PC-TEA longevity

[P C Headland]

Completely unscientific anecdata (and associated disclaimers), but I've just opened the last bottle of PC-TEA that I mixed up back in February 2013. The colour is a little darker than what it was when freshly mixed, but nowhere near as dark as the previous partial bottle that I just finished.

I've just developed a roll of FP4+ and a roll of Fomapan 100. Activity seems just as good as when it was freshly brewed, and no discernible difference from the old bottle either. I pretty much always use it 1+50, so it's pretty economical as well.

 

[Kino]

Nice. Great to see confirmation of the longevity of this developer!

Thanks for sharing this information.

 

[Bob Selders]

Completely unscientific anecdata (and associated disclaimers), but I've just opened the last bottle of PC-TEA that I mixed up back in February 2013. The colour is a little darker than what it was when freshly mixed, but nowhere near as dark as the previous partial bottle that I just finished.

I've just developed a roll of FP4+ and a roll of Fomapan 100. Activity seems just as good as when it was freshly brewed, and no discernible difference from the old bottle either. I pretty much always use it 1+50, so it's pretty economical as well.

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Thank you for the update. I am thinking about DIY developers. Rodinal was my original plan but PC-TEA is probably a better choice. My low film use rate makes a developer with a long shelf life cost effective.
Do you plan to brew another batch?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It does last forever, it seems. I have a small plastic bottle, about 1/3rd full, I mixed up about 3 years ago, that works fine.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Yes, Rodinal isn't the only developer with a long shelf life once opened, but it's probably the best if you don't mix your own developers. Another developer that I have used myself is Kalogen film developer and it can be used as a paper developer also. It was first marketed in 1917 for folks who couldn't get the German manufactured Rodinal due to WWI. I had a bottle I mixed in 2006 and used the last of it about two years ago. I never even gassed the partial bottle of developer and couldn't believe it was still useable after all that time.

 

[dynachrome]

I have also mixed up batches of PC-TEA which seems to have an indefinite lifespan. For me, it causes about one stop loss of film speed so I don't find it useful for Tri-X. Recently, I bought a bottle of Black/White & Green developer. I will try it with medium speed film at box speed and bracket my exposures.

 

[Bob Selders]

Yes, Rodinal isn't the only developer with a long shelf life once opened, but it's probably the best if you don't mix your own developers. Another developer that I have used myself is Kalogen film developer and it can be used as a paper developer also. It was first marketed in 1917 for folks who couldn't get the German manufactured Rodinal due to WWI. I had a bottle I mixed in 2006 and used the last of it about two years ago. I never even gassed the partial bottle of developer and couldn't believe it was still useable after all that time.

Wow! Kalogen is quite an MQ developer. I shoot Tmax 400, until I finish the 100 foot roll. I understand PC-TEA works well at 1:100 dilution. Kalogen is tempting but I am uncertain how it will work with Tmax 400.
I like the idea of a developer that is not susceptible to oxidation.

What film did you develop with Kalogen?

 

[John Wiegerink]

Wow! Kalogen is quite an MQ developer. I shoot Tmax 400, until I finish the 100 foot roll. I understand PC-TEA works well at 1:100 dilution. Kalogen is tempting but I am uncertain how it will work with Tmax 400.
I like the idea of a developer that is not susceptible to oxidation.

What film did you develop with Kalogen?

I mostly played with UltraFine Extreme film and a roll or two of Kentmere. I'm going to mix a new batch tonight since just talking about this topic has got my juices flowing again. I'll be developing some Adox HR-50 35mm and will try it out on Tmax 100 and Tmax400 in 120. It seems to be one of those "honest" developers when it comes to grain structure. Meaning it's not much of a solvent developer, but that said, I don't think it gives as coarse a grain pattern as Rodinal. Kind of makes since as it was made to emulate Rodinal, which folks couldn't get at that time. I'll keep you posted.

 

[P C Headland]

Thank you for the update. I am thinking about DIY developers. Rodinal was my original plan but PC-TEA is probably a better choice. My low film use rate makes a developer with a long shelf life cost effective.
Do you plan to brew another batch?

I will certainly be mixing up another batch. I've got plenty of TEA and plenty of phenidone in the cupboard.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Just corrected the date I mixed the Kalogen. It was 2016 instead of 2006. Still darn good shelf life. Better shelf life than my memory anyway.