Quick Question about T-Max Developer

[applesanity]

I'm processing T-Max P3200 at EI 3200 and the Massive Dev Chart tells me to do 9.5 minutes at 24C at 1:4 dilution.

My bottle of TMax says I should dilute the bottle to 4 parts water to make a 1 gallon solution.

Here comes the stupid question - when the Massive Dev chart says T-Max 1:4, does it mean I should use 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water, or should I first make the gallon solution from the concentrate as instructed by the TMax bottle, and then dilute that dilution to 4 parts water?

Oh, and if anyone has developer advice for Kodak T-Max P3200, I'll take it. Thanks.

 

[SilverGlow]

I understand that as 1/5 developer, and 4/5s water, for a total of 5/5 = 1 gallon.

So then 1:4 means 1 part + 4 parts = 5 total parts.

 

[Jerry Basierbe]

I always make what I need by adding 4 parts water to 1 part developer. No problems. I've never mixed a gallon.

Jerry

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Jerry has it right.Don't mix it if you don't need it.

 

[jeroldharter]

Yes, the liquid in the bottle is somewhat viscous and is mixed with water, often 1:4, to make a working solution.

I use other dilutions, e.g. 1:9 for sheet film so if I need 360 ml of developer for 6 BTZS tubes, then I measure out 36 ml of TMAX developer and add the necessary water to make 360 ml of working solution at 1:9. If I were using 1:4, then I would use 72 ml of TMAX developer plus additional water to yield 360 ml of working solution.

Because the volumes are rather low, I usually round up and mix larger volumes of working solution to minimize the effect of measuring errors at low volumes.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

....... or should I first make the gallon solution from the concentrate as instructed by the TMax bottle, and then dilute that dilution to 4 parts water?

No

You have done the dilution from stock to working developer - use it as it is.

And, only mix the amount of stock into working developer that you need at any one time

The concentrated developer has a much longer shelf life than when it is diluted.

Good luck

Martin