oscroft
Veteran
I've had a bottle of the old Agfa Rodinal in the fridge for quite some time, with not much left in it. I checked it today and it makes a crunchy noise when I shake it, as it's obviously got some stuff crystalized out.
I should probably just throw it away (I have an unopened bottle of the R09 replacement too), but I just wondered it if could still be used.
But I presume those crystals are of something that was important to the developer, and as it's been well sealed all this time it's not just evaporation that's led to the crystalizing.
What would you do? Would you be safe and dump it, or would your adventurous spirit make you want to try it and see if it still works?
I should probably just throw it away (I have an unopened bottle of the R09 replacement too), but I just wondered it if could still be used.
But I presume those crystals are of something that was important to the developer, and as it's been well sealed all this time it's not just evaporation that's led to the crystalizing.
What would you do? Would you be safe and dump it, or would your adventurous spirit make you want to try it and see if it still works?
Lauffray
Invisible Cities
I'm in the exact same situation and would also like some advice
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I guess you could shake it up, re-dissolve the crystals, and try it on a roll you really couldn't care less about.
Joao
Negativistic forever
It happened to me with home-made paRodinal.
It forms a thick deposit on the bottom of the bottle. I was advised to use it without shaking or trying to dissolve that deposit and it worked as usual (but I dont do prints or enlarged images...).
It forms a thick deposit on the bottom of the bottle. I was advised to use it without shaking or trying to dissolve that deposit and it worked as usual (but I dont do prints or enlarged images...).
oftheherd
Veteran
I have some old Rodinal also, but no crystals yet, and all seems well, even after some 4 or 5 years. But if I feel any doubts I will go to R09 or another developer. Developer is just too cheap to worry about it.
BTW, I have a really old container of HC110 from which some of the liquid has left. The seal is tight so I presume some water has found a way out of the plastic. I will be opening it and adding a little water, then trying it. Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else done that? Of course I will try it on an unimportant roll, and gladly follow my own advice to throw it out if I don't get good results.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
No need to shake it up...just use it like normal...all is good...
mfogiel
Veteran
I had blank film twice in that case - I'd simply buy fresh developer, it's cheaper than losing some valuable shots.
oscroft
Veteran
Thanks for the suggestions folks. I've let it warm up to room temperature, and the crystals don't redissolve even if I shake it, and there's really quite a lot of sludge in it.
There'd only be enough left for half a dozen films or so anyway, so I think I'm just going to dump it and open the new bottle.
There'd only be enough left for half a dozen films or so anyway, so I think I'm just going to dump it and open the new bottle.
Dpingr1
Established
Try a test strip. My guess is it will work fine. I've used old, dark muddy brown Rodinal a lot, and it always works great. It's amazing for its stability and longevity.
nhchen
Nathan
This happened to me too. I've had crystals in the bottle for a while and everything was working fine, but one day I suddenly got blank negatives.
nathan
Sid836
Well-known
Warm it up to 40-50 degC and stir it. The crystals will get dissolved and it will be as good and strong as new.
The crystals come from the developing agent paraminophenol. If all of it settles down in crystal form then the rest of the soluble will not be able to develop your films.
The crystals come from the developing agent paraminophenol. If all of it settles down in crystal form then the rest of the soluble will not be able to develop your films.
Fotohuis
Well-known
The crystals won't dissolved completely anymore. Better from not putting R09/Rodinal in the fridge too. Just keep it on room temperature (20C) or a little bit lower in temperature.
oscroft
Veteran
That makes sense, thanks. Warming it didn't redissolve it all, so I've dumped it now and I'll move on to the new bottle - which I won't keep in the fridge!
John Bragg
Well-known
Dont add water to HC-110 concentrate as it is a waterless formula and that is what makes it keep forever. Once diluted it has a limited shelf life.
Nokton48
Veteran
HC-110 is glycol based. No H20.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
In theory yes. In practice your patience (and the temperature) will run out before a significant amount has dissolved - even if you bump up the temperature to 70°C you may have to stir it over night. If you really have such a lot of aged Rodinal that it pays off, get a magnetic stirrer/thermostatic heater (with Teflon coated magnet) and Erlenmeyer flask (and rubber apron and gloves - the stuff is seriously caustic, even more so when hot).
Drago
Established
yes, it happens when you leave it in too cold temps. mine has crystals on the bottom too, no problem with developing whatsoever.
MRohlfing
Well-known
Just prepare the working solution and put a drop on the film leader. If it turns black, give it a try.
No need to fix the test strip, of course! If the developer still works, the strip will turn black right away.
I have used 5 year old HC-110 yesterday with great results!
No need to fix the test strip, of course! If the developer still works, the strip will turn black right away.
I have used 5 year old HC-110 yesterday with great results!
Freakscene
Obscure member
The crystals you get in Rodinal are partly from recrystallisation of the p-aminophenol, but he brown colour is from polymerisation of the p-aminophenoxy free radical which is formed from the alkaline autoxidation of the p-aminophenol and from formation of indophenol through the same process. Crystal formation further to p-aminophenol recrystallisation probably also occurs as the aminophenoxy free radicals polymerise and indophenol forms.
You can redissolve the recrystallised p-aminophenol, but you can't convert the other products back to p-aminophenol and dissolve them. So stirring or heating and stirring just doesn't work.
I've used some really crunchy Rodinal and it seemed to work fine, with equivalent sensitometric outcomes to fresh developer. There is insufficient loss to recrystallisation to change the characteristics of the developer substantially.
Marty
Highway 61
Revisited
The same here with original Rodinal which wasn't too old (red crystals in the bottle, blank films). So I came to the conclusion that the so-said exceptional longevity of Rodinal once the bottle has been opened was another urban legend.
Got back to the good ol'D-76 1+1 and found that the results I had with films said to be at the best of their best with Rodinal (original Agfa APX100 for instance) had nothing to envy to anything.
Getting stuck with what works very well should be the first advice given to anyone wanting to achieve clean results when developing at home.