Is brown Dektol OK to use?greenspun.com : LUSENET : Black_and_White_Photography : One Thread |
I just mixed up a batch of Dektol and it is tinted fairly dark brown. Is it OK to use?
-- Anonymous, April 05, 1997
No, probably not... This happened to me recently with some old (but still in powder form) dektol. I was confused about it too; it seems even dry the stuff has a limited shelf life! I tried to use it anyway (such a waste to dump it!), but it was dead. Very dead. An exposed piece of paper, when placed in the tray WITH THE LIGHTS ON (!) very slowly turned grayish (never black)!!!! Totally useless. They should improver their packaging and state the shelf life. If anyone happens to know this, I'd love to hear.
-- Anonymous, April 17, 1997
-- Anonymous, April 18, 1997
Jeff, I also have some Dektol I bought in 1 gal. cans. After opening up the can, just as in your case, the powder starts to oxidize. I then divided the remainder into small plastic bags w/ one of those vacu-seal machines. This helped slow down the process, but not eliminate it. My mix also has a browninsh tint, not too dark, but unlike the previous persons experience, I can still get excellent prints from it. I don't keep it as long as I would had it been 'fresh' since the oxidation has already started, but it has worked just fine.
-- Anonymous, April 18, 1997
Jeff, I also have some Dektol I bought in 1 gal. cans. After opening up the can, just as in your case, the powder starts to oxidize. I then divided the remainder into small plastic bags w/ one of those vacu-seal machines. This helped slow down the process, but not eliminate it. My mix also has a browninsh tint, not too dark, but unlike the previous persons experience, I can still get excellent prints from it. I don't keep it as long as I would had it been 'fresh' since the oxidation has already started, but it has worked just fine.
-- Anonymous, April 18, 1997