5-liter Graduates for Mixing Chemistry

[Michael Graves]

Found these on Amazon and mixing XTol just became easier. They are ABN 5-liter "paint mixing pitchers" and a 3-pack is $32.95. They are quite heavy duty, marked out in US and Metric measurements and have a nice wide handle for gripping and a good pouring spout as well. Not going to post a link, because it will just get taken down. But do a search by ABL 5-liter and it will come up.

[Duolab123]

Found these on Amazon and mixing XTol just became easier. They are ABN 5-liter "paint mixing pitchers" and a 3-pack is $32.95. They are quite heavy duty, marked out in US and Metric measurements and have a nice wide handle for gripping and a good pouring spout as well. Not going to post a link, because it will just get taken down. But do a search by ABL 5-liter and it will come up.

I refuse to use Amazon, so I had my wife buy these for me. :rolleyes:

https://www.amazon.com/Terbold-Plastic-Graduated-Measuring-Pitcher/dp/B09CFSQB5M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1X8M78278RA6N&keywords=5+liter+pitcher&qid=1649903611&sprefix=5+liter%2Caps%2C321&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQ0VGMlFYSjVRTzdNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTQzNzU0MkxHSzZONVdIUUo2RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDQxNjIzMUc1MTFaRDNWOFZDVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[Fred L]

I've been using plastic buckets for mixing 4 litres of Formulary 130. has a wire handle but no measurements.also use a cordless drill and paint paddle for mixing.

[domaz]

My real problem isn't mixing but what to do with 5L of Xtol after it's been mixed. I don't want to resort to 1L soda bottles..

[Drew Wiley]

Well, the wholesale cost of those 5-liter paint pitchers is about 75 cents apiece, so I'd call those Amazon 3-packs a gross ripoff.

[Willie]

Well, the wholesale cost of those 5-liter paint pitchers is about 75 cents apiece, so I'd call those Amazon 3-packs a gross ripoff.

You have to remember by ordering with Amazon Prime - only costs $139 plus tax and you get Free Shipping.

[Alan9940]

Like Fred L, I mix large quantities of chemistry in paint buckets using a paddle-style stirrer in a drill. Once mixed, it goes into either 2 or 5 gal containers with floating lids.

[Michael R]

I hate having to mix and store these large quantities. Stupid jerks.

[Drew Wiley]

In a darkroom drawer I still have an old cordless drill replete with a true 316 stainless chuck and key, plus the 316 stainless mixing rod. Gave up on it long ago. Too much agitation, oxidation. Prefer the slow hand method. But if you do mix full five gallon buckets worth at a time, you can get a folding-blade bong-hole mixer suitable for use with low RPM higher torque real-deal mixing motors. Just have matching plastic lids with either threaded lid hole caps or removable flat plugs. No splatter that way. Or you could bring home a used five-gallon paint shaker and really end up with a wonderful mess splattered all over the darkroom if something goes wrong. Jean-Michel Basquiat would approve. Personally, I mix everything one-shot, small volume.

[Michael R]

I wonder if anyone has ever mixed bathtub XTOL.

[Sal Santamaura]

I hate having to mix and store these large quantities...

Why? It's easy, at room temperature, and five liter beakers are readily available. Then store it in small bottles; it lasts a loooong time that way:


https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?4495-Ilford-Films-and-Xtol-Developer&p=922660&viewfull=1#post922660

[Oren Grad]

Used to use an opaque plastic bucket for gallon and 5-liter mixes of D-76, ID-11 and Xtol, got fed up with that as it was often hard to see the volume markings molded into the plastic. A few years ago I bought one of these 5 L calibrated, translucent plastic graduates - no more hassles. I'm happy.

For storage of the mixed developer I use 500 ml brown glass bottles - bought a carton of them years ago from the Formulary.

[neil poulsen]

I refuse to use Amazon, so I had my wife buy these for me. :rolleyes:

https://www.amazon.com/Terbold-Plastic-Graduated-Measuring-Pitcher/dp/B09CFSQB5M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1X8M78278RA6N&keywords=5+liter+pitcher&qid=1649903611&sprefix=5+liter%2Caps%2C321&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQ0VGMlFYSjVRTzdNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTQzNzU0MkxHSzZONVdIUUo2RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDQxNjIzMUc1MTFaRDNWOFZDVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

It's important to stick with your principles! :)

[Michael R]

Because I’m not a high volume user and I find it annoying. The storage takes up space. Granted complaining about XTOL quantities is dumb at this point since 5l packets have been the only option for many years, but much more recently both D-76 and Dektol 1l packets seem to have disappeared. Of course D-76 can simply be replaced with ID-11 1l packets and scratch-mixing is fairly simple, but I liked buying Kodak developers. On the other hand the whole chemistry thing is Sino Promise now so my loyalty to Kodak chemistry = 0. So…basically I’m just complaining because why not.


