shelf life (kallitype chemistry)

[Tel]

I did a search on this but got no definitive results. I've got dry kallitype chemistry from 2013 that I suspected was past its use-by date. So I bought a B&S kit and did some prints with it, but the developer ran out long before the sensitizers. Took a chance and mixed up new dev with the old sodium citrate and it worked fine. Which makes me wonder if the ferric oxalate and the silver nitrate are still good too. All dry powder from Artcraft, stored in original containers. Not stored cool, though they were out of the light and tightly sealed. Any thoughts most welcome.

 

[fgorga]

The silver nitrate is very likely still good, especially if it show no sign of discoloration.

I less certain about the ferric oxalate. But if it has stayed dry and stored dark my guess is that it is also still good.

I'd mix up small amounts of the required solutions and do a test with a step wedge.

 

[Tel]

Many thanks! I'll forge ahead then...

Update: the ferric oxalate has a slight green tint. The silver nitrate is in a sealed bag inside the can and it's pure white--guessing that's good.

 

[fgorga]

From what I read anhydrous (without water) ferric oxalate is pale yellow and at least one hydrate is green. Thus, I suspect that your stash has picked up a little water over the years.

It is probably OK, but the only way to know for sure is to do a test run.

 

[Tel]

Thanks again. I'll make up a little solution and do a test.

 

[Tom Taylor]

According to Dana Sullivan at B&S the ferric oxalate powder should be good for decades - he said he has used some that was as much as 35 years old. The question arose because I have the green FO which I got from them a few years back and they now advertise the yellow FO so I called. It should appear as a fine powder - like powdered sugar in appearance.

Thomas

 

[Tel]

Good news--thanks! I'm nearly out of sodium citrate, so I think I'll try to emulate the B&S black dev (sodium acetate and tartaric acid) and plow ahead. I got a pretty nice sepia tone with the sodium citrate but I like the deeper black from the B&S developer formula better.

 

[Tel]

Off-topic a bit, but anybody here interested in a copy of Dick Stevens' "Making Kallitypes" book? I know it's hard to find and I could probably sell it and make some money but I'd rather it went to someone who'll actually use it. The technical info in there is well beyond what I need and it's really wasted on someone like me.

 

[thefizz]

Off-topic a bit, but anybody here interested in a copy of Dick Stevens' "Making Kallitypes" book? I know it's hard to find and I could probably sell it and make some money but I'd rather it went to someone who'll actually use it. The technical info in there is well beyond what I need and it's really wasted on someone like me.

I’d be interested in this. Happy to pay shipping.

 

[Tel]

It's yours. How's shipping to Ireland these days?

 

[thefizz]

It's yours. How's shipping to Ireland these days?

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