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Thread: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

  1. #1

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    Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    After reading the current discussion about the issues Koak/Alaris is having I thought it might be useful to gather together some recipes for easy to mix developers.

    The simplest is probably D-23:

    500ml water
    Metol 7.5 g
    Sodium Sulphite (anhydrous) 100 g
    Water to 1 Litre

    One step up in complexity is D-76. I like this variant:

    500ml water
    Metol 2.5g
    Sodium Sulfite 100g
    Borax 2.0g
    water to 1 liter

    What do you like?
    ____________________________________________

    Richard Wasserman

    https://www.rwasserman.com/

  2. #2

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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    PC-TEA is pretty simple: phenidone, vitamin C and TEA. I've also made Parodinal several times: paracetamol, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfite and water.

    In general, though, I prefer Pyrocat HD in glycol. It's more complex to make, but the long shelf life means the complexity only happens every now and then. I find that tradeoff worth it for the results.

  3. #3
    multiplex
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    8 oz. of water
    4 tsp of instant coffee (cheapest gut rot is the best )
    2 tsp of Washing soda
    1/4 tsp of vit c powder

  4. #4

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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    Too many additives here. If you want to develop in coffee just use what has been sitting around in the pot for a few hours. I tried it - it works.

  5. #5
    Ironage's Avatar
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    I’ve been brewing my own for years. I think I started after finding the formulas in Ansel Adams books.

    Richard, your D-76 recipe seems to be missing the hydroquinine. I think you should give it a new name. Something sexy like “Metol with a kick”.

    Here is one for large format deep tank developing:

    DK50

    500 ml water
    2.5 gr Metol
    30 grams Sodium Sulfite
    2.5 gr Hydroquinone
    10 gr. Sodium Metaborate
    .5 gr Potassium Bromide.

    Last a long time and can be replenished.

  6. #6
    jp's Avatar
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    Pyrocat HDC is easier to make (fewer and easier to find ingredients) than Pyrocat HD
    https://www.pyrocathd.5x4.co.uk/mixing-pyrocat-hd/

    It's mostly what I use. I use blue glycol and if it gets oxidized, the concentrate turns green (blue + amber = green). I keep 125ml bottles topped off and they last practically forever.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Mixed with part B the working solution quickly changes good blueish green to a rich beer color with a hint of green in seconds.

  7. #7
    multiplex
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    Too many additives here. If you want to develop in coffee just use what has been sitting around in the pot for a few hours. I tried it - it works.
    yea. that works but it doesn't give me the bulletproof negatives I enjoy.

  8. #8
    Robert Bowring
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    I used Cachet AB 55 divided developer for a long time and when it was discontinued I tried to find the formula but was never successful. I did stumble upon the following formula that has worked well for me. I don't know if it is the actual formula of AB 55 but it does work. I use it just like I did with AB 55. 5 minutes in Part A and 5 minutes in Part B with a couple of inversions of the tank every 30 seconds. I use stop bath for 30 seconds after Part B and then fixer. This stuff lasts a long time as long as you don't mix the Part A and Part B together. I have used it up to a year and it was still working. Part A: 1 liter of water at 120 degrees F, 50 gram of sodium sulfite, 5 grams of hydroquinone, 0.5 grams of phenidone. Part B: 1 liter of water at 120 degrees F, 5 grams of borax, 10 grams of sodium sulfite.

  9. #9

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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    I like Jay Defehr's Obsidian Aqua.

    Part A
    Distilled water 750ml
    Sodium or potassium metabisulfite 20g
    Catechol 250g
    Distilled water to 1 liter

    Part B - mix before use
    0.666% solution of potassium carbonate (6.66g/ liter), OR a 0.5% solution of sodium carbonate (5g/liter)
    {can also use Pyrocat HD part B but dilute it 1:100 before use}

    USE: 1ml A to 500ml B for 8x10. I generally use it as 0.7A ot 500ml B for a single 4x5 sheet in a SP445 tank . 70 degrees for 12:30 minutes on FP4+ @EI 100. Note 0.5ml A is close to failure point but can be used to tame extreme contrast scene.
    Looks identical to Pyrocat HD and no phenidone problems.
    Part A can also be made in small batch down to 200ML. @100ML it is hard to mix.
    The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
    http://www.searing.photography

  10. #10
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: Homebrewed Film Developer Formulas

    I guess 1 ml part A requires a pipette

    and cleaning the pipette every time as usual

    or is there a reliable dropper?

    1/500 is one heck of a precise formula
    Tin Can

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