Frozen xtol

I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

regards, sorry for my english :-)

Lorenzo

"Fëdor Pavlovic'" wrote in message
...
I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this
film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer
pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year
or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

regards, sorry for my english :-)

Lorenzo

Ciao Lorenzo,

I don't know with film size you use but with 5 liters of Xtol, you may
develop up to 50 rolls 135-36 one-shot.
Chemically, the minimal quantity is 100ml per roll. After that it depends of
your tank specs and agitation method.
Using rotation, you can really go down to this minimal quantity.

I managed to keep Xtol stock solution useful over two years which much, much
more what it is supposed to do.
I mix it with demineralized water (not true distilled water, it is a ion
exchange principle), store it in the dark in 4x 1-liter glass bottles (the
pharmacy kind, brown but not absolutely opaque), the rest in 100ml glass
bottles (same kind) which each make a single dose.
Once the 100ml are empty, I fill them using a 1-litert bottle.
As these bottles contains somewhat more than the nominal quantity, the
1-liter bottles are filled completely with stock solution, so I need less
than 10 small bottles and these are filled with 100ml of stock + some water
to fill it completely.
When I dilute it (with 135-36, usually 1+1), I just add (tap) water up to
200ml before development.

Several have expected failures much before this, part of the problems were
related to the old 1-liter package, part not really explained.
Some mentionned a strong sensitivity to metals like iron and/or copper.
Difficult to know the exact cause but failure reports seem to be less these
times.
My advice: if you like Xtol (and you can, it's one of the best all-around
developers), try to find a preparation method that assures you a long
shelf-life and stick with it. I've never had a single failure in several
years.

If you don't want to bother with all these bottles, you may try these
special sprays to reduce oxydizing (Tetenal Protectan, ...).
This gaz is heavier than air and floats over the liquid making a layer
between the developer and air.
Since I read the formula of the Protectan (a mix of Butane/Propane), I've
switched to lighter gaz which is similar but much less expensive.
I do not use it for Xtol but for color processes.

You should be careful when freezing a water-based liquid as it may broke a
glass bottle (water expands when frozen).
Freezing may certainly limit the oxydation but I'm afraid that when going
liquid again, some components may cristallize and be difficult to make
soluble again. Weel, take this last comment with caution as I've never done
it myself ...

Good luck
--
Claudio Bonavolta
http://www.bonavolta.ch

"Fëdor Pavlovic'" wrote in message
...
I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this
film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer
pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year
or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

regards, sorry for my english :-)

Lorenzo

Ciao Lorenzo,

I don't know with film size you use but with 5 liters of Xtol, you may
develop up to 50 rolls 135-36 one-shot.
Chemically, the minimal quantity is 100ml per roll. After that it depends of
your tank specs and agitation method.
Using rotation, you can really go down to this minimal quantity.

I managed to keep Xtol stock solution useful over two years which much, much
more what it is supposed to do.
I mix it with demineralized water (not true distilled water, it is a ion
exchange principle), store it in the dark in 4x 1-liter glass bottles (the
pharmacy kind, brown but not absolutely opaque), the rest in 100ml glass
bottles (same kind) which each make a single dose.
Once the 100ml are empty, I fill them using a 1-litert bottle.
As these bottles contains somewhat more than the nominal quantity, the
1-liter bottles are filled completely with stock solution, so I need less
than 10 small bottles and these are filled with 100ml of stock + some water
to fill it completely.
When I dilute it (with 135-36, usually 1+1), I just add (tap) water up to
200ml before development.

Several have expected failures much before this, part of the problems were
related to the old 1-liter package, part not really explained.
Some mentionned a strong sensitivity to metals like iron and/or copper.
Difficult to know the exact cause but failure reports seem to be less these
times.
My advice: if you like Xtol (and you can, it's one of the best all-around
developers), try to find a preparation method that assures you a long
shelf-life and stick with it. I've never had a single failure in several
years.

