iphoenix Posted October 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted October 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) !7 years ago when I bought my house, I found some old developers in a cupboard: 1 sealed can of Kodak D76 (to make 5 litres); 1 sealed can of Kodak Microdol X (to make 1 gallon) and a slightly split, but covered in a plastic bag, packet of Ilford PFP P.Q. Developer (to make 1 gallon). I believe these all date to around the mid 1960's. I would love to use them, so, would they still be usable and, though I've tried to find out more about the P.Q. Developer but haven't been able to; what is it best used for - film or paper? It states Plates, Films and Papers. Thanks, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 Hi iphoenix, Take a look here Old developers - usable or not. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Doc Henry Posted October 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted October 28, 2011 David , i'll not use if I'm you ! i'll throw , even if they are blocked and new bottles : risk of oxidation of the product ! You may lose your film. Otherwise , try to develop one test film that you do not want to keep , to see the result Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted October 28, 2011 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2011 One test film? I suggest you make a test with the film leader just before you develop - every time you develop. Develop and fix. If film is real black, then everything is OK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted October 30, 2011 Share #4 Posted October 30, 2011 Do not risk film with out of date developer. It may work, may not , or may work for a short time and quickly die. I had this happen to Xtol before it was in dated packages. It ruined some never to be repeated landscapes. Unless you have test strips and a densitometer which you need to use every time, toss it all out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted October 30, 2011 Share #5 Posted October 30, 2011 If they were liquids I wouldn't use them, they will be dark brown, oxidised. If sealed tins of powder they might not ok, but I couldn't be bothered to mix them up to find out personally! Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphoenix Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted October 30, 2011 Thank you to all, you are all of the same mind, so I shall not take the risk. Regards, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted November 2, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The local schools have given me some D76, powder. That is probably 20 years old. I have been developing film with it and it seems fine. I also have been using very old Dextol. It doesnt mix well but it works fine the old paper on the other hand worked but came out with a yellow tint and had to be tossed. The Dextol works fine with fresh paper. It was all stored in a darkroom and controlled environment though. I agree with a test roll to see if it exposes the film properly at set temps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphoenix Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted November 3, 2011 Thanks cosmonaut, it's good to get other people's experiences. The D76 and the Microdol X are both in powder form and are in sealed tins. I will do test films and try both of them out. The PFP PQ developer is in a cardboard packet, so will probably have deteriorated. Regards, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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