Developing Tri-X in HC-110

[sooner]

Hi Folks,

Well I did it again, getting my math wrong and developing a roll of 35mm Tri-X 400 in HC-110 dilution B for 7.25 minutes. Thought I had mixed dilution H, 'cause usually I'm mixing more chemistry for 120 film. The film came out very dark, though some may still be usable. This motivates me to ask a question I've had for a long time: how long do you develop this film in HC-110? The big development chart online lists three or four different times, from 3.75 minutes to 4.5. Very annoying. Thanks in advance.....John.

 

[rogue_designer]

Obviously dilution makes a huge difference. So does the metered speed of the film.

I tend to push my TriX - and so I use HC110 at 1:100 in a semi-stand development. 1 stop push = about 30 minutes, with one inversion every 5 minutes.

that said - if I'm using dilution B, shot normally. I would process for 4:15. But I hate feeling that rushed. 🙂

 

[kxl]

For 35mm Tri-X at 400 EI in HC-110, Dil B...

After some trial and error, what works for me is 6 min, 15 sec at 68 deg F. I apply 10 inversions from the outset, then another 6-8 inversions every 90 seconds.

You can see some of the results in my Jerusalem photoset. All the B&W images are from HP5+ and Tri-X -- all at 400 EI and all developed in HC-110, Dil B. I forget which ones are which, but in general, the B&W images with the slightly higher contrast are the ones shot with Tri-X.

Good luck!

 

[kxl]

BTW, here's an interesting read re: OLD TX v. NEW TX and developing in HC-110. Note the comment re: most who use this combo report dev times between 6 and 7 minutes..That coincides with my findings of 6m15s.

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/

 

[sooner]

Thanks, guys. Wow, that's a pretty big difference between you, 4:15 and 6:15 in dilution B.

 

[Chris101]

That's almost the only film/developer I use anymore. I must like the contrast or something, cause I develop trix in hc110 dilution b for six and a half minutes at 20 degrees centigrade. Here are a couple of contacts so you can judge for yourself:

http://homepage.mac.com/cheilman1/images/photos/film/contactsheets/sheet070608a.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/cheilman1/images/photos/film/contactsheets/sheet071808a.jpg

 

[like2fiddle]

That's about the same for me too. I use HC-110 at a dilution of 1:100 for Tri-x at 400 and develop for 19 minutes with 4 inversions every 3 minutes.

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm about where Chris101 is. I shoot TriX at 250, develop HC-110h 11.5 minutes, 30 seconds agitation to start then 3 inversions on the minute, 68 degrees. I like my negatives a little dark so you could even go back from this. But for Trix at 400 (which I didn't like) in dilution H, I used 12.5 or 12 minutes which is close to Chris' B dilution.

 

[alexz]

I'm nearly in teh same boat with John (also used to listen to his advises when was going through trial and error with HC-110 for Tri-X in the past).
Settled for 12.5 min. for Tri-X @ 400, 20 deg. C. Moderate agitation: first 30 sec., then 3 inversions at 2 min. intervals. Of course, dil. H.

 

[oscroft]

Interesting. If I shoot Tri-X at 400 in especially dull lighting, I'll dev it in HC-110 dil B for about 7 mins (I find 15 to 30 secs either way, in whatever dilution, really doesn't seem to make much difference). For exposure at 400 in good lighting, I prefer dil H for about 14 mins.

But I like Tri-X best at ISO 200, done in HC-110 dil H for 12 minutes.