Should I toss my Rodinal

BetterSense · Feb 25, 2015

Ok, I've heard that Rodinal lives forever, however, the last inch in my bottle is crystallized so bad it's like a half-melted slushy. I had this problem with the last bottle I had to...and I seem to remember the last roll or two didn't turn out so well.

Is this crystallization problem universal? I measure out my Rodinal with a small 10ml graduate. The crystals probably re-dissolve as soon as they hit the water, but why does it happen in the first place? Would it make sense to add a few ml of water to the bottle in hopes of re-dissolving the crystals?

piu58 · Feb 26, 2015

If the devloper gets contact with the air, it absorbs carbon dioxide. This forms carbonate in the solution, which is less soluble and produces crystals.

Nothing to worry about.

r-brian · Feb 26, 2015

The normal procedure to reintroduce something back into solution is to raise the temperature of the solution. Try putting the bottle into a fairly warm water bath before using it and see if it thins out.

Dennis S · Feb 26, 2015

I usually never let a bottle go down so much. Usually the last .25 of the bottle gets donated to paper developer. I would not even risk developing film with that amount that's left. Your film is a bit more expensive than trying waste bad chems on it.

gone · Feb 26, 2015

Agreed. When in doubt, throw it out.

zanxion72 · Feb 26, 2015

Why not testing it. Use a few test frames from a cheap roll, throw it in the tank and try some stand development with a few ml from the developer.
By the end of the development take out the film have a brief look at it and you will see if it is still useable. Most likely it will be.

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 26, 2015

BetterSense said:
Ok, I've heard that Rodinal lives forever, however, the last inch in my bottle is crystallized so bad it's like a half-melted slushy. I had this problem with the last bottle I had to...and I seem to remember the last roll or two didn't turn out so well.

Is this crystallization problem universal? I measure out my Rodinal with a small 10ml graduate. The crystals probably re-dissolve as soon as they hit the water, but why does it happen in the first place? Would it make sense to add a few ml of water to the bottle in hopes of re-dissolving the crystals?

Can I ask what size is your bottle?
There is a 120ml bottle that might suit you better if you don't develop films frequently.
I use Fomadon R09 in 250ml bottles and I might use one every 2 months or so even with 1+100 dilution, so I don't see any crystallization.

R.Gould · Feb 26, 2015

Iv'e used the remains of a bottle of Rodinal in the state you describe and it worked fine

mauro35 · Feb 26, 2015

I once happened to use a several decades old, almost empty bottle of Rodinal. The very little developer left in it was heavily crystallized as you describe. The roll of 35mm film I developed with it turned out barely usable, it did not develop properly. I would say it makes sense to discard and open a new bottle.

Michael W · Feb 26, 2015

I've had barely developed film from Rodinal as described and would chuck it.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 26, 2015

BetterSense said:
Ok, I've heard that Rodinal lives forever, however, the last inch in my bottle is crystallized so bad it's like a half-melted slushy. I had this problem with the last bottle I had to...and I seem to remember the last roll or two didn't turn out so well.

Is this crystallization problem universal? I measure out my Rodinal with a small 10ml graduate. The crystals probably re-dissolve as soon as they hit the water, but why does it happen in the first place? Would it make sense to add a few ml of water to the bottle in hopes of re-dissolving the crystals?

the problem is not with Rodinal.the problem is with people not shooting and developing enough film.You already use the longest lasting developer. Isuggest to shoot more or start mixing your chemicals from bulk materials to have fresh when you need it once in a blue moon.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 26, 2015

I'm so sure its fine that if you decide to toss it I'll pay you the shipping cost to ship it to me so I can use it.

Xmas · Feb 26, 2015

Hi

The rule book for the concentrated para amino phenols (e.g. Rodinal) is :

do not add water
do not filter
do not decant
screw the cap back on
use to last drop

Ive used to last drop over 25 years storage of a 1/4 full bottle. But if you don't know the provenance or have broken a rule discard.

The bottles have oodles of crystals cause the solution is saturated and will crystallise without a problem, the solution will change colour to strong back tea as well.

Arvee · Feb 26, 2015

I am down to the last 1/4 inch in my current bottle and will finish it off this week. It is a blackish orange and is just viscous enough to pour into the graduate. It still develops the film normally. I have been using original Rodinal for the last 10 years and I see no difference from the beginning of the 500ml bottle to the end. I cleaned out my source when Agfa announced they were discontinuing Rodinal, still have 1L stored.

removed account4 · Feb 26, 2015

dances_w_clouds said:
I usually never let a bottle go down so much. Usually the last .25 of the bottle gets donated to paper developer. I would not even risk developing film with that amount that's left. Your film is a bit more expensive than trying waste bad chems on it.

