Shelf life of Dektol

[norm123]

Hi
I like to use Dektol but I found that is shelf life is short. Don't you? When I did saying 2 hours, maybe 10-15 11x14 FB sheets of paper, it's done. Can we add something to stock solution to give more longevity?

Best regards

Norm

 

[Craig]

Capacity is 31 8x10's per litre, which is the same area as 16 11x14 prints. So it's quite possible you've exhausted the developer.
As a working solution, life is 1 working day, as a stock solution 6 months in a tightly sealed bottle, 2 months in a part full bottle.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I have had no problem with Dektol lasting thru a printing session.

 

[BradS]

Capacity is 31 8x10's per litre, which is the same area as 16 11x14 prints. So it's quite possible you've exhausted the developer.
As a working solution, life is 1 working day, as a stock solution 6 months in a tightly sealed bottle, 2 months in a part full bottle.

I've used Dektol and the home brew equivalent, D-72 for decades. All of my empirical evidence does not conflict with Kodak's recommendations (quoted above).

 

[studiocarter]

Stock Dektol straight in a gallon bottle with an air space from Oct 2016 was used successfully Dec 2017 on movie film neg straight 10min but no longer works as of yesterday so I dumped it out

 

[silveror0]

Consider switching to Liquidol, developed by our friend Photo Engineer (Ron Mowrey) and available from Photographers' Formulary in Montana. B&H also sells it for the same price but at lower shipping cost. Note that it's described as producing prints similar to Dektol. Its shelf/tray life is vastly longer than Dektol. You can search threads here for discussions mentioning Liquidol, where Ron describes its shelf/tray life. I'm a convert.

http://stores.photoformulary.com/liquidol-paper-developer/
Tech info: http://photoformulary.homestead.com/02-0200.pdf

...I like to use Dektol but I found that is shelf life is short. Don't you? When I did saying 2 hours, maybe 10-15 11x14 FB sheets of paper, it's done. Can we add something to stock solution to give more longevity?

 

[norm123]

Consider switching to Liquidol,

Interesting, I'll consider this product.
Thank you

 

[Craig]

I don't believe liquids can be shipped cross border. Whenever I have ordered Pyro from the Formulary I've had to drive to the US to get it.

 

[MattKing]

I don't believe liquids can be shipped cross border. Whenever I have ordered Pyro from the Formulary I've had to drive to the US to get it.

B&H will ship to me in British Columbia Kodak HC-110 developer, Kodak Polymax T developer, Kodak T-Max RS developer, Kodak Photo-flo, Kodak Kodafix fixer and Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner - all liquids.
The ones they won't ship to me they won't ship in general.
The US Post office won't allow shipment of liquids.

 

[silveror0]

...The US Post office won't allow shipment of liquids.

Not true, Matt, as a general statement. Some liquids are "mailable", but under strictly controlled conditions. If you wade through all the legal mumbo jumbo in the USPS website (I gave up after a few minutes of review), you'll see what I mean.

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_001.htm

 

[MattKing]

Not true, Matt, as a general statement. Some liquids are "mailable", but under strictly controlled conditions. If you wade through all the legal mumbo jumbo in the USPS website (I gave up after a few minutes of review), you'll see what I mean.

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_001.htm

Correct - it seems to be section 451 that applies.
If you go to the US Post Office though to mail something, as likely as not you will hear "you can't mail liquids".
B&H probably aren't willing to fulfill the Post Office's packaging requirements.