Old Glycin- useable?

keithostertag · Jan 12, 2012

I bought 100g of Glycin from the Formulary about two years ago and never got around to using it. I emailed them and was told it is only generally good for 6 months, and that one can tell by the color- brownish means its done-for. Well, I don't want to open it just to inspect it since that would expose it to light and air and moisture, etc.

I hate to just throw this out if it is useful at all to someone.

Anyone who is familiar with using Glycin and wants this can have it for $5 shipping (USA- NO Paypal!) Otherwise, it goes into the trash...

Keith Ostertag

artonpaper · Jan 12, 2012

My experience is NO. Glycin has a very, very short shelf life. I've made the mistake of buying a large jar of it once. In no time it went from light tan, to dark, earth colored powder. I used it to mix up a batch of paper developer, but it flat out didn't work. At least that's been my experience. I now buy it in small quantities when I want to use it. Photographers Formulary sells it in small bottle of 10 grams, which I usually purchase at B&H. Store it in the dark.

keithostertag · Jan 12, 2012

OK, thanks for the confirmation (sigh...)

L Gebhardt · Jan 12, 2012

Storing in the freezer does extend its life some. So does making a large batch of Ansco 130. I've had the developer keep for over a year.

I would open the package and look before you toss it, or waste the money shipping it.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 12, 2012

Hi Keith,

Perhaps you may find it useful to (there was a url link here which no longer exists) with long-term storage of glycin powder?

Ken

Jed Freudenthal · Jan 12, 2012

Glycin will desintegrate under oxygen. I use butane (campingas) to keep the oxygen from glycin. In this way glycin can be used for years.

Jed

keithostertag · Jan 12, 2012

Well, seems we have a range of opinions...

I just opened it.

Brown.

Tossed.

Thanks for your replies.

Keith Ostertag

jim appleyard · Jan 12, 2012

If I'm not too late... old glycin CAN make a warmtone print dev. I've taken VERY old glycin (looked like Hershey's instant milk powder) and made it into Ansco/Agfa 130. The prints came out with a brown tone. Good for certain shots; womens portraits, old buildings, anything you might want warm.

sun of sand · Jan 15, 2012

I have old glycin
under the kodak name of athenon
probably from the early 70's if not 60's

I used some about 2 years ago to make a glycin only film developer
It developed the film and the film was actually pretty sharp. Sharper than d23 and I think xtol also using a handheld microscope to judge
very warm toned brown, though. I never printed them. I think I recently threw those film dev. test negatives out

I tried using some recently as a glycin only print developer
NOTHING
don't know.
try a different jar one of these days

artonpaper · Jan 16, 2012

Boy my experience with old glycin in paper developer was a total fail. It just didn't work. Good thread this, learned a few things.

resident K · Jan 16, 2012

Im using old glycin from 70`s and 80`s and it works fine(I tried film develepers with glycin,for example, FX-2 and also paper ones)
The powder looks rather oxydized and coloured and developer filtered have yellowish(yellow)colour, but all works. HAve some powder from 60`s but have not tried it yet( by the way, externally it looks better than his younger brothers).
I recommend glycin-hydroquinone developers, in particular, Foma`s formula FV-105 for developing old papers. Most of almost dead papers go out clear, without fog, and in spite of venerable age of glycin there is no staining of paper.

eclarke · Jan 16, 2012

When I buy Glycin, I buy 2 pounds and try to coordinate it to purchase when it is freshly made. I keep it in the plastic bottle in the sealed envelope it comes in and the freezer keeps it much better than room temp storage. It seems to stay very white..I do go through 2 pounds in 6 to 8 months...EC

Old Glycin- useable?

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