Rodinal and Sodium Sulfite in Petersen's Photographic

[Tom Deely]

Does anybody remember an article in Petersen's about souping Tri x in Rodinal, a tablespoon of SS 1:75 or the like? Help would be appreciated Thanks,Tom

 

[titrisol]

Not that one
but Gadget Gainer had one about adding Sulfite, Salt and Ascorbate in PT sometime in the year 2000

From there I learned that adding 1/2 teaspoon of vitamin C, neutralized with baking soda, for every 500 ml (2 g/l) was awesome!!!!!

Look in the unblinkingeye for the appreciating rodinal article

 

[Gerald Koch]

There was an article some years ago by Bill Pierce in Popular Photography called Rodinal Rejiggered about diluting Rodinal 1:100 with a 7.5% solution of sodium sulfite. The development time needs to be reduced by about 20% to account for the physical development caused by the high sulfite concentration. Used in this manner Rodinal becomes a medium fine grain developer.

 

[Lee Shively]

This appears to be a Bill Pierce article that was printed and possibly rewritten several times over the years. I remember the article in Camera 35 from sometime in 1973 or 1974. In that article, Pierce's recommendation was to add 2/3 Chock-Full-O-Nuts coffee scoop of sodium sulfite to water with Rodinal 1:75 to make up a total of 8 fluid ounces. Tri-X was developed for 11 1/2 minutes at 68 degrees in this solution.

I used this method for several years until I lost a local source of Rodinal and I switched to a series of other developers.

I drank Chock-Full-O-Nuts coffee for a year or two back then based on Pierce's recommendation.

I'm now using this combination with HP5 and Pan F. I like it a lot.

 

[Mark Layne]

There is something on this in an article entitled 'Appreciating Rodinal'
Seems to me Pat Gainer recommended Borax rather than sulphite
Mark

 

[glbeas]

I use 20 grams of sulfite per liter of rodinal 1:50 to protect it from oxidation while drum processing my 8x10 film. I haven't noticed any effect on the grain since I contact print these.

 

[Gerald Koch]

I use 20 grams of sulfite per liter of rodinal 1:50 to protect it from oxidation while drum processing my 8x10 film. I haven't noticed any effect on the grain since I contact print these.

At such a low concentration of 2% you really wouldn't see any grain reduction. The maximum effect occurs at about 8%.

 

[jim appleyard]

I drank Chock-Full-O-Nuts coffee for a year or two back then based on Pierce's recommendation. QUOTE]

With or w/o sulfite?

You can also find more info on this at photo.net. Just do a search for mixing Rodinal w/sulfite. One person responded by asking if it wouldn't just be better by using D-76.

 

[jim appleyard]

There is something on this in an article entitled 'Appreciating Rodinal'
Seems to me Pat Gainer recommended Borax rather than sulphite
Mark

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Rodinal/rodinal.html

 

[Gerald Koch]

I forgot to mention that the Pierce article says that when Rodinal is diluted with 7.5% sulfite it can be used as a deep tank developer and replenished with 1 ml of Rodinal for each roll of film developed. The replenished system can be used for a month this way. I have never tried this but it might be interesting for some folks.

 

[Lee Shively]

"One person responded by asking if it wouldn't just be better by using D-76."

D76 1:3 looks really nice with HP5. Maybe a tad sharper than Rodinal/sulfite but Rodinal has the edge for tonality, in my not-too-technically-inclined opinion. I never quite got a handle on using D76 with PanF's tendency to get overly contrasty. With Rodinal and sulfite, I'm processing both films together--same tank/same time--and getting nice consistent negatives. Very convenient.

 

[Lee Shively]

Oh, I forgot. I tried some Chock-Full-O-Nuts Coffee again not too long ago. I think I've been spoiled by all the premium coffee around these days. About the only reason I'd drink it now is to get the scoop (if they still put one in the can).

 

[GeneW]

The Bill Pierce coffee scoop story reminded me that I still have some Edmund 'speed cups' in my cupboard. They were available for next to nothing from Edmund to measure out sodium sulfite 7% solutions for mixing FG-7. Never tried them as coffee measures though ...

Gene

 

[titrisol]

Baby formula scoops are also great for this purposes.
Ask someone that has a baby to save you a few.... in my case we use 2 cans/scoops per week.

The Bill Pierce coffee scoop story reminded me that I still have some Edmund 'speed cups' in my cupboard. They were available for next to nothing from Edmund to measure out sodium sulfite 7% solutions for mixing FG-7. Never tried them as coffee measures though ...

Gene

 

[gainer]

Near where you find coffee filters you may find a coffee scoop with a handle that holds 2 tablespoons which is 1 ounce or 30 ml, close enough for government work. That will be about 45 grams of sulfite.

 

[Lee Shively]

The Chock-Full-O-Nuts scoop was small by coffee scoop standards. It only held 1 tablespoon. I just eyeball it now.