Much Bad Luck with Pyrocat HD - May Need Another Developer

[Andre Noble]

Is it just me? I love printing negatives developed in Pyrocat HD - the ones that come out that is.

However, I do have a high failure rate when using it.

I switched to using the glycol form. And that has helped some. Still. From one batch of film I process to the next, I can never be sure the negs will turn out. This morning, I ruined a whole Jobo 3010 drum of 4x5 negatives by one of the following possible reasons. (The negatives were ultra-thin and high contrasty).:

Developped at 69 or 68 F vs. 70F?
Fixed in TF4 fixer for 5 mins, vs 3min?
Inadequately mixed the A solution into my distilled water before adding B solution (I dumped A stock, then B stock into 500ml distilled water, THEN mixed)?
I aerated my 500ml distlled water too much in the process of bringing to temeperature (done before adding either pyrocat component)?

My stock Pyrocat is Brand new from PF, version mixed in glycol. It is not contaminated because a batch I ran after the 10 failed sheets came out perfectly.

The major changes I made with the second batch, which did turn out well - unlike my first batch - was to:

1 Insure I dissolved part A completely into my working developer before adding part B.
2 Insure I was working at or slightly above 70F, and not at 69 as my first batch.
3 Insure I fixed in TF4 for 3.5 mins, not 5 min as my first batch.
4 Be cognizant not to aerate my distilled water before adding the stock deveoper components.

Which of these do you feel did the trick, or was it possibly none of the above?

[Ken Lee]

"The negatives were ultra-thin and high contrasty"

Could you show us some examples ?

Do you mean under-exposed and over-developed ?

In a given batch, are some OK, while others are wrong ? Or are all negatives equally spoiled in the same batch ?

[Andre Noble]

Yes, they appear similar to negs underexposed and overdeveloped. Make no mistake, however, these negs were propperly exposed.

[Ron Marshall]

When you say you "dissolved part A", is it in solid form; I have only used Pyrocat as liquid concentrates?

I have two small measuring syringes, labelled A and B to avoid cross-contamination, that I always use with Pyrocat to assure correct volumes are used. Otherwise I wouldn't trust myself to be accurate enough with the small volumes.

I have never had a failure with Pyrocat. Before using it the first time I tested several sheets to determine my personal EI and dev times.

What film are you using?

Good luck.

[Andre Noble]

Meaning... on the failure run, I dump part A stock, then part B stock into 500ml distilled water, THEN mixed. In doing so, perhaps some concentrated part B came in contact with concentrated Part A and "deactivated" or "oxidized" the active part of the developer, which is the part A portion?

BTW, I have everything labelled A and B to avoid cross contamination.

I need to find out what I'm doing wrong.

I am using Ilford FP4+, rated ASA 32. Pyrocat HD 1:1:100 for 6 mins at 70F

[Salty]

Meaning... on the failure run, I dump part A stock, then part B stock into 500ml distilled water, THEN mixed. In doing so, perhaps some concentrated part B came in contact with concentrated Part A and "deactivated" or "oxidized" the active part of the developer, which is the part A portion?

BTW, I have everything labelled A and B to avoid cross contamination.

It should be simple if you're using 500ml of distilled water.

You take 5ml of the "A" solution of Pyrocat HD in glycol and put it in the distilled water.
You refer to it as "Concentrated Part A" in the quoted portion above.

You then take 5ml of the "B" solution, which should be potassium carbonate and put it in the distilled water.
You refer to it as "Concentrated Part B."

Mix it all up, make sure it's the correct temperature and use it on your film.

When the developing is done, you dispose of the developer, it being "One Shot."

I don't understand the "BTW, I have everything labelled A and B to avoid cross contamination."

[Ron Marshall]

I'm sure you thought of this, but just to cover all of the bases:

In both runs did you develop the same number of sheets; use the same rotation speed; use the same amount of stock and the same dilution?

[Andre Noble]

I just ran two more runs. One run came out perfect, the other failed.

I quit this developer.

Back to Wimberley WD2D+. I may even try the Wimberly in my jobo at slowest rotation, otherwise I will use a conventional developer.

I have had many pyrocat failures with both hand inversion and in the Jobo.

[sanking]

I just ran two more runs. One run came out perfect, the other failed.

I quit this developer.

Back to Wimberley WD2D+. I may even try the Wimberly in my jobo at slowest rotation, otherwise I will use a conventional developer.

I have had many pyrocat failures with both hand inversion and in the Jobo.

Andre,

I looked at some of your old posts and see that you were having problems with Pyrocat-HD as far back as 2004. Now, when you tell me that one run came out pefect, the other failed, I think there is only one conclusion. There imust be a god of pyrocatechol and you have doine something to seriously anger this god.

Best of luck in finding a developer that works for you every time.

Sandy King

[Michael Kadillak]

Good Gawd.

I have used pyrocat in a number of variations for a number of years now in large quantities and have NEVER had a single failure - ever.

You need to go back to packaged D76 and excise the demons once and for all.