My bullet proof replenished HC-110 (B)

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have this 2 gallon jug of replenished HC-110 for over 2 years now. If I'm lucky, I process about a couple a rolls a month. I normally process less than 30 rolls a year. There has been a 3 month dry spell and I finally processed another roll. I was amazed that it's still alive and kicking. At what point I'll have to remix a fresh batch? Or I can keep the developer going indefinitely?

 

[MattKing]

Are you using the proper (and no longer manufactured) HC-110 replenisher?
That is what I use, and my HC-110 (E) seems to be similarly robust.
I do try to be consistent though - it helps to "replenish" it regularly even when I'm not developing film. I try to do that at least every two weeks,

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Are you using the proper (and no longer manufactured) HC-110 replenisher?
That is what I use, and my HC-110 (E) seems to be similarly robust.
I do try to be consistent though - it helps to "replenish" it regularly even when I'm not developing film. I try to do that at least every two weeks,

I was lucky and bought 6 bottles of replenisher on Ebay. I'm down to 5 bottles now. But I mixed a whole bottle and I put the B dilution replenishers in wine bladders 2 years ago. The replenisher is holding up well to. I never tried to replenish my developer without running film because I don't want my developer to get too hot. But it seems that my other replenished developer XTOL loses strength over time and I have to toss the working batch and start fresh.

 

[MattKing]

I mix up my replenisher working solution 350 ml at a time.
The "replenish regularly no matter what" seems to work well for me. I'm not sure how long my current batch has been running. The danger hasn't been from deterioration, but rather "brain freeze" - one has to be sure to remember to pour the developer back into the bottle (and not down the drain) when the development is finished.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I mix up my replenisher working solution 350 ml at a time.
The "replenish regularly no matter what" seems to work well for me. I'm not sure how long my current batch has been running. The danger hasn't been from deterioration, but rather "brain freeze" - one has to be sure to remember to pour the developer back into the bottle (and not down the drain) when the development is finished.

How I use my replenished HC-110 B working solution is while I'm agitating the developer, I calculate how my mls of replenisher I need and I dump the replenisher into the working solution before I'm done with the developer. I pour the used developer back. There's always an over flow because I keep it topped off to eliminate air. This habit has kept my working HC-110 going.

 

[MattKing]

Same for me. The replenisher goes into the half empty working solution container while the rest of the working solution is still in the developing tank.
It is at the "end of developing need to get the stop bath to the film" stage that the "brain freeze" is most likely to happen. I blame the habits that develop after years of one-shot developer use!