Is My Pyrocat HD Bad?

[Richard K.]

've had this for over a year. The A bottle is cinched in the middle indicating that no further air has entered the plastic bottle and oxidized the developer. But, when I pour the 1:1:100 mix into water, the water turns momentarily greenish then clear then starts getting red-muddy. Is this stuff still good? I threw it out because I wasn't sure, rinsed the tray and put in PMK to do a few negs. The spent PMK developer looked really greenish-muddy compared to the deep blood brown-red I usually get. I guess it reacted with the Pyrocat HD residue even though I rinsed the tray? Can one use a single tray for both processes with wash/rinse in between alternate uses or should one use dedicated trays? Thank you!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Richard I have used my HD for a little over a years and it has worked well. I keep it in Brown Glass bottles out of the light. I'd use the one year as a standard. I mix it from scratch so it is less expensive that way. I'd use separate trays just to be sure.

[Diane Maher]

As you use Pyrocat HD, the mixture does turn to a dark color as it begins to oxidize. I use mine in a Jobo Expert tank when developing, so I don't know how fast it changes color.

Edit: I should say it is dark when it is spent/oxidized. Sorry!

Diane

[Colin Graham]

Plastic soda bottles are fairly air permeable, so I probably wouldn't trust the stock solution after a year. The Pyrocat-P working solution does turn wine colored even when fresh, but I've never seen the original Pyrocat-HD tint like that at any dilution, unless spent.

It sounds like you might be mixing A and B directly together, then pouring that into the water. I usually add the A component to the water, rinsing the grad thoroughly before adding the B part.

[Richard K.]

Has the water turned momentarily greenish for you when you first pour the developer in?

[Richard K.]

Plastic soda bottles are fairly air permeable, so I probably wouldn't trust the stock solution after a year. The Pyrocat-P working solution does turn wine colored even when fresh, but I've never seen the original Pyrocat-HD tint like that at any dilution, unless spent.

I guess I better mix fresh!

It sounds like you might be mixing A and B directly together, then pouring that into the water.

Yes, is that bad?

[Colin Graham]

Has the water turned momentarily greenish for you when you first pour the developer in?

I've never noticed that, no. I do use a light gray tray for development though, not sure if that would mask a greenish tint or not.

Yes, is that bad?

That seems like it would likely accelerate the oxidation/exhaustion, not sure if it's an absolute no-no, but I haven't risked it.

[Gem Singer]

Sounds like you are contaminating the A and B solutions.

Do not mix parts A and B directly together in the same measuring device.

For example, add 10ml part A to 500ml water in a measuring device. Add 10ml part B to 500ml water in a separate measuring device. Pour the two 500ml solutions into the developing tank to make 1,020ml of working solution.


At that point, a light color change to olive green is normal.

[Richard K.]

Thanks Gem...

[lbenac]

Sounds like you are contaminating the A and B solutions.
Do not mix parts A and B directly together in the same measuring device.
For example, add 10ml part A to 500ml water in a measuring device. Add 10ml part B to 500ml water in a separate measuring device. Pour the two 500ml solutions into the developing tank to make 1,020ml of working solution.
At that point, a light color change to olive green is normal.

I did not know about that
How does the contamination of the concentrate takes place when pouring into the same device?
I can understand it for Divided Pyrocat where residue of A could be left to contaminate the working solution B but I cannot see how pouring out of a bottle would contaminate the concentrate in that bottle.
I am very interested as I have Pyrocat HD in glycol in two Brown bottles that I am hoping to keep good for a year or until finished. Shipping Pyrocat (or other chemicals) from the US to Canada is always a little bit expansive.

Thanks for the tip

Luc