10 gallons of D76!

[jtzordon]

<complain on> So I just restocked on film, developer, and paper for the year. I bought the 10 gallon box of D76 thinking that I'd save a few bucks. It didn't even cross my mind that it was one big package and NOT 10 packages of 1 gallon D76 mix. :mad: Here I'm thinking how many rolls I need to shoot before I mix this monster up (I can develop about 260 rolls of 135 or 120 at 1:1); I don't even have a container to mix 10 gallons of anything! <frustrated>

[Len Robertson]

The common answer on darkroom forums is don't divide dry chemicals into smaller quantities , but I've always wonder if this is valid. I would think Kodak fills the 10 gallon packages and the 1 gallon packages from the same giant hopper. As long as you have an accurate way to divide the powder, probably by weight with a good scale, it seems the divided quantities would work the same. Stirring the powder up before dividing might be good, in case some ingredient settles more than others. But this is all theory on my part. Maybe someone else who has actually tried dividing dry developer will tell you it results in disaster.

Len

[Nathan Jones]

I don't see any reason not to divide the powder. Keep everything in a cool, dark, dry place in well-sealed containers and it should be fine.

[Jadedoto]

I'd think you could divide the dry powder... it must have been shifted around enough anyway during packing and shipping to be mixed adequately... and if not, shake it up yourself.

You could always take off a few small samples of powder, mix them up and test with two or three short control strips of film to check development consistency...

[radiophoto]

GOOD NEWS!  GOOD NEWS!  I bring good news from the land of chemical separation and division!

I have done this and you can do it too.  Divide by the total number of grams how much powder you will need and weigh it on a digital scale (available for about $20 at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart).  I went with a quart at a time when I bought a gallon mix of D-76. 

I had absolutely no problem with developing because it was already well-mixed, the powder.

Lucky man, I asked for one of these for Christmas and didn't get it.

[jtzordon]

I wondered about dividing it up. I will give it a shot. I have a balance at work, so I'll just take it in and divide it up there. I do have a workday coming up.  :cool:

Lucky man, I asked for one of these for Christmas and didn't get it.

I bought it myself.

[jake]

Just keep your unmixed chemistry dry. Several dark glass storage containers with a silica packet taped to the underside of the lid might be a good idea.

[radiophoto]

Or, if you want to be a cheap-ass, like me, you can put the unused chemicals in ziploc bags, and then put the bags in a shoebox, or a tin with a lid.

[LarryD]

Ya Pete that powder and Chrystal in zip-loc bags is real nice looking in my job. True story we held a young couple up for 3 hours while the tested and retested the contents of some zip-loc bags... darn baby formula tends to test all over the place with a field kit.

[Mike Kovacs]

I'm sure its well mixed at the plant.  I've never looked closely at D76 but its possible if there are big differences in particle size between components that some may have settled.

Mix it up well and I can't see why you couldn't divide it.

[radiophoto]

Ya Pete that powder and Chrystal in zip-loc bags is real nice looking in my job. True story we held a young couple up for 3 hours while the tested and retested the contents of some zip-loc bags... darn baby formula tends to test all over the place with a field kit.

Larry, would it be any less suspicious in amber glass bottles?    Just don't put it into envelopes and mail it to anyone, that's what I say.

[LarryD]

good point