If you don't want to bother with all these bottles, you may try these
special sprays to reduce oxydizing (Tetenal Protectan, ...).
This gaz is heavier than air and floats over the liquid making a layer
between the developer and air.
Since I read the formula of the Protectan (a mix of Butane/Propane), I've
switched to lighter gaz which is similar but much less expensive.
I do not use it for Xtol but for color processes.

You should be careful when freezing a water-based liquid as it may broke a
glass bottle (water expands when frozen).
Freezing may certainly limit the oxydation but I'm afraid that when going
liquid again, some components may cristallize and be difficult to make
soluble again. Weel, take this last comment with caution as I've never done
it myself ...

Good luck
--
Claudio Bonavolta
http://www.bonavolta.ch

"Claudio Bonavolta" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
"Fëdor Pavlovic'" wrote in message
...
I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this
film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer
pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year
or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

regards, sorry for my english :-)

Lorenzo

Ciao Lorenzo,

I don't know with film size you use but with 5 liters of Xtol, you may
develop up to 50 rolls 135-36 one-shot.

I use 120 roll. my tank contain 600 cc

Chemically, the minimal quantity is 100ml per roll. After that it depends of
your tank specs and agitation method.
Using rotation, you can really go down to this minimal quantity.

I managed to keep Xtol stock solution useful over two years which much, much
more what it is supposed to do.
I mix it with demineralized water (not true distilled water, it is a ion
exchange principle), store it in the dark in 4x 1-liter glass bottles (the
pharmacy kind, brown but not absolutely opaque), the rest in 100ml glass
bottles (same kind) which each make a single dose.

Ok is the same for me.

Once the 100ml are empty, I fill them using a 1-litert bottle.
As these bottles contains somewhat more than the nominal quantity, the
1-liter bottles are filled completely with stock solution, so I need less
than 10 small bottles and these are filled with 100ml of stock + some water
to fill it completely.
When I dilute it (with 135-36, usually 1+1), I just add (tap) water up to
200ml before development.

Several have expected failures much before this, part of the problems were
related to the old 1-liter package, part not really explained.
Some mentionned a strong sensitivity to metals like iron and/or copper.
Difficult to know the exact cause but failure reports seem to be less these
times.
My advice: if you like Xtol (and you can, it's one of the best all-around
developers), try to find a preparation method that assures you a long
shelf-life and stick with it. I've never had a single failure in several
years.

If you don't want to bother with all these bottles, you may try these
special sprays to reduce oxydizing (Tetenal Protectan, ...).
This gaz is heavier than air and floats over the liquid making a layer
between the developer and air.
Since I read the formula of the Protectan (a mix of Butane/Propane), I've
switched to lighter gaz which is similar but much less expensive.
I do not use it for Xtol but for color processes.

You should be careful when freezing a water-based liquid as it may broke a
glass bottle (water expands when frozen).
Freezing may certainly limit the oxydation but I'm afraid that when going
liquid again, some components may cristallize and be difficult to make
soluble again. Weel, take this last comment with caution as I've never done
it myself ...

Good luck

many thanks Claudio.

"Fëdor Pavlovic'" wrote:

I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

This might be useful:

http://canid.com/xtol_faq.html

When stored in glass amber bottles to the very top, I've had Xtol last over
a year with no ill effects.

Usually, I use it up in about 6 months or so at 1:3 with 76 rolls.

With any of the Kodak tmax films, be sure to observe the 100 ml of developer
per roll. Should be easy enough with the 1:1 dilution you're using. I've
had success using 63 ml of developer per roll with Fuji films. Tmax, on the
other hand, requires 100 ml per roll. My understanding is that's part of
the reason Kodak stopped publishing times for 1:3 dilutions.

--
Eric
http://canid.com/

"Fëdor Pavlovic'" wrote:

I use xtol on TMY, in my opinion is one of the best developer for this film, but I use
xtol only for TMY, for other film (acros 100, efke 25 and AX100) I prefer pyro PMK. so
5 lt. of xtol is too much, using it 1+1 is about 16 film, about one year or more.
Is a bad idea frozen in bottle of 1 lt ?

