XTOL shelf life report

[John Wiegerink]

Well it is a good thing that I am not a golfer. Old golfers just loose their balls and putter away.

I know many old golfers that still have their balls and putter, but their stroke is way, way off or nonexistent.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I've been successfully using bladders from this wine box from Trader Joes for years and they work great. I think they're polypropylene. I use them for XTOL that I use to replenish my working solution. I also do the same with my HC-110.

I'm such a wino that I use once and throw them out. I have quite a few still to be filled with chemistry.

Dead Link Removed

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Why use wine bladders?
Ikea sells 1lt bottle for just nothing.
Grab 'em and you'll never have problems, guaranteed.

I'm sure they're great. But for partially full containers, bladders have an advantage of collapsing to expel air which is an enemy of most developers. Wine too.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I'm sure they're great. But for partially full containers, bladders have an advantage of collapsing to expel air which is an enemy of most developers. Wine too.

Yes, I agree and it's why I use them. Plus, I have them stored above my darkroom sink with the spigots overhanging the shelf. So easy to get what you need that way. Handy, handy, handy! Did I say they were handy?

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

You can burst a little canned air in, or Tetenal protectan. They work great!
This way I've achieved almost 1.5years of shelf life.

It's great stuff. I still use a 30 year old plus can of Beseler XDL spray. The stuff is heavier than air so it sinks down to the chemicals. A little goes a long way.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Yes, I agree and it's why I use them. Plus, I have them stored above my darkroom sink with the spigots overhanging the shelf. So easy to get what you need that way. Handy, handy, handy! Did I say they were handy?

I do the same thing on my darkroom shelf. I have 4 wine boxes. A box for XTOL replenisher, HC-110 replenisher, concentrated hypo clear and Dektol paper developer. Doesn't take much room either. Yes handy! A fringe benefit of being a wino.

 

[mnemosyne]

Why use wine bladders?

Because they are simply the best storage solution available for developer in terms of handling convenience, safety, and getting the maximum life out of a batch of Xtol stock. And the price is unbeatable at 0.75 € a piece for a 5 liter bag.

 

[mjork]

For ultimate convenience, I'm using a 2 gallon plastic storage tank with floating lid and spigot. That way I can mix the 5 liters of Xtol right in the same container used for dispensing.
I don't trust the floating lid to keep out the oxygen completely. When I did that, the Xtol went bad after about 8 month. So now I'm adding Protectan spray on top of the floating lid. I don't have long-term data for that approach yet. It's been only a few month so far.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

For ultimate convenience, I'm using a 2 gallon plastic storage tank with floating lid and spigot. That way I can mix the 5 liters of Xtol right in the same container used for dispensing.
I don't trust the floating lid to keep out the oxygen completely. When I did that, the Xtol went bad after about 8 month. So now I'm adding Protectan spray on top of the floating lid. I don't have long-term data for that approach yet. It's been only a few month so far.

I used replenished XTOL. I use the batch that I replenish in a wine bladder. My working solution I have it in the 2 liter polyethlyne container which I fill all the way. When I'm using my developer from my container of working solution of XTOL and it's partially full, I dump 70mls of fresh developer to replenish. When I'm ready to put my used developer back into my working batch, I top off my container removing any air. I've used a replenished working solution for over a year by replenishing it. I have to keep an eye on the strength of my working solution of XTOL. Sometime I under replenish and my negs get a little thin. Since the replenisher is just straight XTOL, I can't over replenish. The system works well for me.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I used replenished XTOL. I use the batch that I replenish in a wine bladder. My working solution I have it in the 2 liter polyethlyne container which I fill all the way. When I'm using my developer from my container of working solution of XTOL and it's partially full, I dump 70mls of fresh developer to replenish. When I'm ready to put my used developer back into my working batch, I top off my container removing any air. I've used a replenished working solution for over a year by replenishing it. I have to keep an eye on the strength of my working solution of XTOL. Sometime I under replenish and my negs get a little thin. Since the replenisher is just straight XTOL, I can't over replenish. The system works well for me.

I use my Xtol exactly the same way. Wine bladder for the replenisher and a brown Boston gallon jug "topped" for the working developer. I use 80ml as a normal replenish, but if I have went a while since I used it I'll sneak in a 100ml. I'm in the 1 year bracket also and no problems so far. I really like this setup and it's the easiest, most rewarding way to develop film so far. My only stumble was when I emptied my developing tank and instead of putting it and the 80ml fresh back in the jug I dumped it down the drain. Old habits die hard!

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I use my Xtol exactly the same way.

Great minds think alike.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Great minds think alike.

Yours might be, but mine.............?????? I just like easy, very/excellent good, economical, more environmentally friendly and convenient. It really doesn't take a great mind to figure that out.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Yours might be, but mine.............?????? I just like easy, very/excellent good, economical, more environmentally friendly and convenient. It really doesn't take a great mind to figure that out.

Those are all the reasons why I like replenished developers. Also, replenished developer have a certain look that I like. I discovered that with HC-110. I still use HC-110 replenished. I was lucky enough to find 6 bottles of the replenisher on Ebay for a song. HC-110 replenisher I have to use carefully. I can over replenish pretty fast.

