D76 dilution instructions

[sweat100]

After reading teh diagrams on how to dilute D76, i got a litle confused. My example is a packet of 415g of D76. Use 3 litres of water and pour the packet of powder inside. Then stir to dissolve. Now here is the confusion. Do I add 800ml of water to mixed solution or top up the dissolved solution to 3.8 litres. This is because by adding in the powder, there is an increase in the overall volume of the solution. So which is true?

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by sweat100 After reading teh diagrams on how to dilute D76, i got a litle confused. My example is a packet of 415g of D76. Use 3 litres of water and pour the packet of powder inside. Then stir to dissolve. Now here is the confusion. Do I add 800ml of water to mixed solution or top up the dissolved solution to 3.8 litres. This is because by adding in the powder, there is an increase in the overall volume of the solution. So which is true?

Is the package says to make 3.8 litres? that means the final total volume is 3.8 litres, so does not mean you adding 800ml to it.

[sweat100]

Originally Posted by catchlights Is the package says to make 3.8 litres? that means the final total volume is 3.8 litres, so does not mean you adding 800ml to it.

Gosh! It said to make US 1 gallon which is 3.78 litres. I have doing it the wrong way then! Then I face a problem now. I usually dont disslove the full packet as i cant finish. Store too long in liquid form and it will go bad. Does anyone do dissloving bit by bit? How do you manange with the dilution ratio then?

[hondasleeper]

How are you storing your gallon of D76?

I have heard of people doing this and apparently they are able to keep their chemicals for extended periods of time.

You know those containers of wine that you can buy by the gallon? I'm not too sure if you can get them here but in the US you can get them in any grocery store. Basically you have to finish the wine, make sure you get a wine that you like drinking, it's not going to be grest wine but I guess it'll do. Wash the foil like container and put your D76 into it.

The reason why your chemistry goes bad is because it is exposed to the air and oxidises and so goes bad. If yo can find a way to store the chemistry without exposing to the air the chemistry will last longer. You can alternatively find something to float on top of your chemistry minimising the exposure to the air. Or you can breakup you gallon of chemistry and store it in 1 litre bottles and keep them in a cool dark place. Not too sure how long it will last.

I hope this helps out. Good luck!!!

[catchlights]

just mixed all,
remember to use a dark bottle,
put some mables in the bottle, so no air in the bottle,
and stays away from light.

[sabahan]

I do remember jobo have a chemicals the you can pour inside the chemical container,it is oil base and will float on top of the chemical.it will not react with the chemicals,but not sure can get it or not.

[Patryk]

Use Ilford ID-11 next time... Lol about the same characteristics as D76 ...powder form can keep for dunno how long..summore dilution all in metric units.. anyways, basically keep away from air and probably light and the chemical will keep for quite awhile...

[hondasleeper]

I was just thinking about it, unless you do alot proccessing, you might be better off, possibly buying the powder form D76 in smaller quanities.

Or maybe even sending it out to be processed. But make sure you do a test with the lab you intend to use, to ensure consistancy of their processing line.

[sweat100]

I dont do developing a lot. Maybe 6-8 rolls per month, so when i buy a packet of D76, i dont disslove the whole packet away. Now there is a problem i face. I dont know the actual dilution ratio. The 3800ml solution is with the power. And the dissolved power do take up some volume but i dont know how much. So I cant calculate how much water i actually need to add. Most of the time i jus make 700ml of solution enough for 2 rolls. So now the only way to determine the amount of volume rise is to dissolve 1 packet of D76 and see for myself. Anyone has better ideas?

I do keep my other chemicals eg fixer to those accordian type bottles. D76 shelf life is not that long i suppose. 1-2 months? There was a time when i wanted to use after keeping it for 2 months, it turned completely dark yellow.

[hondasleeper]

Have you actually thought about using tmax developer? If memory serves correctly, they come in bottles that you can mix up whatever quantity you need.

[photobum]

Originally Posted by hondasleeper Have you actually thought about using tmax developer? If memory serves correctly, they come in bottles that you can mix up whatever quantity you need.

But you must also keep in mind that T-Max developer has a much shorter shelf-life than D-76.

If my memory serves me right, you can store T-Max developer in its bottle for a maxmum of only up to two years once the seal is opened. Otherwise, it will lose its potency. The RS version even shorter.

