Quick Question - D76 Refrigerator

appletree · Apr 9, 2014

I don't think I was thinking clearly yesterday when I got home from the gym. Rather than putting my water in the fridge I was going to use for 1:1 my D76, I put my glass bottle of D76 stock in the fridge. Didn't get around to developing, was making breakfast this morning and noticed it still in the fridge. Any idea if it will mess anything up if I use it tonight or should I dump the 1L out of stock since it was so cold for 8+ hours?

I wouldn't think it would affect anything, but it has been worrying me this morning. In the past (before joining the forum) I would have just dumped it out, because I always want to be super safe.

Thanks for any heads up on this.

Thomas Bertilsson · Apr 9, 2014

Storing the developer at a lower temperature will probably extend its life span.

Tom1956 · Apr 9, 2014

It can develop needle-like crystals that don't seem to re-dissolve.

Rick A · Apr 9, 2014

It should still be good to use. As Thomas stated, it may extend the life of the developer. However, some chems will settle out of solution in cold temps, and crystalize, IDK if D-76 is one of them.

Ian Grant · Apr 9, 2014

It's not a good idea as you may well precipitate some of the components.

Ian

Gerald C Koch · Apr 9, 2014

If nothing precipitated out then everything is fine. However if something did then it may be very hard to get it back in solution. Warming and lots of stirring may be needed.

Thomas Bertilsson · Apr 9, 2014

My 'darkroom' is a portion of my basement, which is not insulated. At its coldest in the winter, when temperatures outdoors drop below -20*F (-27*C cirka) the basement is about 45*F, a few degrees warmer than most refrigerators. I've never noticed any precipitation in D76, Xtol, PMK, Edwal-12, or any other developer stored there. Of course it may be that just a few degrees colder could cause that.

Just FYI, for what it's worth.

Ian Grant · Apr 9, 2014

Thomas Bertilsson said:
My 'darkroom' is a portion of my basement, which is not insulated. At its coldest in the winter, when temperatures outdoors drop below -20*F (-27*C cirka) the basement is about 45*F, a few degrees warmer than most refrigerators. I've never noticed any precipitation in D76, Xtol, PMK, Edwal-12, or any other developer stored there. Of course it may be that just a few degrees colder could cause that.

Just FYI, for what it's worth.

I've seen ID-11/D76 precipitate needle like crystals in the winter in a commercial darkroom, during a period of very hard frost, and it's difficult to get the crystals back into solution. The developer will suffer as a consequence. A cellar/basement is warmer than a refrigerator and is where I've always stored chemistry.

Ian

MattKing · Apr 9, 2014

To the OP:

Remind me not to ask for a drink of water if I'm ever over at your place.

I know you are in Texas, but why would you need to refrigerate water that you intend to use for development?

If your room temperature is over 68F, just adjust your developing time to compensate for the increased temperature.

appletree · Apr 9, 2014

Sorry, noob here. Thanks for all the responses and information. I am fairly certain no crystals or even slight freezing occurred to the developer. Appreciate all the insight.

MattKing said:
To the OP:

Remind me not to ask for a drink of water if I'm ever over at your place.

I know you are in Texas, but why would you need to refrigerate water that you intend to use for development?

If your room temperature is over 68F, just adjust your developing time to compensate for the increased temperature.

Ha, no it wasn't that I mixed them up just wasn't thinking clearly. I could have put the gallon of water in the fridge and grabbed the stock not even intending to put the water in.

And the house is usually around 70ish, so I just chill my chemicals/water for a little and then mix and ensure the developer is at 68F. Never really did it any other way I guess, as far as adjusting times and such.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 9, 2014

Tom1956 said:
It can develop needle-like crystals that don't seem to re-dissolve.

I cannot recommend putting D76 into the fridge but I always got it to redissolve by raising the temperatuew and some agitation.

cliveh · Apr 9, 2014

RalphLambrecht said:
I cannot recommend putting D76 into the fridge but I always got it to redissolve by raising the temperatuew and some agitation.

+1, no problem.

Quick Question - D76 Refrigerator

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