Using old FB paper?

I've got partly full boxes of the following FB paper that I bought between 2001 and 2004:

Forte Polywarmtone Multigrade
Forte Cooltone Multigrade
Oriental Seagull Multigrade
Ilford Multigrade
Kentmere Kentone Grade 2

All these papers have been kept continuously refrigerated at 6 degrees Celsius since day of purchase.

I used these papers during this period in my darkrooom until I went digital in 2004. Well after 3 years of computer manipulation and inkjet printing I am now returning to my darkroom on grounds of quality.

Can anyone suggest whether these papers are still usable and if so whether there is anything I can do to improve their quality. I am experienced in mixing my own chemistry and still have a variety of chemicals. Also I used to test the above papers to determine each one's preflash exposure. If the papers are stll OK would the preflash exposure still be the same after these years or should I retest them?

The only way to know is to test them, but I would guess that they are probably OK, especially the 2004 stuff, and especially if they have been refrigerated.

There's no reason why these papers shouldn't be fine unless they were stored in warm damp conditions.

In my darkroom some papers I use are up to 20 years old, others are still useable and about 30 to 40 years old, Kodak Bromesko & Bromide, Lfobrom etc. I was having a clearout and before throwing away tested each box and was quite surprised.

Ian

I've used old papers that were stored at room temperature and the only problems that I've ssn so far is that the contrast drops after they get really old.

- Randy

Its relatively easy to use even old papers that have a bit of age fog, if you will add benzotriazole to your developer tray solution. The amount needed (quite small) is by trial and error. You will have to compensate by extending your exposure and developing times.