Working solution vs Stock ? do u use?

The books all mention to make a stock solution, then dilute it to make a working solution when you need it.
With very limited space for bottles, i've been using just stock 1:1 Tmax and Dektol and D-76.
Is that ok? Do you all make 1:2, 1:4 solutions to use? thanks
ez

With a solvent developer like D-76, the solvent effect is stronger if the developer is more concentrated, so stock will give you less grain and the results will be softer, but 1+3 will give you sharper grain. With Dektol the issues are more economy, consistency, and having a reasonable development time, so most people make a stock solution and dilute 1+2, discarding it after use.

If you dilute, you don't need more room for bottles, because you typically would discard the diluted solution after using it. In fact you need less room, because the stock solution fits into a smaller bottle than dilute solution.

ezwriter said:

The books all mention to make a stock solution, then dilute it to make a working solution when you need it.
With very limited space for bottles, i've been using just stock 1:1 Tmax and Dektol and D-76.
Is that ok? Do you all make 1:2, 1:4 solutions to use? thanks
ez

Click to expand...

It depends on the chemistry, but generally if there is a choice available, I use more dilute options.

For Tmax developer, you must dilute the concentrate - 1 +4?

I don't use those developers, but with the film developers I do use, I always use them one shot and discard. My reasoning is that I'm just not that desperate to save a pennies at the expense of absolutely consistent behavior in my developing. Paper developer I make a working solution and develop to completion. When the times get longer, out it goes.

With a limited space your making the situation worse by storing greater volumes, also cutting the shelf life of the over diluted stock solutions very significantly.

Make up and store as the manufacturers advise.

Ian

Thanks for the tips! For Tmax (liguid) i mixed it 1:4 per instructions and been saving it, dumping out after 10 rolls or so. So i guess thats my working solution.
Didnt know about the 1:3 for sharper grain, thats what i'm looking for so will be using D76 that way now.

Now if i could just figure out how to only see New posts here.....

ezwriter said:

Now if i could just figure out how to only see New posts here.....

Click to expand...

If you haven't already done so, Log In.

Look up to the top right corner of the page - you will see something like "Welcome, ezwriter"

Under that you will see "XX New Posts" where XX is the number of new, unread posts

Click on that link, and you will see a list of all threads with posts that you haven't read.

When you have read the threads you are interested in, click on the "Mark Forums Read" link on the grey toolbar at the top - that will mark everything as having been read by you. Next time you log in, and click the New Posts link, you will see a list of only those threads that have activity since you marked the Forums Read.

Hope this helps.

PS, you can also find threads you have started with the My Threads link.

Stock solutions are what the name implies: for storage of concentrated chemicals in a smaller space. Working solutions need to be much weaker, so dilute to the proper strength before use.

Some stock solutions, such as concentrated fixer, will not even work undiluted. Concentrated developer solutions will overdevelop your film, concentrated stop bath will destroy your film. Just "do the right thing" and follow the directions.

Best,

Doremus

www.DoremusScudder.com