Where do you mix your xtol

[ChrisP]

Running low on D-76 so I figure why not experiment with something new when I'm done. X-tol seems to real cheap and supposedly increases speed which is a good thing for me (never shot a roll of B&W at box speed and I don't plan to start).

Anyways the silly things comes in 5 litre packages. 5 litres? Really? D-76 comes in 3.8 litres, thats one gallon, 1 gallon jugs are everywhere but I've never bought 5 litres of milk before, or 5 litres of distilled water. So first does anyone know why they made it 5 litres? And second for anyone who uses x-tol where do you mix it? Is there anything that comes in 5 litre jugs that would are great for re-using as a mixing tank?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[ibcrewin]

I have seen 5L tanks at community darkrooms.

 

[loquax ludens]

I bought 5 liter bottles from Kodak years ago for E6. The single use E6 kits made 5 liters of each solution too. Also I believe the RA chemicals were 5 liter kits. So I think 5 liters is just a common solution mix size for Kodak.

You can split your solution into two or more conveniently sized containers, you know.

Arista 5 Liter Storage Bottle (Approximately 1.32 US gallons)http://www.freestylephoto.biz/6875-Arista-5-Liter-Storage-Bottle-Approximately-1.32-US-gallons

 

[ChrisP]

splitting it up

splitting it up

With my d-76 what I did was mix it all up in a 4L jug, than split it into 1 litre bottles so I could squish them down to keep air out.

What I have read though is that chemicals are spread evenly through the powder in the packets. So you're not supposed to split things up until after it is all diluted. So I really just need a big cheap jug to mix everything in before I put it all into 1 litre bottles.

those 3 dollar black jugs do look almost perfect though

I bought 5 liter bottles from Kodak years ago for E6. The single use E6 kits made 5 liters of each solution too. Also I believe the RA chemicals were 5 liter kits. So I think 5 liters is just a common solution mix size for Kodak.

You can split your solution into two or more conveniently sized containers, you know.

Arista 5 Liter Storage Bottle (Approximately 1.32 US gallons)

 

[ibcrewin]

I mix it up in a 5g pail from Home Depot - and decant it into four 40oz. Budweiser bottles. I don't know what's worse - the hassle - or having to drink that Bud. Cuz you know, it's a shame to waste beer (any "beer").

That's a great idea. Maybe, since you're at the depot anyway, you can buy a section of closed cell foam, the kind they use for insulation cut it in circle to match the 5g pail (floating lid), and add a spigot! done!

 

[t.s.k.]

Yep, mixed in a pail, stirred not shaken, and distributed in various sized bottles.
I use a good size funnel and a reasonably steady hand to pour to keep bubbles to a minimum.

 

[MartinP]

I use the same bucket for film and paper developer, but wash and dry it in between of course. After that, it gets decanted into smaller (litre or two litre) very full bottles, same as everyone else does. To make the obvious comment, make sure the re-used storage containers are very very well labelled, perhaps having the lids covered with duck tape etc. (just to make it ultra obvious that the bottle no longer holds beer(!) or whatever) and stored out of reach of children and away from foodstuffs (again to avoid possible confusion, by drunken visitors etc.).

The 3,8ltr size is an American gallon, 4,54ltr size is an Imperial gallon, and 5ltrs is sensible. 😉

 

[filmfan]

I just use a big cooking pot.

 

[venchka]

I too mix in a plastic pail well scrubbed and marked in liters. Envelop A must be totally dissolved before adding B. It takes awhile. Keep mixing and mashing the little bits on the bottom of the pail. You will eventually get every last speck of A dissolved. Then add B. Mix until everything is dissolved. I use distilled water.
Storage is in either a wine in a box bladder or flip top beer bottles. Way better than having to drink Bud. I have used Xtol from a wine in box bladder that lived in my refrigerator for 13 months. It worked perfectly.

 

[kipkeston]

I try to aliquot into smaller glass jars after. I mix in a home depot plastic bucket.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I use a 2 gallon bucket to mix up Xtol. I've been thinking about getting a 2 gallon tank with a spigot on the bottom to make bottling Xtol after mixing easier.

 

[blindguy]

I use a 10 liter stainless sauce pan I bought at Ikea. Cheap, easy to clean. Works well.

 

[skibeerr]

What's a gallon 😀

 

[ath]

In a plastic bucket. I dissolve the whole package in 2.5l and store them in 4 0.5l bottles and 4 0.125l bottles, all filled up to the rim. 0.125l gives 0.5l XTOL 1+1.
Refill the small bottles when all are empty.

 

[dfoo]

I originally mixed it up in a big pail. Now I mix it up in a 2L jug and then add 500ml of water once mixed up (ie: twice the stock dilution) before storing in 2 accordion bottles.

 

[shyoon]

I mixmy XTOL in a mop bucket and then pour it into a 4L plastic water bottle and then the remainder in a 1L bottle. I don't bother refrigerating it but it still seems to last at least 9-10 months.

 

[goffer]

I use a Rubbermaid Victory Jug:

I know, it's not the best solution for long time storage but my last batch, which took me about 4 months with 1:3 to deplete, developed perfectly every time.

 

[JCT]

I bought the 2.5 Gal size of a slim "refrigerator" container here: Container Store.

Marked the sides in 1 L increments. I have a collection of 750ml wine bottles that I decant to and keep sealed with rubber wine stoppers. Works great.

 

[ChrisN]

Maintaining the alcohol theme, I store my five litres of ID-11 developer in two 2.5 litre wine bladders, after drinking the wine of course. The wine bladders are great because you can expel all the air when filling, and the bladder collapses as you draw off developer.