Old HC-110, Rodinal

Old HC-110, Rodinal

  • Yes, use the HC-110

    Votes: 13 26.5%

  • Yes, use the Rodinal

    Votes: 14 28.6%

  • Yes, use both randomly

    Votes: 17 34.7%

  • No, use the D-76

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • No, put all the film in a pile and set it on fire

    Votes: 4 8.2%
  • Total voters
    49
Dante_Stella

Dante_Stella

Rex canum cattorumque
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So in getting my darkroom operational again, I found some old developer in a box (the proverbial pole-barn). It's ancient and predates my last darkroom.

So the big question: do I develop 13 test rolls of film in HC-110 that expired in 2010 or Rodinal of similar vintage. All bottles are unopened. I really like HC-110, and Rodinal is well-nigh indestructible.

Or do I chicken out and use some safe D-76?

[Yes, I know the correct thing is to do test clips, but come on....]

Dante
 
2010? I would not even consider it as expired. It is slightly aged as Spanish wine or lomography smuggled in 2010 from Italy film in Czech wine oak like buckets.
 
I've used both and both are long lasting. But if I was starting out I would buy either new and use it until I found a Rx that suits me. Fine tuning with unknowns is just too heart breaking. THEN after you have found a Rx you like try it with the old stuff. If you can't see the difference then you have a gift.
 
I'll wager they're both still usable. I would test both with non-critical test rolls.

Chris

P.S. - Sorry, I couldn't resist voting for that last option... :D
 
Ko.Fe. said:
2010? I would not even consider it as expired. It is slightly aged as Spanish wine or lomography smuggled in 2010 from Italy film in Czech wine oak like buckets.
Click to expand...

Gotta go with Ko.Fe. on this. Just developed a roll of 620 in HC-110 that expired in 2009, and it was originally opened back then. It's like dark brown honey, but still works fine. And I've got some Rodinal that's the shade of black coffee, and it still works great too.

Congrats on your new darkroom.

Best,
-Tim
 
^ I'm with Ko-Fe too on this one . I had some old Blazinol ( Rodinal in Canada ) and it was pretty much just black crystals on the bottom . Put the bottle in some really hot water and it turned into a black syrup . What if it didn't work just fine ! Peter
 
My Rodinal is about the same vintage--maybe a couple of years older--and works just fine. Two bottles still sealed never opened.
 
How does one work out the expiry date of HC-110? I have a couple of bottles here with no date I can see anywhere on them. I'm told they are quite old. I've been really pleased with their contents, pushing HP5+. I've also got a bottle of Agfa Rodinal that has never let me down, that might have something on the box or label, perhaps? I can check them, if anyone really wants me to. Of the two I tend to prefer HC-110 for most uses, but surely either of those products expired in 2010 should be just fine, if sealed, kept air free, and in the dark.
Cheers,
Brett
 
Another "just fine" here. I've used opened Rodinal from 10+ years back. Worked fine. My current HC-110 is almost 6 years old. Working fine. Those are the only two developers I feel confident about using old stuff. From experience.

Now, I would suggest storing these developers in a cool, dark location. But that's about it.
 
I'd use them both, especially if they have been in your possession so you know their storage history. Actually, unopened, I'd use both anyway.
 
I've had no problems in using Rodinal the color of coffee and HC-110 that was a little lighter, maybe like chocolate milk.
I agree with all the above that a test roll would be a good idea, but other than that, go for it!
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
How does one work out the expiry date of HC-110?
Click to expand...

My bottle of HC-110 that expired in 2009 actually had the expiration date stamped on it. It was one of the old style short squat bottles. About two years ago the plastic of the bottle had gotten weak and cracked, causing the HC-110 to ooze out. Got an empty plastic Heinz mustard bottle, washed it out, and offloaded the remaining HC-110 into that. Now I've got a Heinz mustard bottle of dark brown honey, that still works great. The stuff seems to be indestructible.
 
I have stored both in factory sealed for many years beyond their expiration date. HC-110 does not even turn brown over a decade past expiration in factory sealed bottles (at least the 1l ones they sell in Europe).

Rodinal originally lasted eternally (Agfa once celebrated its centenary by using a 100 year old bottle from their archives, successfully). It ran into storage life problems right after Agfa switched from glass to brown plastics bottles (IIRC in the mid eigthies), but more recentish plastics bottled Agfa Rodinal (in the white bottles) seems to be air tight, all of mine was bought right after Agfa closed shop, and I have no issues. But YMMV where third party Rodinal remakes and their packaging are concerned - I have lost count of the variations...
 
Test for sure. My past experience is that Rodinal lasts many, many years without any detectable deterioration. Even when it has turned brown, it still works. Highly concentrated developers seem to do that. At the newspaper where I once worked we found a box with several glass bottles of unopened Edwal FG7 that was so old the labels were crumbling--stuff must have been stored away and forgotten for more than 20 years. I tested it and it was like new. A couple of us liked it so well we used it as our normal developer.
 
I'm getting low but I have some HC-110 that is opened & older than yours & it works fine. I had some Rodinal to crap out on me as it was near the bottom of the bottle & much was crystallized. My HC-110 has turned a dark orangy color & mine still works. At least the last roll I developed 2 months ago did.:D
 
If people are willing to develop their film in coffee and beer, 7 year old Rodinal in an unopened bottle should be no issue. As longs as there's no crystals.

It'll give you a sense of adventure!:D
 
All of the rumors I've heard say "fine" for both. but I don't think I've used either of these developers that old. A clip test is about zero cost.
 
My bottle of Rodinal dates from 2009. I switched to HC-110 a few years ago and hadn't used it since. I developed Fomapan 200 in November in Rodinal and worked fine.
 
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