Problem with Pyrocat HD from PF

[Peter Lewin]

Question: It appears that all of the problems with Pyrocat from PF are with the wet 2-bottle sets. Have there been any problems with the dry kits? I have never had a problem with either PMK or Pyrocat HD purchased from PF, but I am about out of Pyrocat-HD and these threads are making me nervous about purchasing my replacement.

[Vaughn]

Its is the dry kits I had problems with -- not the wet.

[jmontague]

Mine was with the wet kit. Both the original and replacement had the problem. Solution A was the issue, not solution B.


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[Vaughn]

Solution B would be pretty hard to mess up.

[jmontague]

Solution B would be pretty hard to mess up.

Agreed. Only one chemical to mix.


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[Sirius Glass]

I bought Pyrocat HD in Glycol [liquid] from Photographers' Formulary in June and I have not had any problems.

[Steven Ruttenberg]

I usually get issues with pin holes. I just had 1 sheet get blasted with them and another was fine. Both developed at same time. I am sure part of it is operator error, but it seems to only happen with the pyro. Shame as I like how it works based on my limited experience. Mine was the wet. I have the chemicals for dry. I like it for semi-stand and 2 bath.

[Keith Pitman]

I usually get issues with pin holes. I just had 1 sheet get blasted with them and another was fine. Both developed at same time. I am sure part of it is operator error, but it seems to only happen with the pyro. Shame as I like how it works based on my limited experience. Mine was the wet. I have the chemicals for dry. I like it for semi-stand and 2 bath.

Are you using an acid stop bath? If so, what and what strength? Plain water is best for film, IMO.

[Steven Ruttenberg]

I have had the issues with both kodak stop bath at 1:63 and plain distilled water. I am wondering if I should use tray development for pyrocat. The semi-stand technique with a tube by Steve Sherman seems to work okay.

[sanking]

I usually get issues with pin holes. I just had 1 sheet get blasted with them and another was fine. Both developed at same time. I am sure part of it is operator error, but it seems to only happen with the pyro. Shame as I like how it works based on my limited experience. Mine was the wet. I have the chemicals for dry. I like it for semi-stand and 2 bath.

Nearly all of the issues associated with Pyrocat seem rooted in working procedures or operator error.

Any developer that contains carbonate can develop sufficient gas to cause pinholes in film emulsion, especially if development is followed by an acetic acid stop bath. A working solution of Pyrocat has pH of about 11, when you change the film from this environment to an acetic acid stop bath with pH 4 or below, the shock to the emulsion is great. A better choice would be a water stop bath rather than an acetic acid stop bath.

Pinholes used to be common with films and carbonate type developers but over the years emulsions have become much tougher and pinholes are very rare except with some old style traditional emulsions. But going from a very alkaline developing solution to a very acetic acid stop is capable of blowing holes in any emulsion.

A water rinse gives about 100% protection from pinholes.

Sandy