Reusing TMax Developer

<p>I have six rolls of 120 Tmax film loaded on reels in three separate tanks (32 oz) Has anyone had experience reusing the same developer to process several rolls of film in the same day with their developer? Do you have to add extra time to compensate for the previous rolls? I'm using the 1:4 dilution ratio for the TMax developer</p>

<p>I reuse T-Max developer with no increase in developing time for more film than that. Even when diluted it seems to keep quite well in appropriate bottles.</p>

<p>Here's the Kodak web page that will answer your question, on page 9...</p>

<p>http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/j86/j86.pdf</p>

<p>Peter</p>

<p>I'll defer to Kodak on whether this is technically feasible but personally I always use fresh developer. It's not an issue of whether it's the same day but whether the action of developing a roll has exhausted the developer, or at least diminished its effectiveness. The Kodak chart offered up by Peter appears to indicate a maximum of four rolls per quart before you have to increase time, but I prefer to keep it simple.</p>

<p>Go with Kodak's recommendation, regular time for your first two tanks with the same quart of dev, add one minute for your third tank and if you have one a fourth tank.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Why, oh why? Even these days, developer is cheap and film is expensive (and important shots are priceless)...</p>

<p>When you reuse Microphen and add 10% to your time after each roll the results are very even. If you reuse developer I suggest that you filter it through a coffee filter after each use. That will keep particles from floating around and showing up on the next roll. Typically developer reuse is done with undiluted or minimally diluted stock. </p>

<p>Interesting thread, I guess I should have looked up the datasheet... I regularly put 4+ rolls of 35mm through a quart of Tmax 1:4 without adding time. I've been thinking that I need to get a bit more systematic in the number of rolls and time I use actually. In the past I've been developing b/w only a couple times a month but recently I've been doing more.</p>

<p>Is there a dilution for Tmax that results in a 'one shot' usage like a rodinal? I just started using the Adox rodinal solution as an alternative and do appreciate the simplicity of dumping after one use.</p>

<p>I should add a question to this discussion.<br>

In my opinion is not clear if the T MAX DEV. capacity specified by Kodak is related to the concentrated or diluted (working solution) chemical.<br>

The Kodak Technical Publication j86 does not specify clearly: <br>

<em>The capacity of this developer with normal processing is</em><br /><em>approximately 48 rolls of 135-36 or 120 film per gallon (or equivalent), with time compensation,</em><br>

but direction on an ancient 1l bottle specified: <em>working solution: 1l= 12 film with time compensation,</em> and direction on a recent 1l bottle is less straightforward (photo). http://imgur.com/a/Jg6gy <br>

I should like to have the forum opinion...</p>

<p> <br><I>Note: photo link corrected by Moderator</I></P>

</p>

<p>All the ones I ever know from Kodak are for working solution, though that may be undiluted.</p>

<p>D76, for example, can be used stock or 1:1, each have a capacity. </p>

<p>For T-Max and T-Max RS, there is only the 1:4 ratio, and, as far as I can tell, the bottles are labeled by the amount of working solution. </p>

<p>From: http://imaging.kodakalaris.com/sites/prod/files/files/resources/j86.pdf</p>

<p>it comes in bottles sized for 1 gallon and 5 gallons of working solution. I would expect the bottles to say "1 gallon" or "5 gallons" on them, with the sizes actual 1/5 of those values.</p>

<p>Since 1 gallon is about 4L, especially with Kodak rounding, 1L= 12 rolls sounds right.</p>

<p>j86 doesn't mention 1L bottles, and your photo didn't come through.</p>

<p>Hello Glen.<br>

For the photo try to point with right click and "copy image address" (or similar...). Let me know...</p>

<p>Now the link is there. It wasn't before.</p>

<p>Seems to me a coincidence between the 1L bottle that makes 5L of working solution, and the capacity given in rolls per liter of working solution. Capacities are usually in rolls/gallon and rolls/liter of working solution. </p>

<p>From the picture, it first says that the bottle makes 5L, and then that the capacity of 1L is 12 rolls with appropriate time increases.</p>

<p>Which also agrees with the US Kodak data sheet.</p>

<p>Therefore with 1 l of TMAX DEV. we make 5 l of working solution.<br>

With 1 l of working solution we can develop 12 rolls with time increase.<br>

Therefore with 1 l of TMAX DEV, we can develop 60 rolls. <br>

More or less, is it not an exaggerated number? In comparison, with 1 l of D 76 we can process only 4 rolls (Kodak J-78), and with 1l of XTOL 15 rolls (KODAK J-109) with time compensation...</p>