stability of metol

[luxikon]

Phenidone is said to lose its potency after about six months, when kept as the dry chemical. How does metol (as powder) behave?

Klaus

 

[Ian Grant]

Rubbish Phenidone lasts extremely well 40+years, I only finished some made in 1962 last year. It behaved no differently than the new batch I bought. Commercial Phenidone is a derivative usually Phenidone-Z of the original compound Patented by Kendall

Metol also keeps well if stored properly, again 40+ years.

Ian

 

[Don Wallace]

Ian, you have had the same batch of phenodine since 1962? I have visions of your house looking like something out the 19th century, with little knick-knacks everywhere, antimacassars on all the chairs, a clock ticking quietly. Do you perhaps drive a 1959 Rover?

 

[Ian Grant]

Don, I had rather a lot of Phenidone at one time as I worked as a photochemistt in the late 70's & 80's. I actually bought the Phenidone around 1976 but the Ilford code showed it waqs made in 1962.

The original Phenidone Kendall made late 30's wasn't stable and it was around 1952 Ilford began commercial production of Phenidone-Z which is stable but less soluble in water.

I do have a 70's Austin 1300GT

Ian

 

[Photo Engineer]

Both phenidone and metol can last a long time! Storage conditions are a large part of how well both of them keep. I agree totally with Ian. Phenidone can last a long time.

I have Metol that is 5 years or more old and it is still good.

PE

 

[Don Wallace]

I do have a 70's Austin 1300GT

Aha, I KNEW it! Very cool, btw.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have Metol that was made before 1961, the supplier stopped trading or was taken over around then,it still works perfectly, I have kilos of it.

Ian

 

[J. Miller Adam]

Phenidone-powered MGT

But which one works better, the Phenidone or the MG?

 

[Kirk Keyes]

The one without Lucas electrics works better...

 

[Smudger]

Ah yes ; as the joke went."Lucas - the Prince of Darkness "

 

[Dave Pritchard]

Don, I had rather a lot of Phenidone at one time as I worked as a photochemistt in the late 70's & 80's. I actually bought the Phenidone around 1976 but the Ilford code showed it waqs made in 1962.

The original Phenidone Kendall made late 30's wasn't stable and it was around 1952 Ilford began commercial production of Phenidone-Z which is stable but less soluble in water.

I do have a 70's Austin 1300GT

Ian

I used to have a Spitfire (actually two, one was for spares). These are a good way to save on gas. (Lots of tinkering, not much driving).

 

[nworth]

I agree with Ian. I have some phenidone that is about 25 years old and seems to still be as good as when I got it. It has become slightly more yellow, but not much. I haven't done any analysis on it, but functionally it is still as good as when it was new. Metol is at least as good. I've had metol that was 10 years old, and it looked and functioned as well as when it was new. I've seen reports of 60 year old MQ developers that still functioned up to specifications. These chemicals are extremely stable when kept clean, cool, and dry.

 

[bill h]

Mixed up some D23 last night with Elon from the '60s, and it still seems good as ever. I'm going to need some more in another five years, I think...
-bill h