Re-using stop solution

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timbo10ca

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How many rolls of film can a batch of stop solution (I'm using Ilfostop, 500 ml in the tank) be used for, then used afterward for paper? I plan to do darkroom sessions by first developing rolls of film (35mm and 120) with Ilfosol S, then contact printing negs from the previous session (with Ilford Multigrade). I know I need new developer for each roll, then change for paper but can I use the same stop solution for all the rolls, then pour it into the tray to use for the prints, topping up to a liter? On the same topic, how many sheets of paper (8X10) will a liter of devloper do? Stop solution do? Fixer? I'm told that fixer turns purple when it's exhausted- does developer and stop bath do the same?

Thanks, Tim
 

Donald Qualls

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If the stop bath has an indicator in it (solution is yellow when mixed, orange in the concentrate bottle), you can use it until it changes color to a blue/purple, indicating it has lost enough acidity not to be reliable in quickly stopping development. My experience has been that a liter of stop bath mixed according to package directions (I use Kodak Indicator Stop Bath, because that's what I have and it was cheapish) is good for dozens of rolls before it starts to break down.

Fixer doesn't change color when exhausted (that's the stop bath, if it's the indicator type); you need to track the capacity. Most fixers, mixed to paper strength, are good for something like a dozen to two dozen 8x10 prints, depending on your methods (two-bath is good for a dozen, then promote the second bath to first and pour a fresh second; that gets you two dozen per liter, net). On film, the usual rule is to test the clearing time when the fixer is new, fix for at least twice the clearing time, recheck clearing time periodically, and discard it when the time to clear the same type film has doubled. This will typically be about two dozen rolls of film per liter of film strength fixer.

For developers, capacity depends on the developer. I use Dektol 1+3, from old enough mix that it was brown when I first added it to water; I've had the stock solution for most of a year now (it was a five gallon size) -- and I've never seen detectable exhaustion with up to twenty-plus 8x10 prints in a session over as much as six hours (though I make no attempt to save the developer for another session). Time in the tray affects developers, as well as prints processed, however; best to use factorial development (watch for emergence of a mid-tone area, then develop for some multiple of the time that takes -- 5x is usually about right), and replace or replenish the developer when development time has about doubled from freshly mixed.
 

unregistered

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Stick your fingers in some dev. then into the stop bath. If the slimy feeling goes away pretty rapidly its still good.
 

Bob F.

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Manufacturers list the number of 8x10s their chemistry can be expected to handle in their documentation (and usually on the bottle).

One method of checking fixer is the clearing time test that Donald mentioned. Drop a small bit of unused film (such as an inch of the leader tongue of a 35mm roll that you cut off before putting on the developing spiral) in fresh fixer. Agitate it and see how long it takes to become transparent. Note this down. Next time you need to fix film or paper using that fixer do the same test (with the same film make) and check the new time the film takes to clear. When the new time becomes twice the original time, discard the fixer. Alternately, Tetenal make test strips to check the fixer's silver content (and ph).

Cheers, Bob.
 
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timbo10ca

timbo10ca

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This is all great stuff! So Bob- does it matter if the film leader has been exposed to light or not? I set my camera not to wind it all the way in so it's easier to handle when loading the spool.
 

Bob F.

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timbo10ca said:
This is all great stuff! So Bob- does it matter if the film leader has been exposed to light or not? I set my camera not to wind it all the way in so it's easier to handle when loading the spool.
Light is not a problem in this case. You just drop it in the fixer (I just pour about a cup of fixer in to a measuring jug) and after 30 - 60 seconds of gentle agitation in fresh film strength fixer (usually mixed 1+4 from the stock concentrate) it should be clear (excepting any base tint the film may have).

Cheers, Bob.
 

Wayne

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FYI, you probably want to use separate fixing solutions for film and paper.



Wayne
 

Papa Tango

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A few thoughts

Kodak Indicator Stop is perfect for "eyes on" determination of effectiveness. As stated earlier, it changes from yellow to purple as it becomes exhausted. Stop is nothing more that acetic acid. Film developers are generally alkaline in nature, and the addition of a dilute acid base such as acetic produces an environment that arrests the ability of the developer to act on the film. A working solution of stop bath should have a pH of less than 7 to be most effective. 7 is considered "neutral" as shown in the chart below. Below 6 is recommended, discarding when the pH reaches this point. A small tester or strips are a great way to determine this, as well as the alkalinity of your developer. Testing the alkalinity from a fresh working solution to one that is reused is a good way to determine its rate of exhaustion. There are some developers that it is a good idea to monitor as development occurs so that adjustments to time can be made.

A plain water wash is another option, and a requirement of some films like the slow Efke's, J&C Classic and Bergger. For some reason, the acidity can "pinhole" the negative. While water does not stop as fast as an acetic bath, it is effective. A slight compensation of a few seconds in developing time can alleviate any issues.

As to hypo, there are a couple test solutions available. Photographers Formulary has this one that you mix up yourself:


http://www.photoformulary.com/Deskt...tabindex=2&categoryid=37&selection=0&langId=0

and Edwal offers this ready-to-use option:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...686&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

In these, you are checking for a milky precipitate to be formed.
 

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Gerald Koch

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You really don't need to use a stopbath with film. A 30 sec rinse with ordinary water is sufficient and actually recommended for some developers to prevent pinholes. I think most photographers do not reuse stopbaths. A simple 3% solution of acetic acid (Kodak SB-1) or a 1.5% solution of citric acid (Kodak SB-8) can be used for papers. Such a solution is cheap enough to discard after a darkroom session. Other chemicals that can be used for stopbaths are boric acid and sodium metabisulfite. White vinegar works well too and is cheap, usually less than $2 a gallon in supermarkets.
 

Donald Qualls

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Worth noting that white vinegar is actually more expensive, per gallon of working solution, than Kodak Indicator Stop Bath. The Kodak product does cost more up front, but I'm on my third year using the first bottle of Kodak stop bath concentrate I purchased, and there's still about 2/3 of the bottle left.

Also, white vinegar, if used for stop bath, should be diluted 1+2 to 1+4 to give 1.5% to 1% acidity; the original 5% is too strong and may cause reticulation (even with paper).
 
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