Mixing XTOL stock

[Andrew Horodysky]

Hello everyone,

The plastic container I used to mix stock solution of XTOL cracked, and is now rendered useless. Will there be any chemical reaction from mixing stock in a large stainless steel kitchen stock pot. In others words, is this safe for the XTOL?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[PhotoJim]

It's not recommended, in case there's aluminum in the pot. Aluminum can react with some of the chemicals used in photochemistry.

Scientific supply stores sell large mixing jugs. I picked up a 5-litre one. It's very well made, and will last a lifetime unless I drop it while full of solution (and perhaps even then). Not cheap, however. Some use plastic mop pails, which work alright if you can carefully measure the appropriate amounts of water and draw lines at the water line, but because few are transparent, they are a little annoying to use. The price is right if you object to the price of the scientific mixing jars, though.

 

[markbarendt]

Stainless is what I use to mix in, then replenished working stock gets stored in glass, the unused, stock a recycled wine box. No problem so far.

 

[craigclu]

I've started mixing XTOL in 1 gallon batches, putting the 5 liter bag into solution at that solution level. I simply use a 1 gallon glass jug, gently rolling it on my counter top until it's into solution (minimizes air from mixer/stirring cavitation, too). I then decant to smaller containers for storage. I use it at 40% to approximate 1:1 and do just fine with this system.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I mix XTOL in a large plastic pail from a paint store that I have marked with 1 - 5 liters, and 1 to 5 quarts levels. I use hot water and start with about a gallon. By using a pail I can see that the first bag of chemicals is mixed before I add the second bag. When both bags are properly mixed I add the water to the 5 liter mark.

I pour one quart into quart bottle [I cannot find liter bottles] and the rest goes into a 1 gallon collapsable bottle.

This method works better than mixing in a bottle. I could never get the first bag to completely mix. The pail lets me see what is going on and allows me to use mixing paddles.

Steve

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

Thanks, all; very helpful.

 

[bdial]

If the pot really is stainless, it won't have any aluminum in it, though some do have aluminum cladding on the bottom (outside surface). It would be fine for mixing your Xtol, though I wouldn't use it for cooking again.
I use a large beverage jug, the kind with a large removable lid with a smaller pouring spout in it from the grocery store gadget section. I picked it out specifically because of it's 1.5 gal capacity. After mixing I decant into 1/2 and 1 liter containers.

 

[david b]

I bought a plastic mixing container at a food supply shop. Works great.

 

[Robert Budding]

I have a plastic bucket that I bought from the hardware store. Nothing but XTOL goes into that bucket.

 

[JCT]

I just finished making up some XTOL this afternoon. I found an ~ 10 L clear container with a spigot on sale at the Container store and marked my own scale on it.

The nice thing is that I can pick the entire container up and shake it vigorously. SInce it's clear I can be sure that everything is in solution then I decant it into 750 ml wine bottles for storage.

Very simple and works well.

JT

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

Thanks, again, everyone. Off to the hardware store, tomorrow...

 

[vedmak]

I got myself a small pharmacy scale and a bunch of empty water bottles 500ml or so. Weight the chemicals for each water bottle, as you need it, making 500ml of solution at a time, although you need to know how to handle chemicals, but that way you always have a fresh developer.