Alright, I know this is basic stuff that I guess ought to be obvious, but I've read a bunch of guides and I'm still not sure. I think it's the sort of thing where there is more than one right answer, everyone has their own way, it depends on your chemicals, etc. So forgive me if this is annoying or asked all of the time...
I want to start developing black and white film at home. I've done it before, long, long ago, but always in a school lab so I wasn't responsible for buying or maintaining anything. Plus it was a long time ago.
What I want to understand is how do you store your chemicals, which ones get reused and for how long, and how to know when it's time to throw them away and buy new stuff. Assume this is an occasional use type thing, so I'm more likely to need to throw things away based on time rather than usage, so storing them in a way that prolongs their shelf life is important.
Let's start at the beginning. Developer. Suppose I want to use D76 because it's cheap and popular. The package has enough powder for 1gallon, but as soon as I mix it up the clock starts ticking. I think I read in Kodak's instructions that it's good for 16 rolls per gallon unless you use a replenisher (should I do that?). So is the idea that you get a 1 gallon jug, mix up your powder, then each time you use it you pour it back into the jug, and after 16 rolls it's time to throw it away? If you didn't want such a big jug (and you were worried about shelf life once mixed) would you just mix up half at a time, store it in a half gallon container and only use it for 8 rolls?
Is there a different developer you would recommend instead?
(an aside: if I have a two roll tank, but I'm only developing one roll, do I still fill it all the way up with chemicals?)
Step 2: stop bath. I know it's optional, but it doesn't cost much and it supposedly prolongs the life of the fixer, so lets say I'm going to use it, the Kodak 200 indicator stuff. I've read this is reusable too. (right?) But I'm definitely not going to dilute the whole thing, it would make 8 gallons, that's ridiculous. So how much should I make, just like a pint or two? Use it until it changes color and then mix up some more? Or just use it one shot because it's cheap? (but I still need to keep a dilution on hand so I don't need to mix up a new one every time)
Step 3: fixer. Ilford rapid fixer seems to be the popular choice. This one everyone seems to agree, you reuse it and test it every so often to see if it's still effective. So I guess I get a 2.5L container or something close to that so there's no air space. If I only use half of it as my working solution and save the other half for later will it last longer?
Hypo-clear is apparently not necessary for the Ilford fixer, it doesn't have hypo...
Step 4: wetting, Kodak photo-flo. I guess for this you just add a couple of drops to the tank filled up with water so no storage necessary and it lasts forever, no big deal.
I'm just trying to understand what containers I need to buy, as well as what mixing apparatus, and that depends on what I'm storing and what I'm mixing. Basically I want to walk into someone's darkroom and see their shelf o' chemistry to see how they actually keep things.
Thanks so much.
