Scored a Darkroom Dormant for 15+ years

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

Craigslist score - sold for "FREE." Beseler 23 CII enlarger w/Nikor 50mm/2.8 lens, Beseler repeating timer, tons of chemicals, approximately 350 sheets of Ilford paper, more Kodak Photoflo than 10 people can use in a lifetime. Processing trays, film developing tank/reels, thermometers beakers, Paterson grain focuser, safelight, on and on.

Question: how good will HC 110 unopened be, along with a half bottle of Afga Rodinal? There is one each unopened packets of Microdol X and Technidol - any good? There is also a can of "ethol film developer" marked "single mix/UFG" I've never heard of it.

While I realize that the paper stored in a basement is probably no good, is there any use for it?

Sirius Glass · Nov 27, 2015

Try the paper in new and fresh developer. It may be just fine.

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

I just got the OK from the better half to order some fresh paper so that I can do a print side by side with the older paper in the same developer. That should give me a bench mark to judge the outdated stuff. Being new to the darkroom, suggestions on a developer for Ilford RC paper?

Ronald Moravec · Nov 27, 2015

HC110 is beyond shelf life. Orange is no good.

Rodinal last 10 years in half full glass tightly sealed bottle, 1998 to 2008 is how I know. 2009 starts to show deterioration.

If the white borders show grey instead of pure white, paper has age fog. 15 years ago the paper was made so Ilford did not need to age it before sale. Downside is 2/3 year shelf life.

Doc W · Nov 27, 2015

Ron, HC-110 is legendary for its longevity. I have heard of people using HC-110 that was found in the pyramids and it worked fine (ok, I exaggerate a little). Orange = bad? Say it ain't so!

Have you had concrete experiences of using orange HC-110 with bad results?

480sparky · Nov 27, 2015

Hey..... putting just the hardware back in service is doing a great service. If the paper and soup is still serviceable, that's just icing on the cake!

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

So far, courtesy of Craigslist: I have set up my darkroom, excluding consumables, for $38. The recent Beseler 23C II, CB-7, trays, beakers, Paterson grain focuser, timers(Beseler repeating audible timer and a Gralab 300) 11x14 easel, thermometers, 2 Paterson film tanks and reels, etc. By the way, that also includes 35mm and med format Negatrans and standard 35mm negative carriers. I may pick

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

Ronald Moravec said:
HC110 is beyond shelf life. Orange is no good.

Rodinal last 10 years in half full glass tightly sealed bottle, 1998 to 2008 is how I know. 2009 starts to show deterioration.

If the white borders show grey instead of pure white, paper has age fog. 15 years ago the paper was made so Ilford did not need to age it before sale. Downside is 2/3 year shelf life.

How about the Rodinal?

palewin · Nov 27, 2015

The orange HC-110 should be fine, it slowly oxidizes to deep red, and amazingly still seems to work fine even at that color. If you are nervous, try it first on something not irreplaceable, but in my experience you will be fine. You can usually judge packaged developers by the color of the powder - if it is white, you are OK, if it is brown, it has oxidized and should be discarded. As you noted, the paper is probably past its "use by" date, although some printers use benzotrialol (?) as an anti-fog agent with outdated paper. It's worth an experiment. I have used it with outdated ZoneVI Brilliant, but while usable, it wasn't a match for fresh Ilford FB MG; your experience may differ.

John Koehrer · Nov 27, 2015

Rodinal.......If it's still liquid should be OK but like palewin says try it on something unimportant.

I think the expiration date is "not in your lifetime". Or thereabouts.

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

Thank You all. I've got some fresh chemicals and some fresh paper coming. I'll do a comparison with the fresh and the out dated papers.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 27, 2015

Tim Stapp said:
Craigslist score - sold for "FREE." Beseler 23 CII enlarger w/Nikor 50mm/2.8 lens, Beseler repeating timer, tons of chemicals, approximately 350 sheets of Ilford paper, more Kodak Photoflo than 10 people can use in a lifetime. Processing trays, film developing tank/reels, thermometers beakers, Paterson grain focuser, safelight, on and on.

Question: how good will HC 110 unopened be, along with a half bottle of Afga Rodinal? There is one each unopened packets of Microdol X and Technidol - any good? There is also a can of "ethol film developer" marked "single mix/UFG" I've never heard of it.

While I realize that the paper stored in a basement is probably no good, is there any use for it?

It was free;What are you worried about?Make some photographs for free for somebody

Tim Stapp · Nov 27, 2015

Well, I have to confess, I just finished some printing with the paper. Borders are a nice bright white. Interestingly enough, I used 10 ml of the Rodinal in 1 liter water and it worked. Wow! I'm geeked. My very first print, only took 5 before I remembered to stop the lens down!

Kirks518 · Nov 27, 2015

I used HC-110 that was about 25-35 years old. Unopened (factory sealed) bottle, and it was just fine. If you don't want it, I'll gladly buy it from you.

tomc · Nov 28, 2015

I've got some unopened plastic bottles of Iilford Paper Developer, Rapid Fixer, and Stop Bath. All are around 20 + years old. I'm going to try them on a few experiments also, just out of curiosity to see how they work.

mgb74 · Nov 28, 2015

I test outdated paper by comparing a strip that was unexposed but developed and fixed with a strip that was unexposed and just fixed (not developed).

I would never toss Rodinal, HC110, and chemicals in cans without testing them (unless the powder in the cans is brown).

blindpig · Nov 30, 2015

Old paper and developer works great for in-camera paper negatives(never throw stuff away without testing)IMHO.

wblynch · Nov 30, 2015

I used some brown HC-110 that I scooped out of the plastic tub it had leaked out of its cracked bottle into. Probably had been in there at least a year, exposed to air.

It worked fine!

Ashfaque · Dec 2, 2015

Congratulations Tim!

Ethol UFG is a very good developer. Unopened UFG can be used just like a fresh one. However, try it with 1-2 unimportant rolls before committing to it.

JW PHOTO · Dec 2, 2015

Ashfaque said:
Congratulations Tim!

Ethol UFG is a very good developer. Unopened UFG can be used just like a fresh one. However, try it with 1-2 unimportant rolls before committing to it.

It's also been discontinued and might be hard to find. I wouldn't recommend UFG unless I knew the OP had a big stash of it. Is UFG a good developer? Yes, a very good film developer, but why try to ride a dead horse. John W

Tim Stapp · Dec 2, 2015

The UFG will have a spot on the "Gone but not forgotten shelf."

Scored a Darkroom Dormant for 15+ years

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