What 5L container for mixing XTOL?

[Gregoyle]

One of the big benefits of a powder developer like D76 in the US is that it conveniently mixes in a 1 gallon container of distilled water. When mixing XTOL, I previously used a 2.5 gallon spring water dispenser, but the uneven ridges on the bottom made stirring the powder in a pain in the neck.

I got rid of the spring water container when I moved, and I'm ready to mix some more XTOL. I'd love to find a reasonably priced container that makes it easy. What do you use?

 

[Takkun]

I got a conveniently-sized Rubbermaid 6L cereal/dry goods container at a grocery store. I've heard paint cans work well too. My process is to mix in that, and then decant into a series of liter-sized bottles for later storage in the cabinet.

 

[kzphoto]

I'm eager to try XTOL but I haven't ever mixed powdered chemistry. Assuming I have no respirator and I mix outside, should I worry?

 

[Takkun]

I'm eager to try XTOL but I haven't ever mixed powdered chemistry. Assuming I have no respirator and I mix outside, should I worry?

I think you ought to be fine. Xtol is, if I recal correctly, formulated to be non-toxic, which was one of the reasons I was drawn to it.

 

[Robert Lai]

You're safe with Xtol. The active ingredient is vitamin C. Yes, really!

 

[Rob-F]

I use a white plastic bucket, slightly larger than necessary, from Home Depot. I put black marker lines in it to show me the 5 liter level.

 

[Freakscene]

I'd love to find a reasonably priced container that makes it easy. What do you use?

I use a Schott Duran 5 L beaker. Fantastic, but not cheap.

I'm eager to try XTOL but I haven't ever mixed powdered chemistry. Assuming I have no respirator and I mix outside, should I worry?

If you take reasonable care Xtol powder is not unduly hazardous. You may be better off mixing it inside than out-breeze may make more of the powder airialise than in a still environment. The msds states that gloves, goggles and breathing protection are a good idea. short of a respirator, a dust mask from a hardware store is reasonable protection, certainly better than nothing. And while one component is ascorbate, there are also metaborates and dimezone-s, neither of which are terribly hazardous, but which are not harmless either.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/msds/kodak/Xtol_Developer.pdf

Marty

 

[Rob-F]

You're safe with Xtol. The active ingredient is vitamin C. Yes, really!

Yes, vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. Also Hydroquinone and sodium sulfite. Don't drink it.

 

[Tim Gray]

I use a white plastic bucket, slightly larger than necessary, from Home Depot. I put black marker lines in it to show me the 5 liter level.

I do almost exactly the same. I also put a line at the 4 liter mark too. A big white painter's bucket, 2 gallon in size.

 

[Freakscene]

Yes, vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. Also Hydroquinone and sodium sulfite. Don't drink it.

There is no hydroquinone in Xtol.

Marty

 

[Gregoyle]

I got a conveniently-sized Rubbermaid 6L cereal/dry goods container at a grocery store. I've heard paint cans work well too. My process is to mix in that, and then decant into a series of liter-sized bottles for later storage in the cabinet.

Does the rubbermaid container have annoying stuff on the bottom that prevents stirring? Sounds like exactly what I was looking for.

I just use 1L soda bottles, which have the advantage of being able to squeeze them to keep excess air out in storage.

 

[Rob-F]

There is no hydroquinone in Xtol.

Marty

Ah, right, I meant Phenidone, not hydroquinone. It has Phenidone.

Don't drink it.

 

[fdarnell]

5 liter bottle

5 liter bottle

Kodak used to make a special 5 liter container that was just for this. I used extol so much that I bought one. I've moved it countless times, just in case I ever needed it. It now has a fresh batch. 🙂

I've tried to find a link on the internet but can't. It's perfect for the main mix since it fills almost to the top and has little air space.


It looks like the bottles here:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedFiles/US_plugins_acrobat_en_motion_products_kit_kitChem2.pdf

 

[Scrambler]

My favorite development chemical mixing container is a 5l (1 1/4 gallon) wine bladder. Except locally I can buy purified water in them which simplifies things. No air gap, ever, once you're finished mixing. The usual keep away from kids and guests disclaimer. I label well.

 

[Gregoyle]

My favorite development chemical mixing container is a 5l (1 1/4 gallon) wine bladder. Except locally I can buy purified water in them which simplifies things. No air gap, ever, once you're finished mixing. The usual keep away from kids and guests disclaimer. I label well.

This may sound stupid, but can you buy an empty one, or do you just use one up and rinse it really well?

 

[Scrambler]

This may sound stupid, but can you buy an empty one, or do you just use one up and rinse it really well?

I buy one with purified water in it which saves the drinking, cleaning and refilling steps. Camping stores sometimes sell empty ones.

 

[emmef2]

this is my Xtol workshop:

Cheap but effective mask with air valve:




8 L bucket:




Gloves and stirrer:




1 L and 0.5 L bottles for storage:




Using a bladder seems a very good idea, do they come in 0.5L and 1 L size and how practical is putting the developer into them?

 

[Scrambler]

For small sizes, perhaps a platypus? http://www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus. There are cheaper equivalents around: the usual online sources and local camping stores.

 

[oftheherd]

I have never used XTOL, but I got some plastic containers out of Ikea that worked well for pyro mixing.

 

[k__43]

5L PE lightproof gasoline canister.