'Old Brown' in Lith Printing

I'm just curious, how old is too old when using old brown? I was just cleaning out my darkroom and found a bottle thats about 3 years old, is that pushing it?

Can age/concentration of the old brown be another variable in lith printing?

If I can use this, what ratio to fresh developer should I use?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just fired up for the winter printing season

Fintan

No definitive answer here, but I've used it at several months old. I doubt there's any developer activity left and the sulfite has been oxidized, but the semiquinone and bromide is really what you need in old brown. I can't think why that wouldn't be good.

Something I have found useful. I'm always trolling for old papers, and many that are lithable turn out to be badly fogged. I save these to make up "new" old brown with if I think the bromide level is too high. Also for testing if the developer is dead. Or to check sulfite balance. If you have a fresh pan of developer but no lith action, drop a test strip in with the lights on, and sprinkle a pinch of sulfite on top, see what happens. If it starts to lith, then you know you need more sulfite. Have fun this winter. Lith is a kick.

my experience is that everything in Lith is a variable. Do pm Tim Rudman as he will know the answer. wishing you good printing, GLarson

I believe that the presence of 'old brown' is to take some of the edge off the fresh developer. I always find that I get better results into the printing session than the first attempts at getting a satisfactory print.