Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]What sort of container is easy and practical for mixing the initial 5 liters? I have a pack ready for mixing but have done no darkroom work for almost 40 years. Thanks in advance..........Julian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel Ridings" <daniel.ridings@muspro.uio.no> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 10:38 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] XTOL Matt, You would be better off saving the 5 liters in a number of smaller bottles. That way you don't expose all the solution to air every time you open a bottle and pour off some solution to make your working dilution. There are many ways to do it. Whatever works for you. I split the 5 liters into 4 1.5 liter bottles I get mineral water in (I'm trying to be "correct" here. I do use mineral water bottles if I have them, but the kids drink more Coke than water, so I use 1.5 liter bottles that used to have Coke in it). That gives me 4.5 liters. I then have a few smaller bottles (once again, mineral water or Coke): 500 ml. When it's time to break open a 1.5 liter bottle, I empty it over into 3 smaller bottles and work out of them. When they're finished I just refill them (cleaning them out and all of course). As for working solution. It's a religion. You'll find times for 1:1 (1 part Xtol 1 part water). You can also use it straight (don't) or 1:2 or 1:3. I've settled on 1:2 or 1:3 depending on my patience. You'll have to look around for the times for starters. A roll in a stainless steel tank requires 225ml of solution (for me). Diluting at 1:2 that gives me 75 ml of Xtol and 150 ml of water (1:2). Some say use distilled water, I don't. I used to but I quit and I haven't noticed any difference. It all depends on your tap-water locally. I think this site has Kodak's old recommendations for various dilutions. Kodak quit publishing them: http://www.digitaltruth.com (go to their massive development chart and choose Xtol). They're not sacred times. But they'll get you started. Daniel On Wed, 28 Apr 2004, Matt Shonfeld wrote: > I made up the 5 litres of Kodak XTOL film developer following the > instructions. Can anyone explain if I now need to dilute again. I am > developing a single film in a Patterson container. From what I can > gather I need 100 ml for one film straight from the 5 litres, is this > right ??? > > Matt > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information