I mixed up a batch of Diafine #36 from Darkroom Cookbook and I'm getting OK
density but low contrast. I figure either one of the chemicals has gone bad
from sitting on the shelf for several years (they all looked OK; no brown
color) or I made a mistake in measuring. Using a digital scale I mixed part
A:
in 750ml 150oF H2O
S. Sulfite anh. 35 g
Hydoquinone 6 g
Phenidone .2 g
S. Bisulfite 6 g
Part B:
in 750ml 150oF H2O
S. Sulfite 65 g
Borax 20 g
to make 1L each.
Can someone double check me?
Thanks.

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dan.c.quinn@att.net - 07 Feb 2005 10:30 GMT
> I mixed up a batch of Diafine #36 from Darkroom Cookbook
> and I'm getting OK density but low contrast. I figure
> either one of the chemicals has gone bad from
> sitting on the shelf for several years
> (they all looked OK; no brown color)
> or I made a mistake in measuring.
That formula arrived at by R. W. Anderson and part of
P. Dignan's Classic B&W Formulas does specify metaborate.
R. W. does suggest borax as an alternative.
Diafine is an old formulation. Perhaps some of today's
films do not work well with it. What film and how was
the fog level? Dan
Mike King - 07 Feb 2005 12:04 GMT
Try it again with fresh phenidone (you didn't say how long it's been sitting
on the shelf).

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darkroommike
----------
> I mixed up a batch of Diafine #36 from Darkroom Cookbook and I'm getting OK
> density but low contrast. I figure either one of the chemicals has gone bad
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Can someone double check me?
> Thanks.
dan.c.quinn@att.net - 07 Feb 2005 22:29 GMT
I've some phenidone three or four years on my shelf which is still
sealed in P. Formulary's plastic pouch. I've got it on the counter
and today will do some dissolving experiments. Do you think
it is still good?
I've observed it is a very fine powder with an adhesive property;
I'd compare it to corn starch.
Diafine by all accounts is a VERY long lived multi-use developer.
It is a PQ, two bath formula with, I'd estimate, a slightly alkaline
A bath.
Dan
Mike King - 09 Feb 2005 17:06 GMT
I don't use Phenidone a lot since it doesn't tell when it goes bad. Sealed
in a pouch, away from air, it's a pretty good bet but I wouldn't commit
anything important to your "brew" without testing.

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darkroommike
----------
> I've some phenidone three or four years on my shelf which is still
> sealed in P. Formulary's plastic pouch. I've got it on the counter
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> A bath.
> Dan
PATRICK GAINER - 06 Mar 2005 20:03 GMT
>I don't use Phenidone a lot since it doesn't tell when it goes bad. Sealed
>in a pouch, away from air, it's a pretty good bet but I wouldn't commit
>anything important to your "brew" without testing.
>
>
I've got some that is 30 years old. Still works.
Randy Stewart - 07 Mar 2005 00:40 GMT
> >I don't use Phenidone a lot since it doesn't tell when it goes bad. Sealed
> >in a pouch, away from air, it's a pretty good bet but I wouldn't commit
> >anything important to your "brew" without testing.
> >
> I've got some that is 30 years old. Still works.
I'll 2nd Pat on that. I've never had Phenidone go bad in powder form
[Ilford branded product], even in an opened and resealed container.
Robert Vervoordt - 07 Mar 2005 01:39 GMT
>> >I don't use Phenidone a lot since it doesn't tell when it goes bad.
>Sealed
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>I'll 2nd Pat on that. I've never had Phenidone go bad in powder form
>[Ilford branded product], even in an opened and resealed container.
I got a repackaged load fo Phenidone in the late 60's. Checked it out
during the recent move, 3 months ago. Still light and fluffy. It
worked in solution two years ago.
Phenidone, Glycin, CD-4... Why am I so blessed?
Robert Vervoordt, MFA