This might be useful:

http://canid.com/xtol_faq.html

When stored in glass amber bottles to the very top, I've had Xtol last over
a year with no ill effects.

Usually, I use it up in about 6 months or so at 1:3 with 76 rolls.

With any of the Kodak tmax films, be sure to observe the 100 ml of developer
per roll. Should be easy enough with the 1:1 dilution you're using. I've
had success using 63 ml of developer per roll with Fuji films. Tmax, on the
other hand, requires 100 ml per roll. My understanding is that's part of
the reason Kodak stopped publishing times for 1:3 dilutions.

--
Eric
http://canid.com/

I managed to keep Xtol stock solution useful over two years which much, much
more what it is supposed to do.

I bought the first pack of Xtol yesterday, and reading it I begin
being less worried about its life.

I mix it with demineralized water (not true distilled water, it is a ion
exchange principle),

Why not distilled water?

store it in the dark in 4x 1-liter glass bottles (the
pharmacy kind, brown but not absolutely opaque), the rest in 100ml glass
bottles (same kind) which each make a single dose.
Once the 100ml are empty, I fill them using a 1-litert bottle.

Your method seems quite simple, but don't you think that in this way
Xtol gets more air-contact?
I bought also a 2.5 litres bellows-brown-plastic-bottle. So 2.5
litres are absolutely not in contact with air, the other stock
solution in other smaller bottles of the same kind.


If you don't want to bother with all these bottles, you may try these
special sprays to reduce oxydizing (Tetenal Protectan, ...).
This gaz is heavier than air and floats over the liquid making a layer
between the developer and air.
Since I read the formula of the Protectan (a mix of Butane/Propane), I've
switched to lighter gaz which is similar but much less expensive.
I do not use it for Xtol but for color processes.

Why not for Xtol? Are there any risk to contaminate it?

Another italian in r.p.d.



......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it

I managed to keep Xtol stock solution useful over two years which much, much
more what it is supposed to do.

I bought the first pack of Xtol yesterday, and reading it I begin
being less worried about its life.

I mix it with demineralized water (not true distilled water, it is a ion
exchange principle),

Why not distilled water?

store it in the dark in 4x 1-liter glass bottles (the
pharmacy kind, brown but not absolutely opaque), the rest in 100ml glass
bottles (same kind) which each make a single dose.
Once the 100ml are empty, I fill them using a 1-litert bottle.

Your method seems quite simple, but don't you think that in this way
Xtol gets more air-contact?
I bought also a 2.5 litres bellows-brown-plastic-bottle. So 2.5
litres are absolutely not in contact with air, the other stock
solution in other smaller bottles of the same kind.


If you don't want to bother with all these bottles, you may try these
special sprays to reduce oxydizing (Tetenal Protectan, ...).
This gaz is heavier than air and floats over the liquid making a layer
between the developer and air.
Since I read the formula of the Protectan (a mix of Butane/Propane), I've
switched to lighter gaz which is similar but much less expensive.
I do not use it for Xtol but for color processes.

Why not for Xtol? Are there any risk to contaminate it?

Another italian in r.p.d.



......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it

I would like to ask you both a question.

I think I understood your method of keeping Xtol, and you're right.
Less air contacts.

After preparing Xtol I'm going to keep 2.5 litres of stock solutions
in one bellows brown plast bottle.
The other 2.5 liters could be store in 7 250ml bottles + 7 100ml
bottles.
I will have so the 350 ml stock solution to fill up my two 35mm tank
(690ml for two films).

Do you think it's a good way?

Why are you using amber glass bottles instead of blak plastic ones?

Thanks.

......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it

I would like to ask you both a question.

I think I understood your method of keeping Xtol, and you're right.
Less air contacts.

After preparing Xtol I'm going to keep 2.5 litres of stock solutions
in one bellows brown plast bottle.
The other 2.5 liters could be store in 7 250ml bottles + 7 100ml
bottles.
I will have so the 350 ml stock solution to fill up my two 35mm tank
(690ml for two films).

Do you think it's a good way?

Why are you using amber glass bottles instead of blak plastic ones?

Thanks.

......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it