Phenidone how can you tell if it has lost its potency?

[Vetus]

Bummer, but sure better to find out like this than losing an important roll of film.

Agree lesson learned, in future I will only buy from reputable chemical suppliers or buy manufactured brews off the shelf. The big auction sites can be a lottery.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've got some old stock that has turned gray. It's working fine.

 

[Vetus]

I've got some old stock that has turned gray. It's working fine.

I was sold a poor imitation of phenidone, the seller has withdrawn it from Ebay. I never got a refund or compensation from Ebay as they could not accept my explanation of why the phenidone was substandard. The seller bluntly refused to accept that his phenidone was either substandard or impotent.

 

[Ian Grant]

I've got some old stock that has turned gray. It's working fine.

Well, you've turned . . . . . . . but so have many others of us without realising

But at least you keep your trousers on, and turn out fine work.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Mixed the pc512 developer and clip tested two short lengths of film. One length in a 1% solution of phenidone, after developing the exposed film was clear. Tried increasing the phenidone to double the amount in a fresh solution of developer. Same result. Conclusion my phenidone purchased from Poland is not fit for purpose it has now been disposed of.

It may be the seller was deceived as well. However, it should have been tested, at least practically.

Ian

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well, you've turned . . . . . . . but so have many others of us without realising

But at least you keep your trousers on, and turn out fine work.

Ian

 

[Sidd]

@Ian Grant and @Alan Johnson asking you both whether any of you have ever tried Patrick Gainer's 2009 formula of a easy PC-borax developer? That's another easy to make developer formula. If it works then it would be wonderful!

 

[Corn_Zhou]

I mixed up some print developer and compared it to a larger batch with much fresher Phenidone. Not very scientific but there was no apparent difference. I bought it in 1977, the Ilford code indicates manufacture was 1961.

Oan

BTW, is Phenidone S supposed to be orange? I made a 1% solution in glycol and the solution is orange too. This Phenidone S does work but why the color? Maybe impurities or partially oxidized?

 

[Sidd]

BTW, is Phenidone S supposed to be orange? I made a 1% solution in glycol and the solution is orange too. This Phenidone S does work but why the color? Maybe impurities or partially oxidized?

I can share my experience with Phenidone A, 5% solution is golden yellowish, 1% is very light yellow. And, 5% Dimezone S has pinkish orange colour. All the solutions are in propylene glycol.

 

[Corn_Zhou]

I can share my experience with Phenidone A, 5% solution is golden yellowish, 1% is very light yellow. And, 5% Dimezone S has pinkish orange colour. All the solutions are in propylene glycol.

Thanks!

 

[john_s]

BTW, is Phenidone S supposed to be orange? I made a 1% solution in glycol and the solution is orange too. This Phenidone S does work but why the color? Maybe impurities or partially oxidized?

Does the term "phenidone S" mean Dimezone-S?
I bought some that had just arrived in Australia in a 50kg drum, so I assume it was fresh. It is a pale orange colour. I have some phenidone, presumably phenidone A which is snow white. These are the colours of the powders, not solution.