One unopened bottle of HC-110... should I?

Yamaotoko · May 16, 2011

G'day all,

I've got one very sad, lonely looking bottle of HC-110 sitting here, apparently it's no longer being made (if the odd thread I come across on these forums is anything to go by), so it may be a very lonely bottle!

I've never used HC-110 before, Xtol is my current standard so I've never bothered to even have a crack at it. Now that it's extinct, I feel like it would be a bit of a waste of my time to go through testing, shooting off a handful of sheets, then running out and never being able to go back to it.

So, what I'm asking is, will I be missing out on anything life-changing if I pass this bottle along to a current user/lover of the HC? Or should I grab this opportunity while I've got it and make the most of this Unobtanium juice while I can?

...yes, I just drained the last of my current batch of Xtol and wasn't looking forward to shaking up another 5L...

BetterSense · May 16, 2011

I'm pretty sure you can still get HC110. It's my most-used developer, just because of its convenience and crazy low price.

brucemuir · May 16, 2011

I would stick it in a dark spot in your DR and save for a rainy day.
It keeps well and you never know when you might need it.

HC-110 is still readily available here in the states.

Yamaotoko · May 16, 2011

brucemuir said:
HC-110 is still readily available here in the states.

Hmmm... maybe it was just an Aussie thing, I'm sure I did read it somewhere though... thanks for the replies guys.

brucemuir · May 16, 2011

Exactly, I feel for you guys as it seems analog supplies can be limited and expensive.
Reinforces my feeling that you should hold onto it.

I have a half a bottle that is from around 2003-4 and got exposed to some sunlight for a bit.
It is getting crusty and has turned dark but still works fine.

I would keep it if I were you.

Yamaotoko · May 16, 2011

Wow, that's some impressive shelf life! It sounds like some sort of magical elixer next to the 6mth life of my mixed Xtol.

brucemuir · May 16, 2011

Well Steve, it's a thick syrup designed for shelf life and ease of different dilutions.

My bottle was inadvertently exposed to sunlight for probably 6 months. (this is a no no)

I should mention it is still in syrup form (stock solution) and I dilute when needed. I couldn't say how long it would stay active diluted down to working solution.

Matt5791 · May 16, 2011

It's available here in the UK, and very popular.

What is a bit confusing is there used to be a smaller bottle of "european" HC110 which was sold alongside the "full fat" real HC110 - the Euro one was only for dilution 1:9. However this was killed off and now it's just the proper, thick, original which is available.

MattKing · May 16, 2011

As long as you keep it away from water, HC-110 has amazing shelf life.

It is my go to developer, but it also really shines as a backup developer, because of that shelf life.

What else (other than Rodinal) can you leave on a shelf, partly used, for years, and still be able to use it?

One bottle is enough to develop up to 80 rolls of film (at 6 ml of syrup per roll).

Jeff Searust · May 16, 2011

Still made, very common-- Just received a case today-- comes in pints to make 2 gallons. Can be shipped, need some?

BetterSense · May 16, 2011

How many is a case? Are you stockpiling for the apocalypse, or do you just go through that much HC110?

jreitsma · May 21, 2011

HC-110 Lives forever!!!!!

I've been working with same bottle of HC-110 Concentrate for quite some time now, and it appears to be working just fine. Just keep it in a relatively cool dark place and it should last for years (especially if you're fond of using Dillution 'H').

....I'll probably have enough HC-110 to last well through this rupture (or...was that "rapture")......my soul has been in the dark:devil: for so long, I doubt it would know what to do if exposed to "The Light".

Later-JOE

Athiril · May 21, 2011

SteveR said:
Hmmm... maybe it was just an Aussie thing, I'm sure I did read it somewhere though... thanks for the replies guys.

It's not imported into Australia, but we have Ilford LC29 locally.

ntenny · May 21, 2011

On the original question, I'm not sure HC-110 really offers anything special as compared to Xtol. To me it seems to be kind of a "middle-of-the-road" developer; moderate acutance, moderate grain, cheap, convenient, unlikely ever to give you a complete catastrophe.

Besides the shelf life, it has good fog control (a lot of people, including me, use it preferentially for seriously expired film for that reason) and fairly high activity at the commonly used dilutions (short dev times, and helpful for solarising negatives).

-NT

wotalegend · May 22, 2011

Athiril said:
It's not imported into Australia, but we have Ilford LC29 locally.

Is LC29 the same or similar formula to HC110?

Christopher Walrath · May 22, 2011

I would keep it and buy it a friend. If you open it you could decant it into smaller bottles to further extend its already insane shelf life.

Athiril · May 22, 2011

wotalegend said:
Is LC29 the same or similar formula to HC110?

Supposedly half-strength or so of HC-110.

yulia_s_rey · May 22, 2011

A similar question arose in the Spanish thread, how would one compare LC29 to HC110? Anyone know of its availability in the EU?

Yamaotoko · May 23, 2011

Well, good to know it's got fantastic shelf life, I guess it can just sit there for a rainy day then. From what I've read about it, HC-110 can be useful in higher dilutions for long exposures/night shots, doing a semi-stand type development... as long as it's not wasting away in the bottle, it can just hang out in my darkroom.

...unless of course, there's an Aussie who really wants a bottle...

hpulley · May 23, 2011

If you use it from syrup, i.e. don't make a stock solution then it lasts practically forever. If you make a stock solution it lasts the usual 6 months once mixed up.

I love HC-110 as it is so convenient. I've searched for developers which give finer grain but the difference is so small I've gone back to HC-110. It never let's me down.

One unopened bottle of HC-110... should I?

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