Noob D-76 Question

[RattyMouse]

I guess I should have asked this long ago. I've developed a dozen or so rolls of film using D-76, mostly at 1:1 but some at full strength (Delta 3200). In each case I have thrown away the developer after use. Can this be reused? I never read much about people reusing D-76 or most other b & w developers.

What's the story on reusing the most common developers? Did I make a mistake sending mine down the drain after 1 use?

 

[Tom1956]

Throw the dilute solution away every time.

 

[cliveh]

And if not diluted and reused it will require replenishment. I would stick to using it 1:1 and discard after use.

 

[Ian Grant]

Look at replenishment, I did in the late 1960's and never really looked back with a variety of developers.

Ian

 

[gone]

You could reuse the undiluted stock solution, but I wouldn't. My D76 goes strange after a few weeks so I have recently switched to TD-16 from Photographers' Formulary. Works great, it's advertised as being stable for 6 months, and the negs look almost exactly like negs from D76. Very happy w/ it, and unlike D76 you can mix it up and use it right away. With D76 I would advise letting it sit over night to settle down.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Throw the dilute solution away every time.

I agree,single-use solutions give you the most consistency.I use every processing solution obly once except for the stop and HCA,even the fixer but, that I use withthe two-bath fixing regime, so, much of it is used twice.

 

[trythis]

I am new at this, but over a month, I ran half or less of a 32 oz stock solution 6 times and returned it to the bottle, and that worked fine. Perhaps that is similar to replenishment but more likely its just slowly diluting the stock over a very long time. I switched recently to 1:1 or 1:3 and dumping it, because I am not going through the stuff fast enough to worry about getting every single cents worth.

 

[Pioneer]

I mix a gallon each time and then I dilute, use and dispose after every use. Works great. Used this way I have never had a batch go bad before I used it up.

 

[Hatchetman]

I used it stock for a while and kept track of the sq inches of film used and amount of developer and adjusted times......but it is WAY WAY easier just to use it 1:1 and toss it after each use.

 

[Xmas]

1+3 is more economical still.