Most accurate way to measure Pyrocat quantites

brian steinberger · Mar 10, 2007

I'm currently using a syringe that I purchased from photographers formulary. I'm confused though, because there's an extention that you can add to help you reach into bottles. but, won't that extention give you more solution than indicated?

What about very small plastic graduates? What is the best to way to measure small quantities (below 20ml)?

jstraw · Mar 10, 2007

I'm going this route:

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JLP · Mar 11, 2007

A 25ml craduate does it for me. When i use Pyrocat 1+1+100 my standard, 14ml to a 1400ml total, easy and accurate.

jan

lee · Mar 11, 2007

I use a pipette for A and a pipette for B and I have a 50 ml graduate and a 25 ml graduate that I transfer the required amounts to and then I transfer the A and B graduates to another with the requisite amount of water. It is there that the part A and part B solutions mix for the first time.

lee\c

brian steinberger · Mar 11, 2007

Does it matter how solutions A & B are introduced to each other? I have been just filling a graduate up with 500ml of water, then putting 10ml solution A, then 10ml solution B then filling with water to 1000ml. Is the ok? Or do they have to be introduced at the same time as lee states?

JLP · Mar 11, 2007

No. Measure your total amount of water (At your prefered temp) and then add first the A and then the B solution. When you pour the B solution it becomes active. I do that just before i am ready to develope (After presoak)

jan

brian steinberger · Mar 11, 2007

JLP said:
No. Measure your total amount of water (At your prefered temp) and then add first the A and then the B solution. When you pour the B solution it becomes active. I do that just before i am ready to develope (After presoak)

jan

I've been taking an active solution and warming it up to temp. Since I develop in darkness (slosher trays) I can't do this right before I develop. I'm sure the solution is stable for hours after mixed. Is the correct?

JLP · Mar 11, 2007

Brian, i am not sure that it is stable hours after mixing A and B together, i do believe that you need to develope soon after activating with B but perhaps Sandy or Tom will see this and pitch in with real knowledge and experience.
You could do as "normal" but wait until in the dark to add solution B The small amount of liquid would not change the temperature. Then you would have a freshly activated developer.

jan

lee · Mar 11, 2007

brian steinberger said:
Does it matter how solutions A & B are introduced to each other? I have been just filling a graduate up with 500ml of water, then putting 10ml solution A, then 10ml solution B then filling with water to 1000ml. Is the ok? Or do they have to be introduced at the same time as lee states?

Brian,

sorry if I gave the impression that part A and part B are added at the same time. You can pour them in one at a time. All I was saying is when they are introduced to the water is the first time they are mixed the way I do it.

lee\c

Tom Stanworth · Mar 11, 2007

I pour mine into little cups (came with paterson orbital) and suck from there. I pour any remaining back in. Easy.

matt miller · Mar 11, 2007

brian steinberger said:
I'm currently using a syringe that I purchased from photographers formulary. I'm confused though, because there's an extention that you can add to help you reach into bottles. but, won't that extention give you more solution than indicated?

I use the syringes and the extension tubing. I fill the syringes up to desired quantity, then pull the tube off while the end is still in the bottle. The remaining solution in the tube then falls back into the bottle. The syringe contains the correct amount of solution. I then just squirt it into my graduate with the water, add solution B with a second syringe/tube in the same way, and mix. Easy.

gainer · Mar 11, 2007

I'm not familiar with the syringe you got from P F but if it is of the cylinder-plunger type, the amount that gets into your solution is determined by how far the plunger moves. Surface tension keeps the amount remaining in the tube from going out.
I use the medicine syringes that you can get at most drug stores which come with a stopper with a hole for the syringe. I leave the syringe in its hole during storage, although the stopper has a plug for the hole. I invert the storage bottle when loading the syringe.

sanking · Mar 11, 2007

I measure with 50ml plastic graduates. Just prepare the water to the right temperature, then add Part A, followed by Part B, and stir for a few seconds. The developer absolutely will not work until you mix in both Parts A and B. If in doubt, check with a pH strip or meter (the mixed solution should measure about pH 10.8 - 11.0) or by sticking a leader of film into the solution. The leader should turn black within a minute or two.

It is best practice to mix the working solution fresh for every developing session. However, a liter of solution should be good for at least two hours after mixing if left undisturbed.

Sandy King

brian steinberger · Mar 11, 2007

Thank you guys so much for the help!! That was always something that I've been wondering about for some time now. Pyrocat is a great developer. Thanks again!

Most accurate way to measure Pyrocat quantites

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