sodium metaborate (Kodalk) instead of Borax?

Harry Lime · Mar 14, 2008

I'm mixing up some divided D76 and was curious if I can substitute sodium metaborate (Kodalk) for Borax in bath 'B'?

Thanks

jim appleyard · Mar 14, 2008

Not directly. Sod. Metab has a higher pH and therefore higher contrast and more grain.

Harry Lime · Mar 14, 2008

I see.

Thanks.

MikeK · Mar 14, 2008

Harry Lime said:
I'm mixing up some divided D76 and was curious if I can substitute sodium metaborate (Kodalk) for Borax in bath 'B'?

Thanks

I don't see why you could not substiture Kodalk for Borax. You might want to experiment with the amount you would need. Kodak did publish the formula for a Kodalk variant of D76 called, you guessed, DK76;

Water 2.0 liters
Metol 8.0 grams
Sodium Sulfite 400 grams
Hydroquinone 20 grams
Kodalk 8.0 grams
Water to 4 liters

divide by 4 to get the weights etc for 1 liter. This should give you a starting point for the amount of Kodalk. In my book, Elementary Photographic Chemistry by Eastman Kodak, they state using this formula for getting maximum shadow detail with the Panatomic range of films.

You might get some grain increase but you never know until you try it

Have fun

Mike

Snapshot · Mar 14, 2008

I've substituted borax with sodium metaborate and haven't seen a noticeable increase in grain. However, I do reduce the amount of sodium metaborate (usually by 1/3 of the original of borax).

Harry Lime · Mar 15, 2008

thanks everyone

Maine-iac · Mar 15, 2008

Harry Lime said:
I'm mixing up some divided D76 and was curious if I can substitute sodium metaborate (Kodalk) for Borax in bath 'B'?

Thanks

I almost always use Kodalk (metaborate) rather than borax in my film developer, even for 400 speed film, with no noticeable increase in grain over borax.

It's slightly more active, so reduces developing time somewhat, which I like.

I use teaspoons to measure instead of grams, and 1 tsp. per liter has worked well for me, though I tend to use phenidone and ascorbic acid (Vit. C) rather than metol and sulfite, though I've used metaborate with both with good results.

For me, with my equipment (yours may be different), I find that if I rate my Delta 400 film at 250, and develop for 6'45" at 70 degrees with agitation once every minute for 5 sec., I get very nice negs with lots of shadow detail, and long tonal scale.

Larry

Maine-iac · Mar 22, 2014

I used sodium metaborate always instead of borax. It helps to shorten the development time and doesn't add to grain noticeably. You can find many formulas online in the forums--some of mine are in the darkroom forum, including those made with Phenidone and Vitamin C rather than metol and hydroquinone.

presspass · Mar 23, 2014

Using Metaborate as a second bath was championed by the late Barry Thornton, although it was with a D-23 derivative. Anchell also noted that you can use borax, metaborate, and sodium carbonate as second baths, each increasing the grain and contrast. I prefer borax as a second bath when used with straight D-23 and 400 speed 35mm film as it does give less grain. The amounts are not identical, however.

sodium metaborate (Kodalk) instead of Borax?

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