Mixing Xtol

[ajuk]

Is it safe for me to just do this here in my room, Also I have 5 1l bottles of Deionised water, do I need to make sure every bottle is exactly 1l?

 

[H. James Wolf]

It's perfectly safe - just don't breathe this, or any other, powder. As to mixing, I do it in a plastic bucket that holds five ltrs, mix it all, and then put in five one ltr bottles. In a full, dark brown bottle with a cap that seals well, it lasts well over a year. Wonderful stuff.

 

[ajuk]

I'm using the bottles the water came in!

 

[Denis K]

I'm using the bottles the water came in!

You need to mix the powder and water in one large container before splitting it into the smaller 1 liter bottles. Also, the powder adds to the liquid level so it will take less than 5 liters of water. You will need to mark a large container with a 5 liter mark before starting so you will have a reference point of where to fill with water during the last step. Start out mixing the powder in about 4 liters and when all is mixed, fill your large container to the 5 liter mark.

There are some who mix the powder double strength and only end up with 2.5 liters of mix to save storage space. If you try this as an experiment, be sure to adjust your dilutions later.

Denis K

 

[ajuk]

I'm using a bucket.

It has no markings, how much extra water should I add to the 4l in the bucket?

 

[Anon Ymous]

I'm using a bucket.

It has no markings, how much extra water should I add to the 4l in the bucket?

Pour exactly 5l of water in the bucket and mark it at water's level. Empty the bucket and start with 4l. Add powders, stir and add as much as needed to get to the mark.

 

[ajuk]

too late now.

 

[fschifano]

too late now.

This absolutely astounds me. The directions are on the package and they are quite explicit and simple. Failing that, mixing instructions are to be found on page 1 of Kodak's document J-109.

 

[ajuk]

It's OK there were markings on the bucket, so it wasn't a problem in the end, I just wasn't looking hard enough.

 

[kozesluk]

just pour it back into your 5 1l bottles, fill the last one (it should not be full) to exactly 1l, pour it ALL back to the bucket, stir... and again pour that back to the bottles.

simple.

 

[ajuk]

Thought of that, I'm glad I didn't have to do that!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Ajuk,

I have mixed XTOL into two 2500ml containers, using one for the working solution and the other as a replenisher.

Tom

 

[jeroldharter]

As a practical matter, if you always mix into 4l (rather than 5l) of water and everything dissolved, then you should be fine so long as you do your own testing for development time in whatever dilution you choose.

 

[tkamiya]

I'm using the bottles the water came in!

To me, using a bottle to store chemicals that could be confused as anything drinkable is a cause for concern. There is at least one idiot that I cannot get rid of in my house hold. (ME) Please mark it clearly and store it safely, especially if you live with someone else.

 

[ajuk]

Big black permanent marker FYI

 

[brucemuir]

This always perplexed me being a yankee with only one gallon storage jugs.
I wanted to try Xtol considering I heard so many great things about it these days.

I guess I'll mix a 2.5 liter concentrated and dilute it later.

 

[phenix]

Mixing 2.5L instead of 5 will make the solution last longer? I’ve read above about the over 1 year life for the 5L solution, so I wonder above the double concentration. Of course, full, dark, well sealed bottles. Thanks.

 

[Venchka]

I wonder if you mixed Part A until every grain was totally dissolved? Apparently that is critical. It seems to take forever. Eventually it all dissolves. Good luck. I hope you like it. Xtol 1:3 is my main - only - developer.

 

[jlehmus]

Part A dissolves easily when the water is warmer than room temp.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I mix XTOL in 5 liter batches. I put one quart in the bottle that I use for developing and the rest fits in a 1 gallon accordion bottle. When the accordion bottle is collapse most of the way, I put the remainder into a smaller accordion bottle.

Steve

 

[bdial]

...I wonder if you mixed Part A until every grain was totally dissolved?...

I generally do, though on my last batch I missed maybe an eighth of a teaspoon or so. I didn't realize it until I already had B in and was decanting the batch. It seems fine.
To get it to disolve in the first place, I heat the water to the max they recommend, 80 F, as I recall. That helps a lot vs mixing with the water at room temperature, that truly did take forever.