Strange developer deterioration

[Ian Grant]

Yesterday I went into my darkroom for my first printing session in 6 months. I'd run out of my usual print developer (ID-78) so opened a bottle of Agfa Neutol WA. The developer looked fresh, no darkening etc but had a strong ammonia smell once mixed up.

What surprised me most was the developer heavily fogged the test strips, I've no idea how old the bottle is, but I'd guess at least 6 or 7 years so I can't complain. I've never seen a developer deteriorate in this way before.

With fresh ID-78 the printing session was back to normal

Ian

 

[R gould]

I have had similer problems with both ilford multigrade,fotospeed multigraade and ilford wt, it is always in the summer whem my darkroom has got very hot and with mixed developer, and goes when the developer cools down, I have always put it down to the developer over heating and so store my chemicals outside my darkroom in the summer months,Richard