
And, a gallon of full strength will do an awful lot of film you may be better buying smaller bottles or D76 powder.

good luck
 
dancqu said:
Using it one-shot I'd split that gallon into smaller
containers ready for one-shot use. If necessary
top off the bottles with a little additional water.
How many 'servings' do you expect from
that gallon? Dan
Click to expand...

I'm thinking around 10 rolls can be one-shot with that gallon and perhaps I should have around 10 rolls to develop in the next 7 days, so maybe this concern is moot. My two roll development tank requires 650cc of developer, so 1 gallon = 3,785 cc, and 3,785/650 = 5.8 tank fulls, for a total of 10 rolls developed one-shot.

Now I did get a call back from FreeStylePhoto.biz and they claimed that my working solution (1+9) should last six months! Wow, that'a a lot longer then I had hoped for. I've not gotten a call back from Clayton Chemical yet, to confirm. Doesn't 6 months seem excessively long for working solution? I hope this is true.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here's what I do....

When I mix a gallon, I pour it into the following containers:
1/2 gallon
1/4 gallon
1/8 gallon
1/8 gallon

I start using from the smaller ones.... when both are empty, 1/4 gallon gets divided into smaller ones. When that's all gone, 1/2 gallon goes into the smaller 3.

This way, the only container that remain less than full is one 1/8 gallon jug at a time.
 

That sounds like a great way to preserve the developer.

What about those collapsible bottles; the accordion type that allows one to press out air?
 
I considered those accordion bottles but when I was needing them, they were out of stock from my usual suppliers. I also heard some negative comments from their users. Apparently, some developed cracks and weren't as easy to use as they seemed at first. I have no first hand experience though. I'm sure there are happy users as well.

I just chose the above system and it is working for me very well.

These are the ones I use:

Dead Link Removed
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The picture of 16 oz and 32 oz versions are wrong. They don't have handles but they are just straight tube type bottles. Bigger ones look exactly like the picture.
 
The Worst for Storage - The Best for Storage

SilverGlow said:
What about those collapsible bottles; the accordion
type that allows one to press out air?
Click to expand...

The best containers for storage are clear, transparent,
glass or suitable plastic. For at a glance examination of
the contents and assurance of the container's cleanliness
after washing, clear see through containers are required.

Splits, however you do them, are a good idea. To fill the
containers dilution can be adjusted some little. Schweppes
Tonic bottles were at one time my favorites. Dan
 
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