expired D76 from '06 - powder

[LeicaM3]

Ok to use? Expired 08/2006.

Yeah, I know I could do a short test strip, but I guess somebody must have tried it.

Powder got old while I have been using the same Diafine mix for the last 2.5 years 😀 for about 300 rolls...

Thanks.

 

[rich815]

That short of expiration might be ok but I'd not develop anything important in it. I had some about a year old but it would not dissolve too well, at least relative to what I'm used to on non-expired stuff, and I decided it was not worth it trying to save the $6 USD or so on a bag of D-76 and maybe waste a roll of film costing about $3.50 plus the time and effort made to produce the images on the roll to find out so I dumped it.

 

[bcostin]

I'd mix it up and see. If the powder is white and dissolves ok, then it'll probably work. Two years isn't a very long time, relatively speaking, and dry chemistry seems to keep pretty well when properly sealed. My current working batch of D76 was mixed from an envelope of powder that expired in about 1986. 🙂

I'd definitely run a test roll or two, though, before relying on it for anything important.

 

[photophorous]

I have not used old powder myself, but I've always heard it lasts a very long time in powder form. I'd give it a try with something that isn't too important. It's probably fine.

 

[cosmonot]

I just spent 3 weeks in LA staying with my parents and developing film in D76 and Microdol that was probably purchased new by my dad in 1977. Both work fine, but they were stored in a dry location. I also finished off a bottle of rodinal that I bought new while in high school, probably ca. 1997 or so. That worked fine too.

I think yours will probably be fine.

 

[eric]

With negatives, you only 1 chance to do it right. You can't go back and fix it.

 

[LeicaM3]

Thanks for all the responses. Encouraging enough to run a roll.

 

[sepiareverb]

If it mixes up brown I'd not use it. I just mixed up some Dektol that expired about 6 months ago (new got stacked on top of it by mistake when the last batch came in). It mixed up brown/orange and I got much less tray life out of it.

If this was packed in the old paper/foil package I'd not bother with it- the newer plastic/foil package I'd mix it up and see.