The best and most stable developer I have used is phenidone-ascorbic acid (A.K.A. sodium ascorbate or Vitamin C). Other developer worth trying is Microdol–X (works very well with TMX)·

[CaeSiuM]

You have to end up with 3.8 litres of stock solution, +/- a bit not too much to worry about.

Following the recommended way of mixing works pretty well.

Measure up the volume of hot water(50 deg celsius to maybe even 70 deg celsius is fine la... don't worry too much about it) you need to end up with 3.8L.

Take abt 600ml of it aside first, add the entire packet in and stir to dissolve it. Towards the end there will still be some granules left, add in the 600ml you kept away earlier and stir till everything is dissolved, might take a while.

Leave it to cool to room temp then store in whatever bottles you can find, good to keep it airtight for longer keeping period. D76 can last abt 2-3 months in an airtight bottle and by then you might already be sick of doing b&w developing or have switched to a liquid developer which is less of a hassle to mix. :P

[CaeSiuM]

Originally Posted by photobum But you must also keep in mind that T-Max developer has a much shorter shelf-life than D-76. If my memory serves me right, you can store T-Max developer in its bottle only for a maxmum of two years once opened. Otherwise, it will lose its potency. The RS version even shorter. The best and most stable developer I have used is phenidone-ascorbic acid (A.K.A. sodium ascorbic or Vitamin C). Other developer worth trying is Microdol–X (works very well with TMX)·

Should be sodium ascorbate i believe but it's nothing to worry about, commonly understood. I've never tried it even though it has got rave reviews, the developers that I used are enough for me.

[photobum]

And yes, 1 US gallon is 3.7854 litres. 1 fluid ounce is 29.62 ml.

[photobum]

Originally Posted by CaeSiuM I've never tried it even though it has got rave reviews, the developers that I used are enough for me.

Thanks for correcting me.

Since I shoot and did all my Zone System testing on TMX with T-Max developers (and RS for sheet films), I am extremely familiar them.

I have also tested a few developers, including ABC Pyro and Pyro-Metol Kodalk (PMK) developers. I just love the highlights on these stained negatives.

Here is the formula for PMK Pyro developer:

Part A
Distilled Water (50° C) 400 ml
Metol 5 g
Sodium Bisulfite 10 g
Pyrogallol 50 g
Distilled Water to make 500 ml

Part B
Distilled Water 700 ml
Sodium Metaborate 300 g
Distilled Water to make 1 litre

Mixing instructions: Add chemicals in specified sequence.

Dilution: 1 part of A + 1 part of B + 100 part of distilled water

Warning: Pyro developer is extremely toxic. Always wear gloves and take proper precautions. Avoid inhaling pyrogallol powder. Wear a protective mask. Exposure of more than 0.015mg may cause permanent lung failure.

[nmk]

As for storage of D76 in the liquid form, it lasts for a couple of months or more if stored without access to air (no plastic bottles, no semi filled bottles) and kept in the dark. Have tried this and it works quite well. IF you havnt already bought it please buy a liquid developer like Hc110 (much easier to handle)

[photobum]

I recall at my university photo lab, the premixed D76 can be kept in a capped container for as long as 3 years. Of course, that is United States climate which has a lower humidity. And, distilled water is used.

[hondasleeper]

Originally Posted by photobum I recall at my university photo lab, the premixed D76 can be kept in a capped container for as long as 3 years. Of course, that is United States climate which has a lower humidity. And, distilled water is used.

I doubt if the chemistry would even last that long as the chemistry would probably be used up in a week, then again it would depend on how close it was be to the finals, probably thana week.

Even if the chemistry did last 3 years I would be cautious in using it to process my film.

[sweat100]

Originally Posted by photobum I recall at my university photo lab, the premixed D76 can be kept in a capped container for as long as 3 years. Of course, that is United States climate which has a lower humidity. And, distilled water is used.

3 years! Wow! I am using those house tap water. Guess the ions present would speed up oxidation. Some how my accordian type containers gets back to the normal shape from the compressed shaped after 2 days. Is it spoilt?

[photobum]

I did not have the chance to use a 3 year-old D76 developer. The university photo lab premixes 80-100 gallons of D76 every Monday, and usually nothing is left by Friday. But according to the Kodak rep, D76 can lasts up to 3 years if properly stored (seriously!).

The mineral content is quite high in Rochester's city water, therefore it is not advisible to use water from the faucet. Anyway, distilled water is very cheap and easily available. Just get 10 gallons from Wal-Mart and it costs like US$1.60.