Perceptol - grey powder A ??!!

[Sean Moran]

Hello folks,

I've just made up some Perceptol, but powder A was grey. It dissolved okay, but the solution is a yukky grey. Powder B was the usual white, but the resultant solution is still a murky grey because of powder A.

Is this a change in the Perceptol chemistry? Or is there something wrong with it? I bought it just before Christmas, but I don't know how long the shop had it for - the packaging just says 'Ilford Ltd' with no mention of Harman.

Any ideas?

Best wishes,

Seán (in Belfast)

 

[Gerald Koch]

Bag A contains the developing agent Metol. If the contents are gray that seems to indicate the bag's integrity has been compromised and there is some oxidation. I'd notify the supplier and get a replacement rather than trying to use it.

 

[George Papantoniou]

It probably was an old packet of Perceptol. Gerald might be right, I have used some of them in the past and the results weren't always correct (I sometimes had under-development problems)... You might need to do a test on an unimportant sheet or roll and see for youself.

 

[Sparky]

Try distilled water - warmer than recommended. Add part A to a good erlenmeyer flask - or something similar. stir the hell out of it. It'll work. I've used greyish perceptol before - without incident.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I'd follow Gerald Koch's advice and take the remainder back for replacement. If the Metol is oxidized, using distilled water and/or stirring the hell out of the brew isn't likely to help.

 

[Sean Moran]

Thanks folks - my instinct was that something was wrong and you've confirmed that. I used microphen instead to develop the film (reducing the time a bit, for HP5+ at 200 ISO), since I didn't relish the thought of opening the other packet of Perceptol to find the same problem. If I can remember which UK-based mail-order operation I bought them from, I'll return the packets for refund.

Many thanks,

Sean.

 

[pentaxuser]

Sean. To back up what the others have said, the Perceptol packet says that storage life is indefinite if the packet hasn't been opened - end of quote.When opened it mixes clear and should stay clear while within its shelf life. I have just finished off the last of some Perceptol I mixed a few months ago and stored in a concertina bottle. It was still clear and worked fine. There's no way Harman is going to make that kind of a claim about indefinite storage unless its true as it doesn't leave any room for manoeuvre. You definitely have a bad batch.

pentaxuser