Pyrocat Failure

[Peter Schrager]

Last night I developed 7/5x7 negatives in the Pyrocat MC formula and got zip. oh yes I did get stained blank negs....thought the MC wouldn't go bad...(?)
the chemicals came from the formulary. worked fine just a few days before. here's what I think: Chems were almost a year old; the A solution got very low in the bottle and became oxidized; I was careless not to notice a color shift when mixing. NOTE-this is NOT in any way to bash the Formulary or Pyrocat but to better understand what might have happened. if you have anything to add here I'm sure this would prove invaluable to everyone else....
Best, Peter

 

[noseoil]

Peter, I had some pyrocat-hd go bad, but it was more slowly (as in so gradual I didn't notice for a while, maddening). Mine was over a year old and had been mixed in water. My current batch is the glycol version and seems to be working well after a year, so far. Was yours mixed with water? tim

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I've never used Pyrocat HD mixed more than 6 months before (in water). Even after only 6 months the stain color seems to shift a bit. Very printable but noticeable. I mix my own at home in fairly small batches and it works out great. Cheap as hell, too. The key is use it or loose it.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Pyrocat - MC Solution A mixed in water?

Last night I developed 7/5x7 negatives in the Pyrocat MC formula and got zip. oh yes I did get stained blank negs....thought the MC wouldn't go bad...(?)
the chemicals came from the formulary. worked fine just a few days before. here's what I think: Chems were almost a year old; the A solution got very low in the bottle and became oxidized; I was careless not to notice a color shift when mixing. NOTE-this is NOT in any way to bash the Formulary or Pyrocat but to better understand what might have happened. if you have anything to add here I'm sure this would prove invaluable to everyone else....
Best, Peter

Peter, was your Pyrocat MC solution A mixed in water? If so, I would expect it to last for about 6 months - maybe a little more - maybe not.

I mixed 2 liters of Pyrocat MC solution A in Glycol nearly 2 years ago and it is still going strong. No color change and still fully active as of last week.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Pyrocat MC

this was batch that I bought from the formulary. well over a year old and mixed in glycol. like I stated it worked just fine last week but died in the interim. the bottle was almost empty which may have contributed to the failure. from now on I'm using a white tray to see the color change when I mix it up. otherwise I do usually make it myself but I'm in the south without my mixer apparatus. I do believe it is use it or lose it but the glycol seems to have gone on way further than the HD variety. just hate to go out and then lose the negs due to a failure....thanks everyone. Sandy-care to chime in??? Best of the NEW YEAR to all of you!!!
Best, Peter

 

[edtbjon]

Hi!
Do yourself a favor and check with one trial neg (of any size). Just make sure that one's exposed. I.e. been there, done that...
Happy new year everyone.
//Björn