Damn Rodinal's Resilient

[Todd.Hanz]

Just processed some Tri-X in a 1/2 full bottle of 2 yr old Rodinal. After cleaning a black gooey substance from the opening of the bottle, leading to crusty crystalized developer around the cap I mixed up some at 1:50... and damn, the stuff still worked!

I'm simply amazed at how long this stuff lasts!

Todd

 

[charjohncarter]

I never clean that stuff just use it. I read some place that a bottle of Rodinal was found in Germany as they were finally cleaning up after WWII. The old building had been destroyed, and they finally got around to it in the very late 50s; so 10-15 years old. They used it and no problems.

Double Negative: don't press your luck with Xtol.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Amazing stuff that Rodinal is. I've never had it turn black like this bottle did, Xtol has gone yellow on me but nothing like the Rodinal.

Todd

 

[ZeissFan]

I've mentioned this before. I had a bottle that I last used around 1990. It went from New Jersey to New York to Pittsburgh to New Jersey, into my garage or basement and then back to Pittsburgh, where it sat in the laundry room for another three years.

Early this year (2009), I got it out and gave it a go, mostly out of curiosity. Worked fine at the recommended dilution.

I probably bought the bottle in 1988 or 1989, so it was likely at least 20 years old.

 

[blackwave]

I have a partial little bottle that's probably 7 or 8 years old. I haven't tried using it in probably that long and I likely won't. If anyone wants it for shipping cost just say the word (and PM me!) It was pretty dark last I checked.

Chris

 

[arseniii]

I would never take such a risk myself. Since, until developed every shoot is priceless!!!

 

[charjohncarter]

I would never take such a risk myself. Since, until developed every shoot is priceless!!!

Right, the stuff is cheap.

 

[amateriat]

Rodinal, Dektol, Damnitol...

Just don't drink any of this stuff, okay? There's a limit to this longevity stuff. 😉


- Barrett

 

[JohnTF]

Anyone recall when they had rubber stoppers and you used a syringe to draw the stuff out?

Someone was talking about putting Xtol in beer bottles, and I recalled that champagne bottles all take crown caps, am thinking I have to get my capper back and divide the stuff into those bottles.

I guess I can fill a few 12 oz beer bottles for small needs, just use the church key, dilute, and toss?

Now if I can find my box of crown caps. ;-)


Regards, John

 

[Tom A]

When we used to have house here in Vancouver, a partially filled bottle of Rodinal got shoved in behind some light-tables around 1977-78 - I unearthed the bottle in 1986 when we sold the house and stuck it away. It sat "undiscoverd" until the mid-90's and decided to do a test. I shot some TriX, souped 5 rolls in the 20 year old Rodinal and 5 more rolls in "fresh" Rodinal. There was a slight drop in contrast in the older one - about 1/2 paper grade - but otherwise it worked fine.
The current Rodinal is not as "stable" as the old one. I have had it go bad after 5-6 years in half - filled bottles, Still amazing longevity. HC 110 is pretty close to this too- My current square bottle is old enough to vote and drink here in BC. I have been scooping out some of the syrup with a spoon and had no problems with it. It is black and "gooey" but dissolves fine. I think I am now down to the "dregs" and might have to open another one - slightly younger bottle.

 

[FPjohn]

I had to go to the local drug store (chemist) and sign off on a glass hypodermic syringe with the druggist to withdraw my first Rodinol from the rubber stopped bottle. This in 1965.

yours
FPJ

 

[Trius]

I really miss the rubber stoppers. 😀

 

[Todd.Hanz]

My bottle was of the most recent vintage, a "plastic capped bordeaux" I believe .

I thought 2 years was an eternity for a developer to last but yall are just being plain silly, with the rubber stopper comments and 1977-78 vintage, sheesh 😉.
Todd

 

[Ronald M]

I remember the rubber stopper. Threw away an empty bottle from Altman Camera in Chicago. I know, the price tag was still on it, $1.29 if you must know. Altman has been closed for 20/30 years now,

Anyway you stick the needle into the center of the rubber and suck up the amount you need with a hypodermic. I used 4 cc to make 300 for plus x, 11.xx min at 68. Print on Polycontrast #2.

Needles are harder to get today but I still have my supply. Of course they are no longer sterile, but who cares . Sterile packaging has a limited life.

The Rodinal glass bottle and rubber stopper packaging became illegal and it went off the market for a number of years .

 

[Tom A]

They used to sell 1000ml bottles of Rodinal and I would buy "six-packs" of it. This was the 60's rubber stopper bottles. I went to a veterinarian friend and begged a syringe/needle kit from him. This was a humungeous syringe - it would do 100cc!!! and the needle looked like a plumbing tool. If I were a cow or horse and somebody approached me with this and "this is going to hurt a bit!" - I would be over the fence and gone! Worked great with the Rodinal though.

 

[John Bragg]

My bottle in curent use is 14 years old and shows no signs of lack of potency. I can hardly believe that I nearly threw it out about 8 years ago during a clear out of expired chemistry. That would have been a tragedy indeed and I pressed it into use only when Agfa discontinued production purely out of nostalgia. It works like a charm and must truely be the nearest thing to an everlasting developer.