HC-110 Current vs Previous Poll

[sepiareverb]

Sometime over the last two years manufacture seems to have been shut down in Rochester and been taken up by Tetenal in Germany. The 'new' HC-110 comes in 1 Liter bottles and is less syrupy than the old 16 oz. wide-mouth bottles.

I am about to finish my last bottle of the 'old' HC-110 syrup, and am trying to sort out whether the 'new' HC-110 thinner formula has changed or has not. I read both yes and no in my research on various forums. Kodak has not updated the data sheet since this change. I will be able to do some testing next month, but thought this thread might help me plan the extent of the testing I'll do.

I Rarely use anything other than dilution B, and I always mix from the syrup, using a syringe.

Have you used HC-110 for a long time, and through the manufacturing change? Have you made changes to your processing times?

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not familiar with this "new" HC-110 vs "old" HC-110. I've got a bottle from 2009, is that the "old" stuff or the "new" stuff.

 

[sepiareverb]

That's the 'old'. I've edited my original post, hopefully it is clearer now. Thanks for helping me explain this better Tommyjoe.

 

[zuiko85]

My last purchase was 2 bottles from Freestyle about 3 years ago so I guess this is old stuff. I mostly use 60:1 as one shot with my films which are whatever is the best buy at the time. Don't do a lot of developing so I still have a full unopened bottle and about 1/4 of bottle opened 2 years ago.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Jeez, just when I thought I'd finally decided on 2 developers for all my developing they go and change what's been around for decades , corporate jerks . Peter

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hope it's not different. I spent the last few months dialing in my process for Kodak Double-XX using HC-110. Probably have enough left for twenty or so more rolls, then I'll have to buy more. From what I was reading, it's the same stuff, just in a bigger bottle and made in Germany instead of the US. Who is saying it is thinner than the old syrup.

 

[sepiareverb]

Jeez, just when I thought I'd finally decided on 2 developers for all my developing they go and change what's been around for decades , corporate jerks . Peter

Well, it remains unclear if it changed in viscosity only or in a way that also effects development times.

A regular developer of mine since 1983. I don't think I still use anything else I used in 1983 except for Indicator Stop and butter.

 

[sepiareverb]

... From what I was reading, it's the same stuff, just in a bigger bottle and made in Germany instead of the US. Who is saying it is thinner than the old syrup.

Some folks on LFF have reported it is thinner, and the 1L bottle I have seems a little less viscous, tho I've not opened it yet. Could be the size and shape of the bottle making it seem thinner I suppose.

Edit:
Just compared the two, and consistency does seem about the same.

 

[charjohncarter]

I haven't opened my 'new' bottle yet but am about ready to. I don't know after this thread if I would rather worry about it until I try it OR be p***ed off when I find it is changed. I hope someone has a good answer.

 

[charjohncarter]

Some folks on LFF have reported it is thinner, and the 1L bottle I have seems a little less viscous, tho I've not opened it yet. Could be the size and shape of the bottle making it seem thinner I suppose.

Edit:
Just compared the two, and consistency does seem about the same.

You slipped your post in while I was posting: at least that is somewhat good news.

 

[sepiareverb]

You slipped your post in while I was posting: at least that is somewhat good news.

I hope so. Strange that it is so hard to find a definitive answer on this, and especially that Kodak hasn't updated the data sheet.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Kodak say it is the same:
https://twitter.com/adelorenzo/status/410680034169348096
Some users say it's not.
For the poll:- most workers that have an issue I read are changing the amount used not the time, there are discussions that point to the minimum volume required for a film no longer being sufficient, increasing time is not going change that.
This BTW is why I mix my own developer, I know what I put in so I didn't vote, I do have some HC110 at the current rate of use it will comfortably outlive me.

 

[sepiareverb]

This discrepancy is where my confusion lies.

I will be testing, good to know I should test minimum volume, I run most of my sheet film in HC-110. Thanks.

 

[Pioneer]

Still working on the old stuff and have plenty so I won't know for awhile.

D76 1:1 has been my go to developer for a long time so it takes awhile for me to get through a bottle of HC110.

EDIT - And now I have Diafine and Beutler to work my way through as well. 😀

 

[ChrisLivsey]

This discrepancy is where my confusion lies.

I will be testing, good to know I should test minimum volume, I run most of my sheet film in HC-110. Thanks.

When I say amount I should clarify to dilution so where 5mls was used now using 7.5ml for the same time, but that is experimental and quantities guessed by me.
That does imply stand users need to be careful that the minimum volume is sufficient if highly diluted, which is what I perhaps did not say clearly, and this is nor direct experience but reading around in my forum travels.

 

[KenR]

First one to vote!

First one to vote!

I never was the first to vote - I've been using the new stuff for 2-3 months and it seems identical to me. I was wondering why the bottle was larger, with a different shape and lid - now I know.

 

[Pete B]

I received my first bottle of HC110 just this week. I've never seen the old stuff but I recalled people mentioning how viscous it is. When I shook the bottle I was was surprised how fluid it seemed - not at all what I expected. I now know why!
Pete

 

[x-ray]

I've used it since 1975 and have used several new bottles this year. I see no difference in development times with Ilford, Fuji and Foma film. I use it with HP5, FP4, Pan F, Acros, Neopan 400 and Foma 200.

 

[sepiareverb]

I never was the first to vote - I've been using the new stuff for 2-3 months and it seems identical to me. I was wondering why the bottle was larger, with a different shape and lid - now I know.

What dilution(s) do you use Ken?

I've used it since 1975 and have used several new bottles this year. I see no difference in development times with Ilford, Fuji and Foma film. I use it with HP5, FP4, Pan F, Acros, Neopan 400 and Foma 200.

Good to hear this from someone whose development savvy I know! Thank you! What is your usual dilution(s)?

I received my first bottle of HC110 just this week. I've never seen the old stuff but I recalled people mentioning how viscous it is. When I shook the bottle I was was surprised how fluid it seemed - not at all what I expected. I now know why!
Pete

Strange that my old bottle, about 1/6 full seems so thin. Is this simply the power of suggestion at work???

Have you run any films yet Pete? Using the Kodak data sheet for starting times or the Massive Development Chart?

I can see I'll need to run a couple of side by side tests right off the bat once I'm done with this job and can dedicate a day to the darkroom. I use HC-110 for XX, HP5+ mostly, some FP4+ too. I'm most concerned with sheet film as it is my most used developer there, and a mistake there is most costly.

 

[x-ray]

I use several dilutions depending on the film. I use 1:31 normally but with FP4 I use 1:47. I like to keep times over 5 minutes and prefer 7 to 8 minutes for consistency. I'll use 1:47 to achieve those longer times.

Really I wouldn't have known there was a change had I not read this thread.