Suggest a 3rd b&w film developer to me

**Digitalis** · 12-04-2015, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by bobbotron

If/when I get into PyrocatHD, I'll probably use some mix of PEG and distilled water.

Sweet jesus, use propylene glycol [ C3H8O2 ] NOT polyethelene glycol [H-(O-CH2-CH2)n-OH] - those two are NOT the same compound. propylene glycol, like all low-molecular-weight alcohols, is soluble in all proportions in water. however there is a 0.4 differential in density at room temperature which means that if left standing for a long amount of time the two will separate. The reason why I have a preference for propylene glycol is because it is easier to get it absolutely pure, and that purity has a direct impact on developer longevity.

Last edited by Digitalis; 12-04-2015 at 06:06 PM.

drmoss_ca · 12-05-2015, 05:22 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

Sweet jesus, use propylene glycol [ C3H8O2 ] NOT polyethelene glycol [H-(O-CH2-CH2)n-OH] - those two are NOT the same compound. propylene glycol, like all low-molecular-weight alcohols, is soluble in all proportions in water. however there is a 0.4 differential in density at room temperature which means that if left standing for a long amount of time the two will separate. The reason why I have a preference for propylene glycol is because it is easier to get it absolutely pure, and that purity has a direct impact on developer longevity.

Polyethylene glycol may free up your artist's block in unexpected ways. Brand names include Lax-a-Day and Restor-a-Lax.

**ChrisPlatt** · 12-05-2015, 04:33 PM - **1 Like**

Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper.

Chris

**Alex645** · 12-05-2015, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper.

Chris

Ok, so now I am inspired to try to develop my next roll with Dr. Pepper! It shouldn't work, but there's so many chemicals in there, you never know. Average can is 355ml, and I use 290ml of working solution. What do you think....stock or should I dilute 1:1? If I dilute, I can get half a can for myself, and half the calories.

**Digitalis** · 12-05-2015, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper.

So that is why that stuff tastes gross to me....

bibz · 12-06-2015, 05:09 AM

Love Dr Pepper! And Xtol. Xtol kinda ruined my want to try the stainy stuff.

ambaker · 12-09-2015, 09:54 PM - **1 Like**

I'll add another vote for HC-110. The concentrate is easy to use, no powder mixing, and even after it is opened, it lasts nearly forever, if you don't develop all that often.

tuco · 12-10-2015, 05:06 PM - **1 Like**

In my 30 years of developing film, I find one-shot, long shelf life developers are way, way more convenient and give consistent results because you have a "fresh" mix each time. I can't speak for the rest of you but developers that age after mixing or require you to add additional development time after x-number of rolls have been processed were problematic for me.

A couple of scenarios I encountered often were the following. I'm ready to develop film I know I have some really good shots and do I mix a fresh batch of developer or risk developing this roll when the developer is less than optimal near its last of its capacity. Or you haven't developed anything for 5 months and, again, you have some good shots so do you risk developing on old developer near the end of its shelf life or mix a new batch?

I use to dump it out a mix a new bath and that was wasteful. But with one-shot developer that have a very long shelf life that is not a problem. And today I suspect most of us shoot film only part-time with digital filling the the rest of the time I suspect.

**bobbotron** · 12-10-2015, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by tuco

In my 30 years of developing film, I find one-shot, long shelf life developers are way, way more convenient and give consistent results because you have a "fresh" mix each time. I can't speak for the rest of you but developers that age after mixing or require you to add additional development time after x-number of rolls have been processed were problematic for me.

A couple of scenarios I encountered often were the following. I'm ready to develop film I know I have some really good shots and do I mix a fresh batch of developer or risk developing this roll when the developer is less than optimal near its last of its capacity. Or you haven't developed anything for 5 months and, again, you have some good shots so do you risk developing on old developer near the end of its shelf life or mix a new batch?

I use to dump it out a mix a new bath and that was wasteful. But with one-shot developer that have a very long shelf life that is not a problem. And today I suspect most of us shoot film only part-time with digital filling the the rest of the time I suspect.

