PDA

View Full Version : Replenisher


Trygve
26th April 2017, 03:04 PM
Have one packet with developer 2,5l Microdol-X and 5 packets with 2,5l Microdol-X replenisher. Are there posibilities for the developer packet to use all 5 packets with replenisher ?

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8099/29390045186_934b7265f0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LM6Ev1)Chemistry B&W (https://flic.kr/p/LM6Ev1) by Trygve Bjerk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129510100@N07/), on Flickr

Trygve

Mike O'Pray
26th April 2017, 04:59 PM
Welcome to FADU, Trygve. I cannot help you on this but hopefully there are others who have used Microdol who can help

Mike

Svend
26th April 2017, 07:47 PM
Hello Trygve,

I think you will only be able to use one packet of replenisher per packet of original developer. The usual practice is to discard the original batch of developer once a corresponding batch of replenisher is all used up. Perhaps others here have different experience, but that is how I have done it, on the advice of the manufacturers. Admittedly, it's been a long time since I've used replenishment, so there may be other methods to keep a batch going indefinitely.

But that's not all bad news -- there are formulas out there on the web for Mic-X so you could probably make your own stock sol'n from scratch using a few basic ingredients - metol, sodium sulphite, potassium bromide, and sodium chloride, are the main components of Mic-X, if I recall correctly. That way you will be able to use the remaining replenisher packs and not waste them.

BTW, since Microdol-X has not been made for some time, you should be careful that the stuff is not too old. If the powder looks brown, throw it out -- it's oxidized. It should be white or just off-white / pale tan. Some of the old foil packets were prone to getting pinholes which let air in. If you see some brown spots or stains on the outside of the packet, you probably have a pinhole. I recently got some very old packets of D-76 and Mic-X (probably 30 years old or more), and none was usable -- even one of D-76 which looked OK as powder, mixed up cloudy and brown. Even if it looks good, you should do a quick test with a film leader to check for activity before you submit a full roll of film to the tank.

Hope this helps.

BTW, you might want to go to the Introductions page here and say Hello. Tell us a bit about yourself. Pretty friendly and helpful bunch here.

Best,
Svend

Trygve
26th April 2017, 08:04 PM
Thank you for the answer Svend. I think the chemicals are ok and will try to only use one replenisher packet ��. ( I have bought a lot of old chemistry from a photographic lab for GBP50 - so a plenty of testing in the future)

Trygve

Trygve
26th April 2017, 08:19 PM
BTW. Old 5l Ilford Multigrade developer that went brown. Only one print from a normal solution. Nice effect in the print (showing the agitation).
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2805/33749724555_1b3ac38ebc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/TqmahF)Old chemistry (https://flic.kr/p/TqmahF) by Trygve Bjerk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129510100@N07/), on Flickr

Svend
26th April 2017, 08:54 PM
Sounds good, Trygve. Hopefully all the powders are still in good shape. BTW, here are a few pages which give formulas for Microdol-X, so you should be able to make up some stock and allow you to use those replenishers.

https://www.rugarchives.org/1997-05/00291.html

http://www.apug.org/forum/index.php?threads/microdol-x-homebrew-question.110991/

Good luck with this!

Svend

PS -- wonderful image, BTW. I actually really like the banding effect, despite it being unintentional. Nicely done!