How do I store developer

[Little Prince]

I just received a bottle of FX-39. How do I store it? Any special instructions? Can it be stored at room temperature. I assume so as I've always seen D76 lying around in a big tank at room temperature. I know that it's not good to leave developer open to the action of air. Anything else?

 

[RayPA]

Most liquid developers last longer when exposed to as little air as possible. Usually, those large vats of developer you see at labs have floating lids, or floating plastic balls, that eliminate surface exposure to air. I don't know FX-39, but every developer has its own shelf life usually based on whether it is full and sealed or half full. Some are very short others rather long. Room temperature should be fine.

 

[Little Prince]

Thanks Ray. So what do I do when I start using the developer? How do I eliminate surface-air contact?

 

[Justin Low]

The bottle that the developer came in is usually good enough. What you might want to do is to displace the air in the bottle either by squeezing most of it out, or by spraying an inert gas like nitrogen or propane into the bottle (or Dust-Off gas).

Another solution would be to use the developer quickly. 😉

 

[Little Prince]

I do have some propane from a recent camping trip incidentally, but *propane*?
That sounds dangerous. For now it's not a concern since I haven't even opened it.

I'm unlikely to use up the developer quickly though. Sad truth.

 

[Justin Low]

Yes, it does sound dangerous. I use the Dust-Off gas with my XTOL and have never had an issue.

Then again, I have a gallon of D76 in a large gallon sized container, it's half full and I don't see any problems with it. I don't shake it around though.

 

[RayPA]

Thanks Ray. So what do I do when I start using the developer? How do I eliminate surface-air contact?

If you don't plan on using it all up quickly, you may have to invest in some small bottles and pour off into those. I don't know if you can still find the accordion bottles, those were really handy. The gas idea sounds cool—never done that though. 🙂

 

[Doug]

Marbles. 🙂

 

[RayPA]

Marbles. 🙂

There ya go! I forgot about the marbles option. The opposite of the floating plastic balls.

 

[T_om]

I do have some propane from a recent camping trip incidentally, but *propane*?
That sounds dangerous. For now it's not a concern since I haven't even opened it.

I'm unlikely to use up the developer quickly though. Sad truth.

I have used propane for many years as a 'sealer' against exposure to the atmosphere. It REALLY works well preserving paint.

Propane is heavier than air so I always open the paint cans outdoors and 'pour' off the propane before bringing them inside, but there is little danger. You would not be exposing paint fumes to open flames anyway unless you are just experimenting with backyard ballistics.

I use a standard propane torch, unlit of course, and direct the nozzle into the can. A second or two squirt of propane gas into the container does the trick. You just need a thin layer of propane in the can sitting on top of the liquid. It doesn't matter if there is also air trapped in the can as the propane will settle to the bottom, air or not, and make a floating seal.

Tom

 

[kiev4a]

When I mix a gallon of D-76 I put three-fourths in plastic quart bottles and the rest in two pint bottles.as I us the developer I squeeze as much air as possible out of the bottle. I've kept sealed bottles nearly six months with no apparent loss in quality. HC-110 concentrate will keep almost forever. I divide the concentrate in small bottles--like the ones rapid fix hardner comes in-- and draw off the amount needed to develop a batch of film using a plastic syringe.

 

[Biber]

I use an empty box of wine for my X-tol and it's been working fine so far. The bag inside contracts as I use more of the developer, the exposure to air is very low and it's easy to store.

http://biber.ath.cx/xtol.jpg
http://biber.ath.cx/xtol2.jpg

 

[Doug]

Biber, Kodak used to sell some darkroom chemicals in one-gallon boxes like that with a plastic pouch inside, and a rubber tube with a pinch-valve to dispense the concentrate. I'd set a box of Dektol and one of Rapid Fixer on a shelf above the sink; very handy. Have no idea if that's still offered. Hmm... searching B&H, it looks like they might!
Here's Polymax paper developer in a container that looks pretty familiar:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=63980&is=REG
And here's Kodak Rapid Fixer:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=27626&is=REG
AND, here's the dispenser tube, whose description reminds me the box was called a "cubitainer"!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=112215&is=REG

But your idea of recycling the similar boxes used for bulk wines is not only practical, but a tasty one as well!

 

[cp_ste.croix]

wow...there are some serious darkroom ninjas in this forum.