Odd staining(?) with Kallitype on COT320

[R Shaffer]

Finally got back to making some prints after a long hiatus. So I broke out some COT320 that had been sitting on the shelf for three years or more for some kallitypes. All four of the prints have exhibited this unusual staining or irregular density. Some more than others. The image below shows the worst. I can't figure out what it is. It shows up right when I splash down the developer. Slightly looses density as I process, but so does the rest of the print. My chemistry is pretty old, probably 12 months or more.

brush coating 11x14 with 24 total drops ( 12 each silver & FO )
air dry around 30 minutes
develop 5min in Sodium Citrate
Clear 3 min 1st Citric Acid batch
Clear 3 min 2nd Citric Acid bath
Tone with pd until happiness arrives
fix 3 minutes


Anyone have any ideas?

I could not upload image, so here is link

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6833798356_474dda1fb7_m.jpg

 

[R Shaffer]

Thought I would add an update. So I made another print today, this would be the 5th print, and it is the first one to come out without any evidence of the density irregularity. My completely un-scientific and un-validated best guess at the problem would relate to the relative humidity. The 1st two prints the RH that day was 22%, the next two prints were made on a day with 26% RH and today it has been raining and the RH in my dimroom was 30%. The worst irregularity was evident on the two 1st prints.

So while I would not expect to see this much difference with such a minor change in RH, it is the only variable that IMO might explain it. Other than a few bad sheets.

I had forgotten how beautifully COT320 prints. The warmth & smoothness of tone is outstanding. I got, for me, an excellent black density of 1.35 and highlight value of 0.04 in the step wedge. And it wants to clear itself.