Shelf Life of Metol and Hydroquinone?

haziz · Oct 4, 2015

I may want to stock up on some chemicals that would allow me to mix D76 or possibly D23.

What is the shelf life of Metol and Hydroquinone? What about Phenidone, if I want to go with a PQ developer?

I would probably leave them in their original sealed packages (probably sourced from Photographers Formulary).

Do these chemicals have any industrial use outside of the darkroom? Will we be able to get them in 20 years even if Kodak/Alaris and Ilford had gone belly up by then?

Sorry if my tone sounds alarmist.

Thanks.

Ian Grant · Oct 4, 2015

50 years + if stored reasonably well. I've all 3 developing agents made around 1960 and Phenidone with the Ilford 1961 code it works as well as the Phenidone I bought a couple of years ago.

Ian

Marco Buonocore · Oct 4, 2015

How would Hydroquinone keep in a 10% solution? It would be convenient for working with lith developers.

Ian Grant · Oct 4, 2015

These chemicals need to be kept dry in a dark environment.

Ian

Bob Carnie · Oct 4, 2015

Marco- did you ever get a good working lith developer formulation??

Marco Buonocore said:
How would Hydroquinone keep in a 10% solution? It would be convenient for working with lith developers.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 4, 2015

Metol and hydroquinone will keep for decades if kept in glass jars. Remember as with all chemicals store in a cool, dry place away from direct light. Phenidone in my experience does not keep as well but should still last for several years. The keeping properties of the two Dimezones are better than Phenidone. Stock solutions of developing agents even when they contain sodium sulfite as a preservative do not keep for more than a few weeks. Developers like D-76 are best made a day before use. This also applies to commercial pre-packaged developers. The activity of freshly made developers tends to vary for the first few hours.

Xmas · Oct 4, 2015

Don't worry you can make developer from

Pain killer
Drain cleaner
Wine steriliser

Or similar chemicals

Gerald C Koch · Oct 4, 2015

Or instant coffee, vitamin C and washing soda.

Marco Buonocore · Oct 4, 2015

Bob Carnie said:
Marco- did you ever get a good working lith developer formulation??

Hi Bob,

I have an A+B developer that is working alright right now; I'm very happy with the results. I'm using it for 4 8x10s at a time, and pitching it. Like a 1-shot developer. Having it as a liquid concentrate makes it less fussy than you'd think. It's nice because it's consistent; no waiting for a tray of developer to season, so wondering if it'll crap out on you. It's also nice because I can make a few lith prints, and then go back to regular processing. Maybe I'll bring some by your shop and see what you think. With that said, the developer needs improvements. I've got a friend who is an organic chemist and she is trying to figure a few things out.

Having a 10% solution of hydroquinone to give a boost in contrast for a flat paper, for example, would be a big help.

I haven't tried it with Ilford Warmtone yet - I know you like that paper to lith with. I'm using up piles of old Forte Polygrade and Agfa 118 and 111.

cliveh · Oct 4, 2015

haziz said:
I may want to stock up on some chemicals that would allow me to mix D76 or possibly D23.

What is the shelf life of Metol and Hydroquinone? What about Phenidone, if I want to go with a PQ developer?

I would probably leave them in their original sealed packages (probably sourced from Photographers Formulary).

Do these chemicals have any industrial use outside of the darkroom? Will we be able to get them in 20 years even if Kodak/Alaris and Ilford had gone belly up by then?

Sorry if my tone sounds alarmist.

Thanks.

Are you talking about sealed powder or liquid?

haziz · Oct 4, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Or instant coffee, vitamin C and washing soda.

Yes, but do I want to? I would rather stick to good old D76, possibly D23, or a mainstream PQ developer.

Sorry, I am just not too adventurous in this area!

Gerald C Koch · Oct 4, 2015

haziz said:
Yes, but do I want to? I would rather stick to good old D76, possibly D23, or a mainstream PQ developer.

Sorry, I am just not too adventurous in this area!

Unfortunately some people live in areas where it nearly impossible to get any developer or ingredients. In their case being able to develop film with commonly obtained ingredients becomes very important.

ColColt · Oct 4, 2015

Any ideas about Sodium Carbonate? I have some in large plastic containers bought back in the late 80's.

Xmas · Oct 4, 2015

haziz said:
Yes, but do I want to? I would rather stick to good old D76, possibly D23, or a mainstream PQ developer.

Sorry, I am just not too adventurous in this area!

Rodinal has been a developer since 1890 or so.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-18507.html

Gerald C Koch · Oct 5, 2015

ColColt said:
Any ideas about Sodium Carbonate? I have some in large plastic containers bought back in the late 80's.

The stable form of sodium carbonate is the monohydrate. The two other forms, the anhydrous and the decahydrate, will convert to the monohydrate when exposed to normal storage conditions. So if yours is the monohydrate you have nothing to worry about.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 5, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Or instant coffee, vitamin C and washing soda.

got any formulae? would be fun to try

Gerald C Koch · Oct 5, 2015

Coffee contains various compounds related to caffeic acid which is a substituted catechol. There are articles all over the net, here is one that gives a set of recipes and some pictorial examples.

http://caffenol.blogspot.com/

Shelf Life of Metol and Hydroquinone?

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