 

[TareqPhoto]

So it is about XTOL shelf life, what about that XTOL box shelf life if not opened not mixed at all? I still have my XTOL stored since years, maybe 4 or 5 i can't remember, is it still valid good to be mixed or it is just gone?

Once i will mix it i will make sure i will shoot so many films so i don't need to store the mixed chemical for long, and i will go with 1:1 if that is one dil of XTOL, if not then i just will developer more films in that big tank for 120 or even for 4x5 so i can run out the dev as soon as possible once mixed.

 

[pentaxuser]

I still have my XTOL stored since years, maybe 4 or 5 i can't remember, is it still valid good to be mixed or it is just gone?QUOTE]

Properly sealed packets of dry chemicals should still be good. The Xtol packet falls into this category.

pentaxuser

 

[TareqPhoto]

I see, hope it is good enough when i will open it, in all cases i must use it sooner or later as long i bought it long time and i am soon planning to return back to film photography, and i can always test one film in advance, hope it is still good.

 

[bernard_L]

Be careful of the wine bladders.
They used to be made of mylar and they were perfect for this application.
Around here they seem to have all transitioned to a thicker plastic and are no longer impermeable to oxygen. So they aren't as well suited to developer storage.

+1
Have 1+year old Dektol still good in wine bladder with shiny metal look (vacuum deposited Aluminum?); so far so good. Was given another wine pouch: translucent, thicker, might be HDPE; I have some doubts (sorry don't have the equipment to measure Oxygen diffusion).

 

[Joel_L]

My Xtol is now 4 years old. I have not been been out with my cameras for a very long time ( I have 4 year old Xtol ). Today I decided to grab one of my cameras ( used my first gen Canon F-1 ) and shoot a roll of film. Ran the roll around the house just for this developer test. I process in the Xtol at 1:1 using published times for the film I'm using ( today, Delta 400 ). There was a little precipitate in the developer which went away with a little agitation. I processed the roll and the results were fine. I'm still fighting dust issues in my processing area ( basement ). If I can get a clean scan, I'll post a sample.

 

[bernard_L]

My Xtol is now 4 years old.(...snip...) I processed the roll and the results were fine.

Interesting: factual, first-hand information. Going back to your original post: you use Argon, what is the Rest Of Us supposed to use? I suppose one could use a "spray duster"; but how long should one spray?

 

[Joel_L]

I don't think what you use is so important al long as it is heavier than air ( probably want it to be safe also ). I would think a can of protectant spray will go a long ways. As far as how long to spray, I have a nozzle that I stick into the bottle so it's just above the chemical ( I usually start the gas flow before I stick it in so that I don't get that sudden burst and splash ). Once the nozzle is in, I just slowly back it out while flowing, maybe takes three seconds or so. I don't think you need to carefully purge the whole empty space, just need that boundary layer.

If I ever get out to really shooting more, I will probably dump what I have left and mix a fresh batch ( because of the precipitate even though it seemed to dissolve ). As long as I'm just in this test the developer mode, I'll hold on to it. Maybe just keep it along with the fresh batch to keep testing just for grins.

Interesting: factual, first-hand information. Going back to your original post: you use Argon, what is the Rest Of Us supposed to use? I suppose one could use a "spray duster"; but how long should one spray?

 

[John Wiegerink]

I don't think what you use is so important al long as it is heavier than air ( probably want it to be safe also ). I would think a can of protectant spray will go a long ways. As far as how long to spray, I have a nozzle that I stick into the bottle so it's just above the chemical ( I usually start the gas flow before I stick it in so that I don't get that sudden burst and splash ). Once the nozzle is in, I just slowly back it out while flowing, maybe takes three seconds or so. I don't think you need to carefully purge the whole empty space, just need that boundary layer.

If I ever get out to really shooting more, I will probably dump what I have left and mix a fresh batch ( because of the precipitate even though it seemed to dissolve ). As long as I'm just in this test the developer mode, I'll hold on to it. Maybe just keep it along with the fresh batch to keep testing just for grins.

Yes, I think the only thing important, as far as what gas you use, is that it's heavier than air/oxygen. I've used Acetylene gas from my torch set, but finally just settled on an old propane torch to gas my container off. Some folks say it's dangerous to use a highly flammable gas, but for the small amount used I scoff at that notion. Besides, I don't smoke in my darkroom or out of it, so the chances of ignition are very slim.

 

[Tony-S]

Wine bladder for me, too. I'm especially lazy.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Wine bladder for me, too. I'm especially lazy.

I use Xtol replenished and my working stock is in a gallon glass jug topped off, but my Xtol replenisher is in a wine bladder. Works for me!

 

[Joel_L]

It's been a while since I've taken any shots. Today I decide to grab my 1/8 tour car to see if this XTOL is still working ( same batch, ya, I know ).
Anyway, very happy with the results and impressed it is still going strong. Now if I could only solve my dust problem.

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

Now if I could only solve my dust problem

I live in a very dusty, small place and god only knows where it all comes from. All of my fixes have come down to filtering the chemistry on its way into the beaker I use to measure the dilution and pouring amount, or using a vinyl record anti-static zapper to help release dust before blowing it away.