Shelf life of Calbe R09? (*not* Rodinal)

[godfrog]

Sorry to post on this topic that has been discussed many times before. The problem is most of the threads fill up with people posting anecdotes about how old Rodinal (which is different and bottled differently compared to R09) they managed to use.

Please, I don't want to hear about your 3 or 30 year old Rodinal.

With that out of the way, I have a question about Calbe R09. I bought two bottles around a year ago, and I'm not though the first one yet. I have read in many places that R09 has a shelf life around 1.5 year.

Does this 1.5 year figure apply to unopened bottles as well? In other words, is it a bad idea to buy a big stock of R09 developer?

 

[ZorkiKat]

If Calbe R09 is exactly the same as Rodinal (which btw was R09 in the Agfa and ORWO formulary), ie, same ingredients, same proportions, etc, then it should behave exactly as Rodinal. Calbe R09 is rebadged ORWO R09.

From the publication "ORWO Formulae", on the R09:

"After long storage, a small amount of white salt may precipitate and the colour will grow darker. Both those facts do not weaken the developing power."

 

[rxmd]

Does this 1.5 year figure apply to unopened bottles as well? In other words, is it a bad idea to buy a big stock of R09 developer?

I wouldn't worry about that, I used the same bottle of R09 for about five years.

Unopened bottles are usually filled with an inert gas anyway. If you get really worried, fill up the bottle with a heavy inert gas yourself; propane might be the cheapest option (aka lighter fuel), or if you are into welding, you could use argon. Or fill up the bottle with glass marbles so that the developer always reaches the rim of the bottle.

As per your request, I won't get into the discussion of how different R09 really is from "original", pre-recipe-change Agfa Rodinal. However, p-Aminophenol-based developers tend to be pretty stable in general. Don't worry.

 

[nickdando]

Another source of inert gas is Tetenal Protectan. A very short puff is all that is required - you don't need to fill the empty space in the bottle as the gas is heavier than air and will sink to form a thin barrier over the fluid.

Nick

 

[Steve Ash]

Or more simple fill the big bottle in a bunch of small bottles.

Regards
Steve

 

[rxmd]

Another source of inert gas is Tetenal Protectan. A very short puff is all that is required - you don't need to fill the empty space in the bottle as the gas is heavier than air and will sink to form a thin barrier over the fluid.

Protectan is essentially a propane-butane mixture, i.e. a more expensive, branded version of lighter gas.

 

[godfrog]

Thanks for the replies!

I have read that unlike Rodinal, R09 is not filled up under inert gas, but I do not know if this is true or if it applies to the R09 made by Calbe. Either way, I can easily add some myself, thanks for the tip.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

If Calbe R09 is exactly the same as Rodinal

Its not. See the old photo.net thread about this...

There are even (potential) differences between "R09 One Shot" (made by Connect Chemicals using the Agfa formula) and Agfa Rodinal.

Shelf life of all these in open bottles is indefinite--- can be years or decades.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Its not. See the old photo.net thread about this...

There are even (potential) differences between "R09 One Shot" (made by Connect Chemicals using the Agfa formula) and Agfa Rodinal.

Shelf life of all these in open bottles is indefinite--- can be years or decades.

If you refer to the current Rodinal, you are correct. But if its the original AGFA R 09 Rodinal, it will be the same ORWO R 09 Rodinal, which by extension will be the same as Calbe R 09 Rodinal. My original statement did not reference the current ones or the revised Agfa Rodinals or the variants made by them or others.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

But if its the original AGFA R 09 Rodinal, it will be the same ORWO R 09 Rodinal, which by extension will be the same as Calbe R 09 Rodinal.

No. "R09 OneShot" (made by Connect Chimicals) = (more or less) Agfa (Leverkusen) Rodinal.
Calbe R09 = (more or less) OrWo R09 = (more or less) post-war Agfa (Wolfen) Rodinal

Calbe R09 is also NOT the original Rodinal (but closer than the post-war brew made in the West by Agfa/Beyer).

Both Calbe R09 and Agfa Rodinal did go through some slight chances over the years. Packaging, production, chemical sources and even modifications did take place. The changes in the West were, however, from my point of view more extreme as, among other things, Agfa changed to Potassium Hydroxide. The chemistry is similar but there are from a photographic perspective differences.