I don't use rodinal but if I did i might follow this train of thought ..

pentaxuser · Feb 26, 2015

You've got about 50/50 or is that 60/40 for using and not using the remains of the Rodinal. Not really a surprise for a large forum

Why even waste a few frames of a cheap film when you can test it for nothing by cutting the leader and developing that for the requisite time. If the leader goes black sufficiently to only see the filament of a lit tungsten light bulb as a dull glow then I'd say you are good to go.

pentaxuser

MattKing · Feb 26, 2015

Pour the remnants into a new, almost full bottle of the same stuff.

Report in a couple of years when that bottle is nearly done.

heespharm · Feb 26, 2015

MattKing said:
Pour the remnants into a new, almost full bottle of the same stuff.

Report in a couple of years when that bottle is nearly done.

Coming from a chemistry background I would not recommend this... Yes chances are things might be okay but why introduce potential contaminants... Just toss out the bottle when the liquid is more crystal than liquid... Rodinal is neither valuable or rare... It lasts forever and can be made very very easily... It'll be around forever

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MattKing · Feb 26, 2015

heespharm said:
Coming from a chemistry background I would not recommend this... Yes chances are things might be okay but why introduce potential contaminants... Just toss out the bottle when the liquid is more crystal than liquid... Rodinal is neither valuable or rare... It lasts forever and can be made very very easily... It'll be around forever

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Almost certainly excellent advice.

Of course, I use replenished HC-110, so I clearly have a different viewpoint

heespharm · Feb 26, 2015

MattKing said:
Almost certainly excellent advice.

Of course, I use replenished HC-110, so I clearly have a different viewpoint

Hahah I have the same opinion about hc110... Lasts forever, not expensive... I've never made any so I don't know how easily it's made but probably not that difficult...

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BetterSense · Feb 26, 2015

At this rate HC110 is much more lasting than Rodinal. I have had this crystallization issue with the last bits of my last 2 bottles of Rodinal. I think maybe I should get some 100ml bottles and split each new bottle of Rodinal up when I get it.

heespharm · Feb 26, 2015

BetterSense said:
At this rate HC110 is much more lasting than Rodinal. I have had this crystallization issue with the last bits of my last 2 bottles of Rodinal. I think maybe I should get some 100ml bottles and split each new bottle of Rodinal up when I get it.

It still works fine with th crystallization... It's a non issue until it gets more crystal than liquid

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piu58 · Feb 27, 2015

> split each new bottle of Rodinal up when I get it.

This i fine idea which I practice. The amount of air which the last drop has "seen" is remarkably less. I open 10 100 ml bottle 10 times before it is finished, but 500 ml bottle 50 times. Beside this I discard the last few milliliters.

Roger Cole · Feb 27, 2015

heespharm said:
Hahah I have the same opinion about hc110... Lasts forever, not expensive... I've never made any so I don't know how easily it's made but probably not that difficult...

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My understanding is that HC110 is almost impossible to make. Even the knock-off Arista LC110 or whatever they call it is much thinner so clearly not actually the same thing. Whether it works the same I don't know.

removedacct1 · Feb 27, 2015

heespharm said:
Coming from a chemistry background I would not recommend this... Yes chances are things might be okay but why introduce potential contaminants... Just toss out the bottle when the liquid is more crystal than liquid... Rodinal is neither valuable or rare... It lasts forever and can be made very very easily.

Agreed. It's not like it's especially costly developer, so unless you don't have access to other developer(s) and you desperately need to get the film done now, it's not worth risking your film on the dregs of that Rodinal bottle.

That said, I was given a full (but opened) bottle of original Rodinal by a friend last summer - dating back to 1984/85 - and it works exactly as it should. As long as you're not using the last ten mls. of sludge on the bottom (more solid than liquid) there's no reason to think really old Rodinal isn't still viable! Mind you, it doesn't hurt to test it first on a clip of exposed leader to see if it's active - if you have any doubts at all.

Should I toss my Rodinal

BetterSense

piu58

r-brian

Dennis S

gone

zanxion72

Ricardo Miranda

R.Gould

mauro35

Michael W

RalphLambrecht

Richard S. (rich815)

Xmas

Arvee

removed account4

pentaxuser

MattKing

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heespharm

MattKing

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heespharm

BetterSense

heespharm

piu58

Roger Cole

removedacct1

Should I toss my Rodinal

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