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#1
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When does XTOL _really_ go bad
Hi,
According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
#2
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You can test it with a piece of enlarging paper.
See: www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol "Phil Glaser" wrote in message om... Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
#3
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"Phil Glaser" wrote in message om... Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil Do you mean a partially filled bottle or one that's had the cap off for two months. Assuming you mean the former Kodak's life numbers are very conservative. The only way to really tell is to develop some film and see if the density and contrast are as expected. A test with a fogged scrap of film will tell if the developer works at all but not if its developing as expected. -- --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA |
#4
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"Phil Glaser" wrote in message om... Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil Do you mean a partially filled bottle or one that's had the cap off for two months. Assuming you mean the former Kodak's life numbers are very conservative. The only way to really tell is to develop some film and see if the density and contrast are as expected. A test with a fogged scrap of film will tell if the developer works at all but not if its developing as expected. -- --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA |
#6
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(Phil Glaser) wrote in message . com...
Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil I've developped a couple of weeks ago some films with XTol prepared the 30th March of 2002. This means more than 2 years and a half lifespan. I still keep some of this batch to see if it can reach the 3 years, I won't be able to test much further than this, I have only a few left. I posted pretty recently on this NG (thread on ID-11 replacements) how I prepare and store it, nothing special by the way, just common sense: -------------------------------------------------------------------- - demineralized water - part A *must* be fully diluted before adding part B, ambient temperature water is used. - stir without inserting air in the mixture - brown glass bottles (pharmacy kind) fully filled (4x 1-liter + the rest in 100ml) - once the 100ml bottles are all empty, I fill them again with one 1-liter bottle - 100ml is the minimum quantity for a 135-36 roll - the 100ml bottles contain slightly more, as I use it 1+1, I just add some more water to fill completely the bottle, then I complete up to 200ml for processing. - bottles stored in the dark -------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Claudio Bonavolta http://www.bonavolta.ch |
#7
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In my limited experience with Xtol it's a bit "sneakier" than most
developers when it goes bad. It doesn't change color or get an off odor, makes it tricky. If I were still running a big sink line I'd just monitor developer activity with BW control strips, but not feasible with the volume I am now running so I just use a different developer and one-shot it. -- darkroommike ---------- "Phil Glaser" wrote in message om... Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
#8
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In my limited experience with Xtol it's a bit "sneakier" than most
developers when it goes bad. It doesn't change color or get an off odor, makes it tricky. If I were still running a big sink line I'd just monitor developer activity with BW control strips, but not feasible with the volume I am now running so I just use a different developer and one-shot it. -- darkroommike ---------- "Phil Glaser" wrote in message om... Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
#9
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Phil,
This may not be a true test, but shouldn't it give some clue to use the suspect Xtol to develop a test strip printed on photo paper without an incorporated developer??? Also, a few years ago someone on this group suggested using the mylar bladder in a boxed wine to store developer. I mix a 5 liter pack of Xtol in only 3 liters of water and store this "concentrate" in a 3 liter wine bag. Not long ago I found that the mylar bags can be obtained from vendors of wine making supplies. Bob ------------------- Phil Glaser wrote: Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
#10
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Phil,
This may not be a true test, but shouldn't it give some clue to use the suspect Xtol to develop a test strip printed on photo paper without an incorporated developer??? Also, a few years ago someone on this group suggested using the mylar bladder in a boxed wine to store developer. I mix a 5 liter pack of Xtol in only 3 liters of water and store this "concentrate" in a 3 liter wine bag. Not long ago I found that the mylar bags can be obtained from vendors of wine making supplies. Bob ------------------- Phil Glaser wrote: Hi, According to Kodak's instructions, an opened bottle of full-strength XTOL lasts two months. I have a bottle that was opened two months and one week ago. I have no doubt that two months is conservative and that I can still use this bottle. But I'm wondering if there is some way to know when it's no good any more, or if other folks have had experiences with XTOL's longevity to suggest some guidlines (I'd hate to have to toss this down the toilet!). Thanks! --Phil |
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