Old Microdol X, Still Good to Use?

[Frank R]

I just picked up a few bags of dry Microdol X and a few quart bottles of liquid Microdol X that have never been opened or used, but are of unknown age.

I have never used Microdol X before.

Is this stuff still good to use?

Also, I have a bottle of Kodak Fixer Hardener Part B. Can I use this with my Ilford Rapid Fixer when I am developing soft films like EFKE?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I just picked up a few bags of dry Microdol X and a few quart bottles of liquid Microdol X that have never been opened or used, but are of unknown age.

I have never used Microdol X before.

Is this stuff still good to use?

Also, I have a bottle of Kodak Fixer Hardener Part B. Can I use this with my Ilford Rapid Fixer when I am developing soft films like EFKE?

I'd mix and use the dry Microdol-X and dump the liquid.

I'd also dump the Kodak Fixer Hardener Part B.

I use a lot of Efke 25 and Efke 100 (35& 120 rollfilm) (plus 4X5, 5X7 and 8x10sheets). You don't need hardening fixer with Efke - all you need to do is learn how to handle it during development, fixing and washing without scratching or otherwise damaging it.

 

[fschifano]

The bags of dry Microdol-X powder might be good. Check to see if there is an expiration date on the package. It might be there imbedded ino a code somewhere. If not, then it's your choice. Mix it up and try it on a short piece of film to see what you get. The liquid stuff is almost certainly bad. But if it has never been opened, someone might want it as a collectible piece. Liquid Microdol-X hasn't been sold for a long time. IIRC it used to come in really good brown Boston Round bottles.

 

[pnance]

If the liquid Microdol is fairly clear, I would test a small portion of film before just throwing it out.

 

[pnance]

If the bags are lumpy, or when you open them you find black nodules, it probably won't be any good. (I've experienced this)

 

[Charlie-J]

Can of old microdol-x

Hello Frank.
I was in a antique curiosity shop last week and found a 1 litre can of Microdol-x the can looked old, the lid is soldered on, I gave it a shake and the powder inside was loose. There is a date on the label which reads 007-49 and the original price of 6 shillings.
I opened the can last night to find no lumps or discolouration, the powder mixed up without any problems.
I tested the developer on a short length of exposed film and got the same results as I would expect from fresh Microdol-X
I have found with powdered developers they will keep for a long time if they have been stored properly in there original sealed containers.
You might also find when you use Microdol-X it will produce slightly brown negatives, this is normal according to Kodak.
I have been trying different developers with Efke 25 I was hoping for lower contrast and good sharpness.

The shot I have posted here is Adox 25 shot at 25 ASA pre-soaked for 2 mins and developed in vintage Microdol-X 1+3 ( I used 100ml of stock to be safe) for 14.5 mins @20 deg C 30sec+3 gentle inversions every 60 seconds.
Leica III + Jupiter 12 35mm-2.8.

Hope this info is of use to you. C

The Boston Belle

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the Microdol-X in liquid, the last time Kodak made these, they lasted a long long time. Bought one recently, pretty much for the glass jar, and was pleasantly surprised to find the developer working as if mixed new, even though I was certain that the bottle had sat for *years*.

 

[Vaughn]

Way back when, I used Microdol-X 1:3 with Panatomic-X. Made some nice 15"x15" prints from 2 1/4 negs!

I found a stash of Kodak chemicals in cans at the univeristy 10 or so years ago. I called Kodak -- the person I talked to did not know the life span of the chems in a can, but she said that the paper packages only have a shelf life of a year. So you are own your own there!

I opened up some of the cans of developer -- some had black stuff in them, some did not.

 

[Frank R]

I can get about 10 bottles of this stuff.

Are the bottles collectible?

 

[Rolleijoe]

I have about 6 left unopened from a case I bought back in '97 or '98. Was good stuff with Tri-X. May crack one open this year just for fun. These are left overs from teaching a b&w course way back then.
Don't know about collectible, but would certainly pay the postage to get 'em here if you like.

I can get about 10 bottles of this stuff.

Are the bottles collectible?

 

[Rolleijoe]

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