Replenisher as developer?

[Marel]

Hi!

I want to try using a liquid developer now that I've used the powdered mixtures a bit (D-76 and Xtol) to find out if I like it more. So I went to my trusty supplier of all things photographic and found a bottle labeled Ilford Ilfotec HC Replenisher. Silly old me thought that was all fine and dandy, until I started googling this replenisher thing.

So my question is: Can I dilute this replenisher and develop with it or are some chemicals missing from the developer mixture? Is it simply a more concentrated developer or is there some fundamental difference? Should I return the bottle and forget the whole thing?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Marel]

I shall try, perhaps in vain, to bump this to the front page, hoping that some kindhearted developing genius happens to find my cry of help…!

 

[Lauffray]

I'm also intrigued by this, though I don't know the answer.

Have you compared the formulas ? Sometimes for well known developers you can find the active developing agent and see if it's present in the replenisher as well and at what concentration.

Also, I know of some techniques where people would use a diluted developer solution as a replenisher for an older developer solution (same chemistry obviously). That obviously doesn't imply the opposite is true, but maybe they're not that far off.

Have you actually tried ? Sacrifice a roll for the sake of knowledge ! 😀

 

[Rob-F]

I'm thinking replenisher might be missing certain chemicals that don't get exhausted during development, such as sodium sulfite, restrainer, or ?? (just guessing, really).

 

[Ronald M]

NO NO NO.Stay away

 

[Fotohuis]

Not a good idea for optimum development.

 

[Fotohuis]

If you want to try hassle free liquid developer optimized for almost any B&W film and semi-compensating you should try the new Rollei Supergrain, a further development of the in Europe very populair AM74 from Amaloco Photochemicals in Holland who stopped producing in 2008 and it was really a lost item. The new developer is also Eco friendly and without any compromise in lifespan. Made by SPUR for Rollei-Maco. I think they did a very good job.

 

[Marel]

Thanks for the replies and helpful info everyone! I went the simple route and returned the replenisher and got a bottle of Ilfosol 3 developer. The Rollei looks interesting, will check it out.
I've just finished developing the first roll with the Ilfosol, looks OK.

 

[Bill Clark]

Nope.

I don't use replenisher.

I use D-76, 1+1 once then throw away.

Kinda like drinking wine, it goes down once then, in a matter of time it gets dumped into the toilet! It only gets replenished with a new bottle!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Some replenishers can be used as developers: mostly, they have twice the concentration of developing agents and more or stronger alkali. I see that this is now merely of academic interest to the OP but others may be interested. Normally you'd only use neat replenisher in an emergency, though I vaguely recall D19R being recommended as an aggressive push developer.

Cheers,

R.