Re-using film chemicals

[seadd]

Not really a full year since I started doing B/W developing, but I think I managed to establish a film-developing process which gives me more or less consistent results. I use always the same type of film (Ilford PAN400, fairly cheap), develop it with LC29 and fix with Rapid fixer.
To save money, I did occasionally reuse the 1+29 developer and 1+4 fixer solution. Also, I used to keep them in standard PET bottles. However, I am not entirely sure that this is correct thing to do
What is the general consensus here? Is it acceptable at all to reuse solutions, or should I always mix a new one? Finally, what is the proper way to store solutions?

 

[Ian Grant]

The dev is one shot you run a risk of poorly developed negatives if you re-use it, but the fixer can be r0used, see the Ilford data on their website, a litre of fixer concentrate will fix a lot of films and keeps well made up, store in a plastic bottle.

I was in Croatia last week, great country and very friendly people

Ian

 

[dancqu]

Is it acceptable at all to reuse solutions, or should I always mix
a new one? Finally, what is the proper way to store solutions?

Certainly acceptable. My volume is very low so use everything
one-shot, very dilute, and fresh at time of processing.

I found 20ml of rapid fix in a solution volume of 500ml entirely
sufficient for fixing one 120 roll of film. Like Ian says,
a liter of concentrate goes a long way.

For myself glass is tops. Amber or clear Boston Rounds
are an ages old darkroom standard. Dan

 

[RobertV]

The developer is a one shot type, meaning use it only one time.
For the fixer: 500ml 1+4 fix should be enough for 8-10 classical cubical films and 5-6 Tgrain type films.

If you want to try out the Efke 25-50-100 from your country I can recommend Rodinal 1+50 or (even cheaper) Beutler divided A+B for these films. Also these developers are one shot type.

Best regards,

Robert

 

[wogster]

Certainly acceptable. My volume is very low so use everything
one-shot, very dilute, and fresh at time of processing.

I found 20ml of rapid fix in a solution volume of 500ml entirely
sufficient for fixing one 120 roll of film. Like Ian says,
a liter of concentrate goes a long way.

For myself glass is tops. Amber or clear Boston Rounds
are an ages old darkroom standard. Dan

Which fixer?

 

[dancqu]

Which fixer?

Certainly Kodak's and Ilford's. There may be exceptions
but I believe most any rapid fix will equal any other in
it's capacity.

Actually less than 20ml will do. I was using 15ml
per roll but upped it when the concentrate
showed signs of aging.

According to Kodak and Ilford less than 10 will do.
I'm quite sure they use averaging, that is the
average roll of Exposed film. Dan

 

[IloveTLRs]

I reuse Super-Prodol, D-76 and ID-11. I use HC-110 as a one-shot deal (though I have reused it with no ill-effects.)
I also reuse fixer, but only a few times. Worn developer and/or fixer can give lousy results.

 

[seadd]

Thanks for all the replies, now I just have to find a reasonable container for my fixer. I think IKEA bottles will have to do fine.

Slightly off-topic, it's nice to see that people recognize my country for Efke films, and (even nicer) for friendly people

 

[RobertV]

Efke 25 with Beutler 1+1+10 is a HIT. In the 50's Willi Beutler made this developer for the Dr. Schleussner/Adox films. It's the same like APX100 and Rodinal 1+50, also a HIT.

Here an Efke 25 example on 35mm and Beutler. Camera M7 + Summarit 2,5/75mm. An enlargement to 40x50cm is a piece of cake with this combination.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Thanks for all the replies, now I just have to find a reasonable container for my fixer. I think IKEA bottles will have to do fine.

I use plastic bottles from soft drinks. The 500ml ones are just fine, you see my tanks need 500 ml for 2 films. I wash - rinse them thoroughly and put my fixer and stop bath there. No problems so far.