Xtol: need to "age" for a day?

ymc226 · Mar 28, 2010

Can you use Xtol as soon as you mix it or do you have to wait overnight? I thought I read somewhere results were more consistent if freshly mixed Xtol was allowed to sit overnight?

hrst · Mar 28, 2010

No need to "age" anything. Just make sure that all (or practically all) of the solid matter is dissolved.

However, you might want your water to "age" for a few minutes to a hour before mixing your Xtol to allow air to leave water.

Ronald Moravec · Mar 29, 2010

There is but one way to tell, do a small 6 frame test.

D76 needs to be aged for sure. Xtol at least until it naturally cools to room temp.

hrst · Mar 29, 2010

Why does D76 need to be aged? Is this official information from the manufacturer?

Laurent · Mar 29, 2010

hrst said:
No need to "age" anything. Just make sure that all (or practically all) of the solid matter is dissolved.

About dissolving, I had some surprinsgly good results last time I mixed a batch. I agitated like hell while pouring, and kept agitating until the "cloudy" aspect of part A+ water disappeared.
My arm ached after that, but there were almost no left crystals at the end the process.

Anon Ymous · Mar 29, 2010

hrst said:
Why does D76 need to be aged? Is this official information from the manufacturer?

Reasonable explanation from the usual suspect in (there was a url link here which no longer exists) and (there was a url link here which no longer exists) thread.

Ronald Moravec said:
...D76 needs to be aged for sure. Xtol at least until it naturally cools to room temp.

You can always mix Xtol at room temperature. I've successfully mixed Xtol at 18C, the lowest recommended by Kodak. Temperature increased to 21C while mixing.

markbarendt · Mar 29, 2010

No need to age Xtol.

D76 and ID11 don't need to age either, they just need to cool back to room temp.

Ian Grant · Mar 29, 2010

hrst said:
Why does D76 need to be aged? Is this official information from the manufacturer?

All these developers need to age and yes manufacturers recommended mixing a few hours before use, this is to allow the equilibrium reactions of the buffers etc to take place.

Ideally they are bestleft overnight, but in practice2-3 hours is usually sufficient.

Ian

Anscojohn · Mar 29, 2010

Ian Grant said:
All these developers need to age and yes manufacturers recommended mixing a few hours before use, this is to allow the equilibrium reactions of the buffers etc to take place.

Ideally they are bestleft overnight, but in practice2-3 hours is usually sufficient.

Ian

************
In ye oldene dayz I was taught to prepare all powdered chemistry the day before. I still do it.

keithwms · Mar 29, 2010

Another vote for waiting a day or at least a few hours. In the case of D76/ID11, the water that goes in will be warm so you'll have to wait anyway; with xtol you don't have that issue but how do you actually tell when everything is fully dissolved? Unless you strain it... so yes, just be patient and leave it a few hours at least.

eclarke · Mar 29, 2010

If your development temperature is not really, really accurate your results will be haphazard...EC

Xtol: need to "age" for a day?

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