question on kodak's chemicals

there's going to be times I won't be developing my B&W as much as I do now, I was wondering instead of letting the stock solution expire of not shooting. I was wondering is there a way to just mix enough powder or concentrate to do a job, instead of making it by the gallon. The chemicals I'm using is kodak D-76 (1+1), dektol, stop bath, rapid fixer, hypo clear. I know the photoflo last me a long time, with a couple of drops in the dev canister with fresh water.

I tried to search the forums for a post about this particuliar subject, but didn't have any luck. I'm not familiar with other chemicals and just making a one shot deal. If I can do this , then what would I need to make this happen like scale, eye dropper, etc, etc because I'm not sure about it.

This has been addressed many times here and on Photo Net.

The simple answer is that it is a NO-NO to use part of a powder kit, but you can use a liquid kit most any way you want, as long as you recognize that the shelf life of the remaining liquid has been decreased by a given amount.

That amount is unpredictable.

PE

Liquids may be an answer. But they expire, too. The best way I've found is to invest in a good scale and to buy the component chemicals. Then you can mix your own of whatever you want in just the quantity you need.

Bobby L. said:

...If I can do this , then what would I need to make this happen like scale, eye dropper, etc, etc because I'm not sure about it.

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Just a follow-up on one-shot liquid concentrates:

Many of us love the convenience of liquids like Rodinal and HC-110 for developers. You just need a small graduated cylinder or graduated syringe for accurately measuring out 10ml or 12ml or whatever. HC-110 is pretty thick, but I just pour it from the bottle into a small graduated cylinder and then empty it and rinse several times until I've got my working dilution.

Both of these concentrates have a long shelf-life even once opened. Some extend the opened bottle shelf life by dropping marbles in to take up the space and reduce the air in the container.

As PE noted, with powders you really can't be sure in partial packets of getting the right ratio of all the constituents, but this problem is nicely avoided by liquid concentrates.

Using Liquid Concentrates

Bobby,

Liquid concentrates are the way to go in your situation. As things stand now, all you would have to do is find another developer. I would second the HC-110 suggestion (never used Rodinal...)

You will, of course, have to establish a new developing time, but you can estimate fairly closely by using the published recommendations for each, arriving at a percentage factor (e.g. HC-110 needs only 75% of the time that D-76 takes), and applying this factor to your current D-76 time.

HC-110 lasts for years if you keep as much air out of the storage bottle as possible (squeezing, rebottling in smaller bottles, marbles, etc.).

For your fix, just do the arithmetic to arrive at amounts for mixing smaller quantities... should be no problem. The same for the stop.

As for your packaged D-76... Save it for a time when you have enough film to develop to use the whole package within the proper time.

Hope this helps some.

Doremus Scudder

www.DoremusScudder.com

If you decant the stock D76 solution into smaller bottles, and ensure that they are filled to the very top with no airspace, it will keep for a long time. I have had stock solution last almost a year like this.

Mixing Kodak and other manufacturers chemicals in small batches may be a "No-No", but I have done so for 25 or 30 years with no problem. I weighed out powders and devised a chart for mixing by the spoonful as needed in room temperature water. I have never had a problem with consistency of development. The only problem has been to keep the unmixed developers from oxidizing which I solved with nitrogen.

D-76 comes in 1 liter size, as well:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/251843-REG/Kodak_8275497_D_76_Developer_Powder_for.html

Jim Noel said:

Mixing Kodak and other manufacturers chemicals in small batches may be a "No-No", but I have done so for 25 or 30 years with no problem. I weighed out powders and devised a chart for mixing by the spoonful as needed in room temperature water. I have never had a problem with consistency of development. The only problem has been to keep the unmixed developers from oxidizing which I solved with nitrogen.

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Jim;

I give accepted wisdom regarding all chemistry including the mixing of powdered materials in small batches. I admit that it is conservative, but it will always work. Your method 'may' work and many people have done it and swear by it.

I don't use your method, and would not recommend it from a professional standpoint. But "use what works for you". That is my motto. I just hope that you dont get unlucky just when you need to be lucky.

PE

I have hundreds of 250 ML, Boston Glass Rounds with lids, brand new and would love to get them into other darkrooms. I purchase them to mix Xtol or D76 and by having no air in the bottle, the developer last a long time.

I have them listed at $1 each plus shipping at my web site however, special APUG price of half price. Best to buy enough to ship by Flat Rate Priority Mail. I have had an ad here a couple of times, don't have time to do another right now.

Contact me if interested.

Look into HC-110. It can give results virtually identical to D-76. The concentrate last for a very, very long time - even after opened and you can mix as much or as little as you need straight from the concentrate.