Shelf life of powdered D76/Dektol in sealed cans?

Gnomad · Dec 6, 2008

Looks like I'm back in the analog photo world again-just made a pickup of a Durst F30 and misc supplies and stuff off a Craigslist posting, the price was right-free!

Part of the haul is about a case worth of Dektol powder in still sealed cans, quart size, and a gallon size can of D76, still sealed. What does the public think about the chances of the stuff still being usable? It is sealed in the cans, OTOH, it is surely decades old by now. I started in photography back in 1976 or so and don't recall seeing dry chemicals packed in cans, for me it was always pouches.

There is also a couple bottles of indicator stop bath, still pink, and some photo-flo. Oh yeah, a bulk film loader with film still inside. I'd try it, but I don't have any reloadable cassettes.

jim appleyard · Dec 6, 2008

I've used some old cans myself and to be honest, you just never know. I've had some that were just fine (chemistry inside was, depending on the formula, white to light tan) and others which were dark brown, gone bad.

Open one, see for youself, do a test roll and give it a whirl. However, like you said, the price was right!

df cardwell · Dec 6, 2008

What Jim says. Congrats on your new Durst !

Assume this: The activity of every developer solution needs to be proven,
whether it is new or old. Make a few simple exposures of a driveway, street or sky for your normal middle gray,
give the strip of film your target development time,
and see what happens. Judge the film with a contact print, and adjust the time as needed.
It is usually just fine.

If you test your developer every time you have important important pictures,
then you only have to remember one thing, all the time !

(is this the advice of a guy that's getting old ?)

jim appleyard · Dec 6, 2008

df cardwell (is this the advice of a guy that's getting old ?)[/QUOTE said:
"It's not the years, it's the mileage" Indiana Jones

panastasia · Dec 6, 2008

I have one can of DEKTOL and will probably never open it, I like to see it on the shelf - I like old things that you can't buy anymore - if I open it is gone forever. It's like one of those half full, unopened, old cans of beer. I've only been shown one of those in my life. A curiosity item. Or, maybe I don't drink enough beer.

jovo · Dec 6, 2008

I have a small can of D76 that I, too, will never open. It still bears the sticker from the "Korvettes" store where it was purchased by my dad probably in the neighborhood of 50 years ago. The price is $.69...man, there are sooooo many reasons that would make a Way-Back-Machine a priceless treasure!!

DannL · Dec 6, 2008

My current stock of D76 in cans was manufactured Sept '63. It's fine.

nworth · Dec 6, 2008

If the cans remain well sealed, the life is just about forever. Look for damage and rust that may compromise the seal. When you open the can, look for any unuaual discoloration or clumping. If it all loos right, it probably is.

df cardwell · Dec 6, 2008

jovo said:
...man, there are sooooo many reasons that would make a Way-Back-Machine a priceless treasure!!

Why didn't you ask ? I'll bring mine over...yesterday !

Pat Erson · Dec 6, 2008

I'd discard the film developer and try the paper dev. for the simple & logical reason that you can redo a print ruined by bad dev. but you can't do the same with a film.

131802 · Dec 6, 2008

I'll bet an internet beer the powdered chemicals are okay. I've used 20-year-old D76 powder without any problems. Might not want to chance your pulitzer prize on them, but you should definitely give the powdered stuff a try. The liquids and the film, on the other hand, hmmmm. Say, what's going on in Wasilla these days?

jlpape · Dec 6, 2008

jovo said:
It still bears the sticker from the "Korvettes" store where it was purchased by my dad probably in the neighborhood of 50 years ago.

E.J. Korvettes... we used to go there all the time when i was a kid. Did he live in the Chicago area at the time, or were there Korvettes in NY as well?

R W Penn · Dec 7, 2008

Chicago stores had a good stock of photo/darkroom stuff.

jmxphoto · Dec 7, 2008

panastasia said:
It's like one of those half full, unopened, old cans of beer. I've only been shown one of those in my life. A curiosity item. Or, maybe I don't drink enough beer.

Are you sure it wasn't one of these:
http://www.preventsecurity.com/productdetails.asp?c=27&s=-1&sub=-1&p=584

Maybe he kept his stash in it :munch:

I kid, I kid!

jovo · Dec 7, 2008

jlpape said:
E.J. Korvettes... we used to go there all the time when i was a kid. Did he live in the Chicago area at the time, or were there Korvettes in NY as well?

The Korvettes store was in a suburb of Philadelphia not too far from where we lived. As a kid, I had not had a sense of the impermanence of things until the "Robert Hall" clothing chain, and "E.J. Korvettes" chain closed.

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 7, 2008

You don't need reloadable cassettes. Go to a local lab and ask for a few empty 35mm cassettes. Noritsu machines (not sure about any other) pull the film out of the cassette and cut the film 1" off the spool. You can simply tape the film (securely!) to the end of the film on the spool and wind the cassette with something suitable (wooden dowel with a slot cut out or even your fingers). Or figure out how to wind it in your loader.

Some people prefer this as you don't need to resuse them and therefor they tend to stay in better shape having only been used once. Plus there is an essentially endless supply.. Don't even need a bulk loader really, just have to enjoy the dark.

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 7, 2008

I should note that if you use a 35mm camera with a strong motor drive, you _may_ rip the film away from the tape. I've never experienced this as I don't use motor drives. Thin tape works best, something that isn't gummy. You don't want a big flap of tape sticking out.

Shelf life of powdered D76/Dektol in sealed cans?

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Shelf life of powdered D76/Dektol in sealed cans?

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