Ilfostop help anyone?

[inSIGHT]

I just developed my first rolls of film last night (Tmax 3200).
While reading the pdf for ilfostop I noticed that it said the working strength is only 7 days.
I was wondering if anyone has experience using this stop bath and if it is good longer than the 7 days?

It's not too big of a deal since the dilution is 1+19 anyway so only 3 oz of the concentrate was used but I just want to know if I'll have to dump it after seven days and mix up a new batch.(Definitely will only mix up the amount needed to fill my small tank next time)

Thanks for the help,
Brett

 

[ruby.monkey]

You could round-file the whole bottle and use a water rinse instead, and your photos would turn out just as well - and last just as long.

 

[inSIGHT]

I like the idea of using a stop bath starting out as a novice in film photography and developing. I think knowing exactly when my film has stopped developing is useful to me so if something doesn't turn out I can eliminate the question of slow stopping the developer from using a water rinse. Either way I already bought a whole bottle so I might as well use it.

Just looking for anyone with experience using a solution after the given 7 days.
Thanks

 

[RayPA]

I like the idea of using a stop bath starting out as a novice in film photography and developing.

+1 on this—for the reason you state below. And for that same reason, I wouldn't use it past the recommendation. Unless you can test the ph, why veer away from your reasoning? Mix it fresh for each use, and dump it after the 7 days. Advice: If you're going to use a stop bath solution, I recommend that you use one with an indicator.

I think knowing exactly when my film has stopped developing is useful to me so if something doesn't turn out I can eliminate the question of slow stopping the developer from using a water rinse. Either way I already bought a whole bottle so I might as well use it.

Just looking for anyone with experience using a solution after the given 7 days.
Thanks

Sorry no experience with this stop. Good luck! 🙂



/

 

[kmallick]

This is the first time I come to find out the Ilfostop working solution lasts 7 days. I have used it well over a month for developing several films and I think it has worked fine as stop bath. I even used the same solution for stopping paper during wet printing, put it back in the bottle and used it for films. I have the working solution in one of those brown 1 gallon bottles.

 

[inSIGHT]

Thanks Ray.

Prior to developing, I spent a lot of time looking into everything I would want/need on this forum.
It does have an indicator so I can tell if it has been overused and if it also indicates if the working strength is past 7 days then that is perfect and something I neglected to research.
I shall take yours and Ilford's advice and discard after the appropriate time.

BTW:My images turned out much better than I expected for my first time, now I just need to buy a scanner or take them to a photo co to have them scanned..... Maybe some more thread searches for that topic.

Thanks,
Brett

 

[inSIGHT]

This is the first time I come to find out the Ilfostop working solution lasts 7 days. I have used it well over a month for developing several films and I think it has worked fine as stop bath. I even used the same solution for stopping paper during wet printing, put it back in the bottle and used it for films. I have the working solution in one of those brown 1 gallon bottles.

Thanks for the info.
Have you noticed if the ph indicator in ilfostop changes to purple after the 7 days before Ilford's rated 15 roll life was reached?
I'm just trying to figure out if the ph indicator is sensitive to the silver emulsions or/and longevity of the chemical life?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[illuminati_02]

It doesn't. I just discarded a small batch of working solution today that was atleast a few months old and it was bright orange.

 

[kmallick]

Thanks for the info.
Have you noticed if the ph indicator in ilfostop changes to purple after the 7 days before Ilford's rated 15 roll life was reached?
I'm just trying to figure out if the ph indicator is sensitive to the silver emulsions or/and longevity of the chemical life?

Thanks,
Brett

Mine always stayed yellow. I was hoping to see it change color, but it never did. I decided to throw the working solution away after several film developing and wet print sessions and make a new batch. I have been quite happy with Ilfostop so far.

 

[mfogiel]

If your standard development time is in the ballpark of 10 minutes (as it should be), the best way to use ilfostop would be to ... stop using it, as it is useless. I actually do not use anything, not even a water rinse, just develop and fix with a fresh fixer, this way I save time and water.

 

[inSIGHT]

Thanks for the heads up kmallick and illuminati. That's exactly what I was wondering.

/thread