Rodinal shelf life

[pshinkaw]

Can any of you Rodinal users tell me how long an unopened bottle of Rodinal will keep? How about an opened bottle?

I found some fresh bottles of Rodinal selling for 1/2 price today and I was wondering if I should stock up. The large bottle is sellling for about $5 US.

-Paul

 

[thpook]

I'm still using the same bottle of rodinal that I bought over a year ago. No problems.

I just keep it out of direct sunlight, and away from heat. As far as unopened bottles, I'll let you know when I get to the unopened bottle that I bought at the same time 😀 .

 

[FrankS]

I've heard that the shelf life of an opened bottle of Rodial is measured in decades, and that of an unopened bottle is measured in centuries. I'm sure this is a bit of an exaggeration. But it does last a very long time.

 

[dcsang]

I've heard tales of Howard Carter discovering an ancient form of Rodinal that was in a sealed vessel in an ante chamber of King Tutankhamun's tomb back in 1922.

Apparently it is still useable to this day... of course, such tales tend to be slightly exaggerated 😉

Ya.. I would say years.. if not a decade.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I've heard tales of Howard Carter discovering an ancient form of Rodinal that was in a sealed vessel in an ante chamber of King Tutankhamun's tomb back in 1922.

Apparently it is still useable to this day...

So it wasn't PMK that did him in?...

 

[eric]

According to the good folks at the pure-silver list, it will last just about until Armageddon. I've had mine now for about 3 or 4 years. Works perfect. I've heard of people using the stuff after more than 5 years and longer. 5 bucks? Dang, where's that?!

 

[pshinkaw]

Holland Photo (a custom lab) in Austin Texas. 500ml bottle is half off their $9.95 price. Of cources Adorama has it for 7.49 for 500 ml, so it's not a terrific savings. I think they are getting rid of their al of their liquid chemistry.

-Paul

 

[eric]

HOlland Photo? I remember them. I had them do a couple of Cibachromes a way long time ago.

 

[doubs43]

Holland Photo (a custom lab) in Austin Texas. 500ml bottle is half off their $9.95 price. Of cources Adorama has it for 7.49 for 500 ml, so it's not a terrific savings. I think they are getting rid of their al of their liquid chemistry.
-Paul

Paul, grap a couple or three bottles. It'll last almost as long as a Twinkie!

I've been using from the same Agfa Rodinal bottle for over a year and while the contents have turned a bright rust color, the working solution when mixed shows no signs of losing strength. When it's gone, I have a liter bottle of R-09, the original pre-war formulation of Rodinal.

Walker

 

[Rodinal Addict]

Back when Rodinal came in glass bottles, (careful!!), my teacher used to use marbles to fill the bottle up to the top after she poured some out. Use a little, add a few marbles. Claimed it prevented oxidation.

 

[dcsang]

Back when Rodinal came in glass bottles, (careful!!), my teacher used to use marbles to fill the bottle up to the top after she poured some out. Use a little, add a few marbles. Claimed it prevented oxidation.

That would make sense, as long as the marbles themselves didn't contain any impurities it would be perfect since you're replacing the lost volume of rodinal with the volume of marbles and thereby reducing the air at the "top" of the bottle to a minimum thereby reducing surface area and oxidation.

Dave

 

[Roman]

Well, this marble trick might be useful with other developers (though a spray-can full of Tetenal Protectan is much more practical...), but it is overkill with Rodinal - no matter how & where you store it, it keeps forever and a day...

Roman

 

[dcsang]

Well, this marble trick might be useful with other developers (though a spray-can full of Tetenal Protectan is much more practical...), but it is overkill with Rodinal - no matter how & where you store it, it keeps forever and a day...

Roman

Ya.. I was just commenting more on the concept of oxidation rather than on Rodinal itself.

We all know that Rodinal still tastes great years after it's been opened.. 😉

Dave

 

[Kin Lau]

I have 2 bottles of syrup for my darkroom. Rodinal & HC110. Both are about the same age, 2 years, the Rodinal's a bit darker but both have the same keeping qualities.

 

[canonetc]

To slow the oxidation, I squeeze all of the air out of the bottle, then cap it, after any usage. But I'm glad to know it really doesn't matter.

Chris
canonetc

 

[Jim Watts]

Back when Rodinal came in glass bottles, (careful!!), my teacher used to use marbles to fill the bottle up to the top after she poured some out. Use a little, add a few marbles. Claimed it prevented oxidation.

When Rodinal came in glass bottles it use to have a tight fitting rubber stopper under the screw cap. You could push a hypodermic needle attached to a syring through this, accurately draw off what you needed and it would self seal. No oxidation.