Interesting HC-110 discovery?

[like2fiddle]

Until about six months ago, I'd always used D76. After doing some research, I decided to try HC-110, partly because I no longer want to deal with powdered chemicals if I don't have to. Anyway, yesterday I developed a roll of film and after the developer stage I poured the used HC-110 (dil B) back into the beaker instead of down the drain (single use developer, right?). I finished developing in my usual method. As I mentioned on another thread, I'm shooting my daughter's musical over the next couple of nights and since I just opened a new tin of Tri-x and put it into a new (used) bulk loader, I wanted to test the film to make sure the loader didn't scratch it. I shot a couple of short rolls and loaded them onto reels. Then I remembered that I had not thrown away the used developer. I thought, why not try it, I'm just looking for scratches anyway. I decided to reuse the HC-110 but added 1.5 minutes to the development time (7 vs. 5.5) since it was presumably exhausted anyway. To make a long story short, I ended up developing both the short rolls in the used HC-110 and it looks like I should not have added time as both are too dense.😱 If I'd have had more time, I might have tried additional rolls, but I had other things I had to do. Is this an aberation or have I been wasting HC-110 these past few months?
(this is the first time I've tried dil B. I like the 1:100 solution but I didn't have the time to do that yesterday)

 

[javimm]

I use HC-110 dil B with Tri-x myself, dev time 5:45. For what I understand, reusing HC-110 is not worth it because of the minimum amount that's used. Better throw it away, than storing it after use and then adjusting the development or even worse, if the diluted solution has gone bad because of too much storage time.

I normally develop 1 roll in a 2 roll tank, but I have used 2 rolls at the same time, same dil. and the result were identical, so I can assume that it's more than enough for two rolls.

Cheers.

 

[like2fiddle]

Maybe I will do an experiment sometime to see how many full rolls can be developed in one session with a solution of HC-110 before it becomes exhausted.

 

[Anupam]

Reuse is not impossible but usually not worth the trouble because the concentrate is cheap enough and the results become unpredictable because one never knows just how much time to add. A full roll would exhaust the developer slightly more than your short roll and even though the additional time required might be minimal it is still hard to pin down exactly without elaborate tests.

-A

 

[Trius]

I think the key is that you re-used the developer right away. I'm not sure it would keep well to be re-used later, say the next day or two. Just a thought.

 

[peter_n]

Very interesting. and I think Trius may be right. Let's hope that Kodak continue to make this stuff BTW...

 

[Ororaro]

You can also reuse D76 1:1 if you add time.

Saving pennies is not worth it.

 

[FrankS]

If HC110 can develop film at a 1:100 dilution, I'm not surprised that there is plenty of active developer left after 1 use at much higher concentrations.

 

[aad]

It wasn't designed as a one-shot developer-it's just cheap enough to be one.

 

[titrisol]

Precisely
You can probably reuse it for 3 or 4 rolls in a session.
I used that method for DDX, and Ilford recommended adding a certain % of time after the 2nd roll/tank
Can;t rememeber the factor precisely but I think it was in the order of 10%

I think the key is that you re-used the developer right away. I'm not sure it would keep well to be re-used later, say the next day or two. Just a thought.

 

[DC1030]

I always make 1 litre of HC110 1:31 and develop up to 7 flms with it...
never used it as a one shot developer.
once learned it from a press photographer who always developed up to 10 6x6 films with 1 litre...