Ilford ID-11: mix all at once?

[John Noble]

Up to now, I've been using Nacco Super 76 (a liquid D-76 clone) film developer with pretty good results. It was until recently available at most of my local camera stores, but now they all stopped carrying it due to slow sales and high minimum orders from the manufacturer. They also stopped carrying the rest of the Nacco chemistry I used for stop, fix, and print developing.

Fine, sez I, I'll switch to Ilford for everything and order in larger quantities from B&H since local prices for Ilford chemistry are rather high. Great idea, except I failed to read the data sheet for ID-11 before ordering and bought a box good for 5 liters of stock solution. I figured I'd just mix a liter at a time and that the powder would keep indefinitely.

Not according to the data sheet: "Always make up the developer stock solution to the volume stated on the pack, do not attempt to prepare smaller solution quantities by using fractional parts of each powder." It goes on to say: "Unopened packets of ID-11 developer and ID-11 replenisher powder stored in cool dry conditions, 5–20C (41–68F), will keep indefinitely. Once opened use completely to make up stock solutions."

Is Ilford exaggerating, or am I going to waste a bunch of developer and learn a lesson about doing my homework? There's no way I'll go through 5 liters of stock solution before it goes bad.

 

[markinlondon]

Always mix powdered developers in one go. The powders are a mixture of ingredients and there's no way to be sure of thorough mixing in the packet. I only use 1l packs, but then I reuse my ID-11 or Microphen stock solutions. you could use it one shot as stock, you may like the reduced grain. Stock solution will last 6 months in full bottles.

 

[sepiareverb]

IF you fill the bottles to the very very top and cap them with no air in there you should get a bit longer out of the stuff.

 

[John Noble]

Always mix powdered developers in one go. The powders are a mixture of ingredients and there's no way to be sure of thourough mixing in the packet.

I hadn't thought of that, and it makes perfect sense.

I guess this is an excuse to shoot more film. 🙂

Now I need a 5 liter collapsing bottle, which means a trip to the camera store, which means I'll be forced--forced, I say--to look at more photo toys.

Thanks for the very quick and helpful responses. RFFers are the best.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

If only all developers were available in liquid concentrate...

Chris

 

[John Noble]

If only all developers were available in liquid concentrate...

Chris

... and had indefinite shelf life. Maybe HC-110?

 

[juhor]

... and had indefinite shelf life. Maybe HC-110?

Agfa Rodinal is a good all-around developer for many films. It does it job, the bottle lasts for a long time and it's shelf-life is long.

 

[markinlondon]

John, HC110 is pretty much indestructible and (in my opinion) very similar to ID-11 in look. At dilution H you'll get 200 35mm rolls out of a litre of syrup.

As for a 5l collapsible bottle, I'd be inclined to split the stock into smaller amounts. PET fizzy drink bottles do a great job of keeping air out and can be squeezed to exclude the air bubble. LDPE concertina bottles are much more gas permeable and (again, imo) not worth the cost.

 

[John Noble]

Thanks for the comments, guys. My curiosity about HC-110 grows.

I ended up sacrificing a gallon jug of distilled water to provide a home for most of the ID-11; the rest went in a couple of brown chemistry bottles and will get used tomorrow as one-shot. I'm taking 10 rolls of HP5+ with me on a 3 week road trip this month, so I'll use most of the rest of the batch in less than a month.

Note to self: go buy a double reel tank and another reel.

Come on, it's half the fun! I've quadroupled my shooting after switching from 1L packs of ID-11 to 5L packs of Xtol 😀

This occurred to me as I was mixing up the big ole batch of soup today. 🙂 Nothing like a deadline to speed up production!

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Longevity Of Id-11

Longevity Of Id-11

Having worked for Ilford for 11 years, and being an ID-11 user, I have had part filled bottles last past the six month period up to nine months.

Liquid chemical is also sensitive to light so please store it in a dark bottle in a dark cupboard. Just a dark cupboard will do if the bottle is clear.

I tend to avoid the containers that crush down, concertina I think they are called. If you let one dry out the residue chemical caught in the folds is a real pain to get out. If you forget about it and all goes off / sludgey then you will have the devil's time trying to clean it.

Use well stopped containers stored in a dark place.

I think a lot of home users do not fully appreciate the damage light does to mixed solutions, especially developer.

Cheers
Peter

 

[jobo]

I think a lot of home users do not fully appreciate the damage light does to mixed solutions, especially developer.

😱

And into the cupboard the Microphene goes...

Thanks, /J

 

[John Noble]

😱

And into the cupboard the Microphene goes...

Thanks, /J

Heh. I kind of wish I had the option.

My "darkroom" is three feet by six feet (yes, the infamous undersized half bath), so I have no choice but to stow everything--including the enlarger--under the vanity.