Dry, cool, and sealed up. There's so much sulfite in XTOL that helps. This was the last great effort made in black and white chemistry by EKCo. It keeps very well. I've kept the original package, made by Kodak, pre bankruptcy for ten years without a problem. Again, Dry, cool, dark, in a zip lock bag.
The film is an Eastman Kodak product, Alaris has the right to sell, Alaris has the formulas etc. Still there's a crew of probably a couple hundred people on the planet, that work for Eastman Kodak that have the skills and experience to produce the films. Unfortunately Eastman Kodak couldn't keep the backing paper experts, the powder blenders etc.
I won't give up on Kodak, but I sure will be buying Ilford and Foma products as well.
I bought some XTOL here in Canada just a few days before this thread was posted. Mine came in plastic bags, and the best before date was Aug 2021. The package said it was made in Germany. I mixed it up using distilled water at room temperature, and didn't have any problems. Both parts dissolved nicely. I like the idea that it is more environmentally friendly, and isn't as great a health risk.
I've been an XTOL user for years and it's never failed me in the past. Last year I saw a post that there were some batch issues with the new packaging:
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...-batch-of-Xtol
I've only mixed a few batches with the new packaging since and don't yet have enough information to know if there are issues. Had some infrared rolls come out thin. But TRX and HP5 sheet film looked OK. So, the jury is still out for me. With regard to precipitate, I have not had that problem (any more than with the older packaging). It's great you run a quick test to see if a batch looks good. I'd say try to mix another batch and if that fails, throw in the towel and test some other developers that will give you your same development qualities. If you head in the pyro direction, I recommend mixing your own chemistry. There's been problems with pre-mixed varieties from folks like Formulary. Please report back on your findings! Good luck.
As you say, one tries, then tries again, then gives up.Originally Posted by agregov
I loved Xtol for decades. It is my no 1 dev. But since the packaging change, I have tried with 4 lots, different batches (i even bought from different countries to make sure) and the results always the same. Precipitate after trying to mix bag A and very very thin test negs.
4 out of 4 is too much for me. I am gonna give up.
By the way with the old packaging my Xtol mixed beautifully at 23 C and was clear as air for many months. It was so easy to prepare.
PS. I have it from inside the company that literally in the last few days there have been a number of U turns on the chemistry policy. They changed manufacturer, than changed again, then went back to the first one.
And where do you get Sodium Metaborate for your Mytol... Impossible to find in europe.
You can make a liquid substitute for it using (I think) borax + sodium hydroxide, but the dilutions are tricky...
I have some Kodalk left, but will have to resort to the liquid "solution" in the future, as it's getting difficult to get, even here in the states...
I have a bookmark on my computer somewhere where I found a page with directions on how to make it, but I don't need it yet...
I think PF still sells it, but the last batch I got from Artcraft, he said he was almost out, and he can't source smaller large amounts, short of a pallet of it...
Steve K
Don't know about Artcraft, but PF lists it still:
http://stores.photoformulary.com/sodium-metaborate/
Doremus
Maybe I could smuggle Kodalk I've got some beautiful old bottles. I have some Kodak produced glycin that was sold in the 1940s by EKCo under the trade name Athenol, still a free flowing powder, tan in color, still works. I bought some Glycin from Eastman Chemical division in the 1980s it's long gone turned brown black no good. The era of when Kodak made everything in house, packaged in cans and brown glass. Those were the good old days.
Well, impossible might not be the right word. I get sodium metaborate from Fototechnik Suvatlar in Germany. You can see a list of products from them on Wolfgang Moerschs site https://www.moersch-photochemie.de/content/rohchemie
Afaik they do not have an online shop, but a phone call or an email will do. They are pretty responsive and willing to help. I do not know if they ship raw chemicals international.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks