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Pyrocat HD

Don Harpold

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Hello
I was wondering if anyone has issues using Pyrocat HD
I get good results, most of the time.
I have had a couple of issues, one of which was me I think pouring both A and B in at the same time and having them mix together, my last time using it I know I used A and B but I ma not sure if I put B in first or A in first. Does that make a difference? when I poured out the developer it was an orange color and the negatives were almost clear.

Fortunately it was a short test roll for a new camera, I just don't want to have this issue with a full roll that night mean something to me.

Thanks for any comments or insight
Don
 

Andrew O'Neill

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I've been using Pyrocat-HD for 15 years. My way of working has been to start with 500ml water to which I add A, followed by B. I don't think it would matter if I put B in followed by A, though... I would never put A and then B (or vice versa) into the container before adding water.
 
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Don Harpold

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Thanks Andrew
That is the way I have been doing it as well. I pour A in and then B into my container of water.
I have just had a couple of times when it didn't seem to develop the way I am used to.
 

Austin_Jessup

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I think there is some issue with adding A and B to too small an amount of water before adding to the total mL of the working solution. I had an issue like yours once, and started adding A after about a quarter of the total mL, then B after about three quarters of the total mL and then topping off and it hasn't happened again . Hope that helps!
 
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Don Harpold

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Hello Austin
I am adding A and B to my working solution of 400ml
Is this enough?
 

Doremus Scudder

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Start with the final amount of water you intend to use. Add the appropriate amount of Stock Solution A. This contains the developing agents. Then add the right amount of Stock Solution B. This contains the accelerator. The order probably isn't critical, but adding B last preserves the developer better (oxidation starts when B is added). There's a reason, however, that the solutions are labeled A and B... A is supposed to go in first.

Best,

Doremus
 

juan

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I’ve also used the various pyrocats for 15-years. I long ago worked out how much carbonate to use for my 8x10 tank, and add that dry first. Then the water, then part A. I haven’t had a problem, which leads me to believe the order is not important so long as both are not added before the water.
 

Eric Rose

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One thing I forgot to mention, I use separate measuring graduates for solution A and B. Early on in my use of PyroCat I had a cross contamination issue where it appeared that some solution A got into the solution B bottle. This killed the solution B contents. It happened even after doing what I considered was adequate rinsing.

When I develop my 4x5's I do it in a tank of 1300ml of h2o. I add 13ml's each of solution A and B to this.
 

mark

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The only time I got bad results with Pyrocat was when I used an old bottle. I do not mix from scratch. How old are your parts? I can't remember right now, but I think it is part A that goes off.
 

destroya

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i had the same problem, which was clearly my fault. I now use 2 syringes, one for A and 1 for B. If you wash them between uses and you are doing several batches of film, make sure that the A syringe is completely dry as over time water can kill the A stock, even when using glycol instead of water. Once i went to seperate syringes i have never had a bad roll, and thats been over 5 years now. I use both HDC and the M versions. I have been leaning to the M as I have been using it up quickly, so there is no longer a need to use glycol and the M, using distilled water, also reduces the potential water contamination.
 
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Don Harpold

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Hello
Thanks for the responses.

My A and B are only a couple months old and I use two separate measuring beakers and two syringes both of which are marked A and B so they are not mixed up
My chemicals are from Photograpers Formulary and is the liquid, I do not mix anything else with it just the A and B into the 400ml of distilled water

I will have to give it another try and see what happens
 
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