Xícara de Café Posted March 15, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 15, 2020 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a long shelf-life paper developer suitable for use with multigrade papers. Ideally, I'd like to use a strong concentrate that I can mix up when I need it and that will last for years if possible. A paper equivalent of PMK pyro, if you will. I can go for months at a time without doing any printing. I was surprised recently when the liquid in my bottle of Ilford multigrade had gone a dark brown... I'd need to check how long it was since I bought it, but I think it was within 6 months. The bottle was half full when I noticed the colour change. Please let me know if you have suggestions. Thanks a lot, Edited March 15, 2020 by Xícara de Café Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Hi Xícara de Café, Take a look here Long shelf-life paper developer. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Pyrogallol Posted March 15, 2020 Share #2 Posted March 15, 2020 (edited) Ilford multigrade developer. A concentrate that lasts well. I decant 5 litres into individual 1 litre bottles and use Tetenal Protectan spray in the bottle I am using. The diluted amount I am using will last a week or so in a bottle if you want to just do a few prints at a time. https://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Ilford-Multigrade-Print-Paper-Developer-5L/product/23382/1757855/ just noticed that you are already using Ilford multigrade, so it needs decanting into smaller bottles and using something like Protectan or glass beads to expel air from the part used bottle. Edited March 15, 2020 by Pyrogallol 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xícara de Café Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted March 15, 2020 That's the developer I'm using, although the 1 litre bottle. And yes I use the working solution for up to a week. So by decanting the concentrate into smaller bottles, this should extend the life? To a year or more in bottle with no or little air? Hadn't heard of Tetenal Protectan, will look it up. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted March 15, 2020 Share #4 Posted March 15, 2020 (edited) Found powder developers on the Silverprint site, should last for years as powder. https://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Foma-Universal-Developer-1L/product/54526/V70050/ https://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Adox-Adotol-Konstant-to-make-5000-ml-Paper-Developer/product/25380/25380/ Edited March 15, 2020 by Pyrogallol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xícara de Café Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted March 15, 2020 16 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said: just noticed that you are already using Ilford multigrade, so it needs decanting into smaller bottles and using something like Protectan or glass beads to expel air from the part used bottle Great, I'll give Ilford multigrade another try and decant into smaller bottles. I'll order the gas too but use beads until it arrives (international shipping here takes a long time). All the best! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomas Posted March 15, 2020 Share #6 Posted March 15, 2020 The only developers lasting long according to my experience are powder-developers. Calbe N113 was very good in this aspect. Don't know, if it is still available. This stuff should be based on it, but I've not tested it yet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xícara de Café Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted March 15, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) 15 minutes ago, fotomas said: The only developers lasting long according to my experience are powder-developers. Calbe N113 was very good in this aspect. Don't know, if it is still available. This stuff should be based on it, but I've not tested it yet. I know when mixing D76 from powder they recommend doing the full packet in one go because it's unlikely that all the component chemicals are evenly distributed in the mixture. Wouldn't this be case with this developer? Or do you mean that developers sold in powdered form have good shelf life when mixed? Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomas Posted March 15, 2020 Share #8 Posted March 15, 2020 You can keep the powder for years. And it's fresh if you mix it up. N113 last at least for about 2 or 3 months, maybe more, after preparation, due to my experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xícara de Café Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted March 15, 2020 1 hour ago, fotomas said: You can keep the powder for years. And it's fresh if you mix it up. N113 last at least for about 2 or 3 months, maybe more, after preparation, due to my experience. So no problem weighing and mixing only a portion of the packet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xícara de Café Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted March 16, 2020 Not to worry though. I've ordered some more Ilford Multigrade and will take more care to expel air from the containers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted March 16, 2020 Share #11 Posted March 16, 2020 ECO 4812 from Moersch has the longest shelf life I have ever seen guaranteed. I use it myself, it is very acute, deep blacks, even for warmtone and very good for Ilford paper also. I see you already bought Ilford, but I add this post for the Archive. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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