Tetenal C-41 Stabilizer: particles

Hi,

looked through some of the treads about stabilizer, but I didn't find what I was looking for.

Developed a roll of C-41 film yesterday, the 4th in a Tetenal 1 litre kit. It had been about a month since I last used it. And of course, I didn't check the stuff before using it.

As I poured in the stabilizer, I notices some white-ish particles in there. Too late, of course. So, now, after drying, this stuff is attached to my film here and there.

1) Any idea what these particles can be? Has my STAB gone bad already?
2) Can I safely re-immerse the film in (filtered or new) STAB later on (hoping that the particles will wash off)?



Thinking about the particles some more...
Even in almost boiling hot water, they did not dissolve. Actually, hm, I'm thinking, it looked just like calcium. And ...ahem... I did use regular tap water to mix my chemicals on this occasion. Could it be that simple?...

It could be calcium. You should filter this solution. I also wipe down my film with a couple of photo sponges when I hang it up. I dip the sponges in stabilizer (or wetting agent-depending on C-41 or B/W) and gently wipe, and this would get rid of particles.

PHOTOTONE said:

It could be calcium. You should filter this solution. I also wipe down my film with a couple of photo sponges when I hang it up. I dip the sponges in stabilizer (or wetting agent-depending on C-41 or B/W) and gently wipe, and this would get rid of particles.

Click to expand...

Note to self: RTFM.

Just re-read the booklet for the Tetenal kit, and indeed: "Result: whitish spots on dry film", "Possible cause: Calcium spots, water too hard". D'oh!

Probably I didn't notice this with the 3 previous films because I was pouring it out of the storage bottle much slower, much more carefully, leaving the calcium suspended in said bottle. I was pouring rather vigurously the other day...

Was the stabilzer a liquid or a powder.

Powder forms of stabilzer are very difficult to work with. They contain paraformaldehyde which is difficult to dissolve. Kodak stopped using it in the 50s due to this problem.

If it is a liquid kit this should not be the problem, it is most likely the calcium.

PE

Photo Engineer said:

Was the stabilzer a liquid or a powder.

Powder forms of stabilzer are very difficult to work with. They contain paraformaldehyde which is difficult to dissolve. Kodak stopped using it in the 50s due to this problem.

If it is a liquid kit this should not be the problem, it is most likely the calcium.

PE

Click to expand...

Hi PE,

the stabilizer was mixed from a liquid concentrate. So, calcium seems like the logical thing.

Thanks!