Using expired HC110 syrup

[Alex Muir]

I have a part-used bottle of HC110, the syrup type. There is still a large amount in the bottle, but it is way out-of-date. I think it expired in 1997. I have tried it and it still seems to work. Can anyone tell me if it should work as intended, or if there is likely to be some form of deterioration in its quality? Is it a case of it either works, or not, or is it likely to develop the film but give a lesser quality result? I will use it if is capable of giving results to the original standard. I don't want to throw it out if it can be used. Thanks for any advice. Alex.

 

[jcoldslabs]

I've used HC-110 that old or older that had oxidized to a deep brown color and it worked just fine. Still, shooting and developing a test roll or sheet would be a good idea to make sure.

Jonathan

 

[cjbecker]

Same here.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

As far as I can tell, HC-110 doesn't go bad. I've used it when It's a dark brown too and it doesn't lose it's strength. Tell me if I'm wrong. I think it's because the developer is suspended in glycerol instead of water.

 

[anikin]

Actually, it does go bad. It just takes longer. I once bought a case of HC110 in old square bottles and it produced absolutely no images - blank film. So test it before you use it.

 

[Роберт]

The regular life span of HC-110 is 3-4 years. Unless you're filling up in seperate glass bottles it gives some extra years.

 

[Alex Muir]

Thanks for the replies. The colour is still yellow/orange, rather than brown. I will try it out soon on something not too important.

 

[Whiteymorange]

I've had one batch of HC110 go bad, and that was a square bottle dated to the early 80's. The stuff I'm using now supposedly went belly up in 2006–it works great.

 

[pgomena]

It has a long, longe life in concentrate form. I used to mix the stock solution from concentrate and put it into smaller bottles. The stock would eventually darken, but I used it anyway without noticeable loss of quality in the final images. HC-110 is pretty robust stuff.