Tri X, HP5 and Pyrocat

Being back in LF for about a year after 40 years, I am at the beginning of my learning curve, and have settled on Pyrocat HD for a developer. Film is a different thing.

Developing was in ss tanks, 4000ml of solution, 5x7 film in ss hangers.

I shot the same scene this weekend with Tri X and HP5 Ilford, developed six negative of each in pyrocat HD 2:3:100 semi stand with 60 sec lift and tilt agitation 12 min stand, lift and tilt 3 times for two additional 12 min periods, so a total of 36 min stand with agitation every 12 min.
I used the mfg asa rating, 320 and 400 and got amazing differences. The tri x was much more developed and stained than the HP5, to the point that half of the HP5 negs were too thin to seriously consider using, and two of the tri x negs were too dark to really consider printing.

Any ideas about what is going on here? I am getting some new Ilford film,
perhaps since this is two years out of date, although frozen most of that time, it may be the culprit.
Any wisdom would be appreciated

Hi Herb!
I`m not surprised that the Tri-X came out dense, with such a hot soup.
I don`t have my notes here, but I developed TXP with a 1.5:1:100 or 1:1:150 dilution with the exact same agaitaion and time, and got good neatives.

Don't throw out the thin ones before you try to print one of them, you may be in for a surprise.

Tri X HP5 and pyrocat semi stand

Good to hear the reports. As soon as possible I will be repeating the test, although I will probably go to Ilford or Efke film, as I don't have a lot of Tri x
and the yellow peril is not in film for the long haul, IMHO.

I'm not sure what you're trying to prove with the developing test. It just shows that the Ilford film will need more time in the developer. I seriously doubt two years out of date will be aproblem. I used some 4x5 FP4 that expired in 1984 a couple of months ago, and it was just fine. If you can, do some testing while developing in trays, and use a dark green safelight, turn the light on after your 36 minutes and inspect the negs, if they need more time, let them soak for another period of time, turn the light on again and inspect, and so on until you find a good time for your negs.

- Thom