Now I remember why I hate ......

[Eric Rose]

if I were mixing a lot of powdered chemicals I would certainly buy a magnetic mixer! However I rarely deal with powdered chems.

I finally got 99% of the cruddies out of D76 through mixing with my hand mixer. Strained the rest out when pouring everything back into the 1 gal jug. I'm sure the purists will "tear their robes" when hearing of straining, but I was DONE.

Now to see how my experiment works out. The silly things you do once you are retired. I have pretty much everything dialed in with my goto film/dev/print system I have been using for many years. Why mess around with something new?

 

[cliveh]

I have mixed many gallons of D76 and you don't shake, you stir. It's not a martini.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have a similar problem with quantities, so I started making D76 from scratch so I can make 500 or 600ml. I got called out by some users because "I don't support Kodak". Go figure.

I do the same.It's a lot of fun and rewarding; I don't ow Kodak anything but respect.

 

[Cholentpot]

I have mixed many gallons of D76 and you don't shake, you stir. It's not a martini.

I've never had an issue. And then I transfer it over to 1 liter plastic seltzer bottles. Never had a problem with those either.

 

[DanG]

This thread is a total fabrication -
a local camera store. and, they had b+w chemicals ?????? not in this day and age - not possible!

Yes! Really! The Camera Store in Calgary does indeed carry quite a good stock of BW chemicals.
DanG

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have mixed many gallons of D76 and you don't shake, you stir. It's not a martini.

NEVER shake a Martini & Martinie are made of Gin, not Vodka! James Bum got it wrong in every movie and book.

 

[jim appleyard]

If you like what D-76 does for you, but hate powders, try HC-110.

 

[MattKing]

If you like what D-76 does for you, but hate powders, try HC-110.

Or if you like full emulsion speed and the choice of replenishment, or not, T-Max RS.

 

[Eric Rose]

This is just an experiment I'm doing. I'll stick to my tried and true PyroCat-HD for all my usual needs.

 

[jim10219]

I have to think you did something wrong. Did you pour the water into the powder, or powder into the water? Did you pour it slowly? We’re you using distilled water? Was the water heated? D76 powdered is all I’ve ever used and never had issues wit mixing it. I just pour the powder in a little bit at a time and stir it with a spoon. It takes me all of 3 minutes to mix up a liter.

 

[Cholentpot]

If you like what D-76 does for you, but hate powders, try HC-110.

I'm finding that D-76 gives me a substantially nicer tone and grain than HC-110 with 400 speed films. Even pushed at 1:1 mix. Or maybe HC-110 dilutionB just isn't working for me.

 

[NB23]

For me, mixing powder is like yoga. Relaxing.

Soothing.

And when it’s done, I’m filled with a strong sense of accomplishment.

 

[darkroommike]

Mixed at the correct temperature, RTFB, with a stirring paddle in an open container. You're working too hard if you are shaking a gallon jug. You will not be putting a lot of oxygen into the mix but it's still hard work. A gallon plus jug weighs over eight ponds / 4 kilograms, that's work! Like others I have a second had stirrer in my home darkroom at school I just use a cheap paddle. You don't want to frappé it, introduced air is bad.

 

[KenS]

This is just an experiment I'm doing. I'll stick to my tried and true PyroCat-HD for all my usual needs.

That makes a significant 'number' of us 'in the same boat'
Ken

 

[Helinophoto]

mixing powdered chemicals. I wanted to mix up some D76, for an experiment, so I went down to the local camera store and bought a bag. The smallest quantity I could get mixed up 1 US gal of stock. Went into the darkroom and started mixing. What a PITA!

Eric

I've found that using warmer water (body temp) often helps dissolving things.that would normally take ages.
- unless the package say it will explode if warmed to that kinds of temperatures.

 

[Ken]

D76H....mix from scratch as needed.
Buy the dry chemicals from Formulary:
Metol
Sod. Sulfite
Borax.
Water.
That's it!
Clean working and no pH change even if stored long-term.