Older Polycontrast III Paper still good?

A guy is selling a ton of paper
Lots in larger sizes and in E and F surfaces
Paper is from 97-2001 or so
All unopened

How long does this paper seem to last? I've read that Kodak papers seem to go to hell rather quickly compared to others:confused:


What about cold stored paper opposed to paper sitting in an attic/darkroom

Testing would be the best way to find out
I have not printed anything yet so don't have the chemicals to do so

It's a lot of paper
I wouldn't be able to keep it cold myself nor use it up quickly
Large box of large size I would keep cold if it's likely good yet

Thanks!

I bought three or four 250 sheet boxes that had been stored in a darkroom pretty cheap. Works well.

Also bought several boxes of polyfiber, but it is pretty light weight. It also prints well.

I have no idea how old this paper is. I finally finished putting in a darkroom a couple months ago and wanted cheap paper to get into the flow of things.

Mike

I had a 250 sheet box of 11x14 from like 1979. It was fogged pretty bad. I bought some benzotriazole but never had a chance to see if it would 'bring it back'. But paper from '97 isn't too old, as long as it hasn't been sitting in a hot damp warehouse for the whole time. That's my opinion atleast.

If it has been stored well, it will probably work. But I have found from experience that Polycontrast III definitely has a lifetime when stored casually.

Of all the older papers I've got in my darkroom the worst keeping properties have to be the Kodak Polycontrast, the names changed with these Kodak papers so many times in the UK but all drop contrast far faster than Ilford equivalents.

Having said that my Polycontrast paper dates to the early/mid 80's. Bromesko from the 60's is still excellent, all stored under the same conditions.

Ian