Why? It's easy, at room temperature, and five liter beakers are readily available. Then store it in small bottles; it lasts a loooong time that way:


https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?4495-Ilford-Films-and-Xtol-Developer&p=922660&viewfull=1#post922660

[domaz]

Because I’m not a high volume user and I find it annoying. The storage takes up space. Granted complaining about XTOL quantities is dumb at this point since 5l packets have been the only option for many years, but much more recently both D-76 and Dektol 1l packets seem to have disappeared. Of course D-76 can simply be replaced with ID-11 1l packets and scratch-mixing is fairly simple, but I liked buying Kodak developers. On the other hand the whole chemistry thing is Sino Promise now so my loyalty to Kodak chemistry = 0. So…basically I’m just complaining because why not.

I'm with you on this. Despite the considerable expensive I've thinking of switching to Ilford DD-X. I used it in the past and it lasted a very long time and never failed me. Simple developer to keep around the darkroom, and doesn't take up any space.

[ic-racer]

About ten years ago i got a set of Leddal SS graduated 'buckets' from 1000 to 5000ml. I love them, some of my most cherished darkroom items
226564

[interneg]

Because I’m not a high volume user and I find it annoying. The storage takes up space. Granted complaining about XTOL quantities is dumb at this point since 5l packets have been the only option for many years, but much more recently both D-76 and Dektol 1l packets seem to have disappeared. Of course D-76 can simply be replaced with ID-11 1l packets and scratch-mixing is fairly simple, but I liked buying Kodak developers. On the other hand the whole chemistry thing is Sino Promise now so my loyalty to Kodak chemistry = 0. So…basically I’m just complaining because why not.

I think Adox offer XT-3, A-49 and Adotol-Konstant in 1L packages - with Captura etc. And there's also a few Foma developers done in 1L packs too. On the other hand, I've found myself wishing that ID-11 was still available in bigger than 5L packages...

[Sal Santamaura]

Because I’m not a high volume user...

Neither am I. After mixing five liters of XTOL, it usually sits in those 250ml amber glass Boston Round bottles for more than a year before I have to stir up another batch. No difference in performance over time. I find it convenient not needing to mix the powder very often. :)

[Duolab123]

About ten years ago i got a set of Leddal SS graduated 'buckets' from 1000 to 5000ml. I love them, some of my most cherished darkroom items
226564

I've scored some of these gems on Ebay over the years. The biggest I have is 4 liter. I've checked a couple and the graduations are quite accurate. These are beautiful, immortal.

[Michael R]

The only one that tempts me is XT3 since it is ostensibly identical to XTOL in working characteristics. Expensive though (basically 3x the price of XTOL in the US), but anyway.

If you need larger quantities of ID-11, can’t you mix two or more boxes of 5l at a time?


I think Adox offer XT-3, A-49 and Adotol-Konstant in 1L packages - with Captura etc. And there's also a few Foma developers done in 1L packs too. On the other hand, I've found myself wishing that ID-11 was still available in bigger than 5L packages...

[Conrad . Marvin]

Neither am I. After mixing five liters of XTOL, it usually sits in those 250ml amber glass Boston Round bottles for more than a year before I have to stir up another batch. No difference in performance over time. I find it convenient not needing to mix the powder very often. :)
Works for me, fill them right up to the top. I haven’t had a bottle that wasn’t working correctly yet.

[abruzzi]

I just have a row of wine boxes on a shelf in the darkroom--Xtol, D76, Dektol. Just draw what you need, and the bag doesn't fill with air to replace what you draw, so it stays "sealed." I've had the stuff last for at least several years.

[interneg]

The only one that tempts me is XT3 since it is ostensibly identical to XTOL in working characteristics. Expensive though (basically 3x the price of XTOL in the US), but anyway.

If you need larger quantities of ID-11, can’t you mix two or more boxes of 5l at a time?

1L XT-3 is currently cheaper than any of the 1L Ilford powder developers over here - but at that quantity you're essentially paying a premium for the small size (and in the case of Perceptol & Microphen, the reality of the demand for them). 5L/ equivalent working solution thereof (i.e. concentrates in 1L bottles for 1+4, 500ml for 1+9) seems to be the most popular quantity used overall for film developers that aren't aimed at industrial use today.

Regarding larger quantities of ID-11, it's more from a packaging waste-reduction/ storage of the packages perspective - and people not being able to remember to not mix random numbers of 'A' and 'B' (if they can, they will). You could probably get a 10L pack into the 5L box (just).

[HMG]

I mix xtol in 2 2500ml batches without huge regard for the % of A and B. Then I put in 1L bottles with an equal amount from each batch. No doubt there is some very, very slight difference due to measuring error, but nothing I can notice.

I thought about a 5L jug, but all I could find handy is the 5L vinegar jug from Costco. Maybe one day I'll rinse one out well, let it sit full of water for a week with water changes every day, then rinse again with expired developer.

I could wish for 4L batches of xtol, but they'd probably cost the same as the 5L.