Indeed, I really like Rodinal for that! (And to a less extend DD-X, which I use at a fast enough rate shelf life is not so much a problem.) I'll have to burn through this D76 fast enough to not worry about shelf life. At least it was pretty cheap.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best digital settings to emulate B&W film?	kodai84	Pentax K-30 & K-50	8	12-11-2015 02:46 PM
B&W film	sunshine7913	Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom	6	12-12-2014 03:41 AM
Using a Blue Filter in B&W Film	OrangeKx	Photographic Technique	3	09-28-2014 08:23 PM
What B&W film would you chaps recommend to me?	Dreamofgilgamesh	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	10	04-04-2011 03:08 PM
B&W Film vs Color Neg to B&W Conversion??	k100d	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	14	05-06-2009 08:52 AM

12-04-2015, 05:52 PM	#31
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by bobbotron If/when I get into PyrocatHD, I'll probably use some mix of PEG and distilled water. Sweet jesus, use propylene glycol [ C3H8O2 ] NOT polyethelene glycol [H-(O-CH2-CH2)n-OH] - those two are *NOT* the same compound. propylene glycol, like all low-molecular-weight alcohols, is soluble in all proportions in water. however there is a 0.4 differential in density at room temperature which means that if left standing for a long amount of time the two will separate. The reason why I have a preference for propylene glycol is because it is easier to get it absolutely pure, and that purity has a direct impact on developer longevity. Last edited by Digitalis; 12-04-2015 at 06:06 PM.

12-05-2015, 05:22 AM	#32
drmoss_ca Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 520	Originally posted by Digitalis Sweet jesus, use propylene glycol [ C3H8O2 ] NOT polyethelene glycol [H-(O-CH2-CH2)n-OH] - those two are *NOT* the same compound. propylene glycol, like all low-molecular-weight alcohols, is soluble in all proportions in water. however there is a 0.4 differential in density at room temperature which means that if left standing for a long amount of time the two will separate. The reason why I have a preference for propylene glycol is because it is easier to get it absolutely pure, and that purity has a direct impact on developer longevity. Polyethylene glycol may free up your artist's block in unexpected ways. Brand names include Lax-a-Day and Restor-a-Lax.

12-05-2015, 04:33 PM - 1 Like	#33
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,693	Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper. Chris

12-05-2015, 05:18 PM	#34
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper. Chris Ok, so now I am inspired to try to develop my next roll with Dr. Pepper! It shouldn't work, but there's so many chemicals in there, you never know. Average can is 355ml, and I use 290ml of working solution. What do you think....stock or should I dilute 1:1? If I dilute, I can get half a can for myself, and half the calories.

12-05-2015, 05:28 PM	#35
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt Polyethylene glycol is listed among the ingredients of Dr Pepper. So that is why that stuff tastes gross to me....

12-06-2015, 05:09 AM	#36
bibz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newcastle, AU! Posts: 276	Love Dr Pepper! And Xtol. Xtol kinda ruined my want to try the stainy stuff.

12-09-2015, 09:54 PM - 1 Like	#37
ambaker Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 45	I'll add another vote for HC-110. The concentrate is easy to use, no powder mixing, and even after it is opened, it lasts nearly forever, if you don't develop all that often.

12-10-2015, 05:06 PM - 1 Like	#38
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	In my 30 years of developing film, I find one-shot, long shelf life developers are way, way more convenient and give consistent results because you have a "fresh" mix each time. I can't speak for the rest of you but developers that age after mixing or require you to add additional development time after x-number of rolls have been processed were problematic for me. A couple of scenarios I encountered often were the following. I'm ready to develop film I know I have some really good shots and do I mix a fresh batch of developer or risk developing this roll when the developer is less than optimal near its last of its capacity. Or you haven't developed anything for 5 months and, again, you have some good shots so do you risk developing on old developer near the end of its shelf life or mix a new batch? I use to dump it out a mix a new bath and that was wasteful. But with one-shot developer that have a very long shelf life that is not a problem. And today I suspect most of us shoot film only part-time with digital filling the the rest of the time I suspect.

12-10-2015, 05:22 PM	#39
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349 Original Poster	Originally posted by tuco In my 30 years of developing film, I find one-shot, long shelf life developers are way, way more convenient and give consistent results because you have a "fresh" mix each time. I can't speak for the rest of you but developers that age after mixing or require you to add additional development time after x-number of rolls have been processed were problematic for me. A couple of scenarios I encountered often were the following. I'm ready to develop film I know I have some really good shots and do I mix a fresh batch of developer or risk developing this roll when the developer is less than optimal near its last of its capacity. Or you haven't developed anything for 5 months and, again, you have some good shots so do you risk developing on old developer near the end of its shelf life or mix a new batch? I use to dump it out a mix a new bath and that was wasteful. But with one-shot developer that have a very long shelf life that is not a problem. And today I suspect most of us shoot film only part-time with digital filling the the rest of the time I suspect. Indeed, I really like Rodinal for that! (And to a less extend DD-X, which I use at a fast enough rate shelf life is not so much a problem.) I'll have to burn through this D76 fast enough to not worry about shelf life. At least it was pretty cheap.