C-41 chems exhausted???

Asha

Asha

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How do I know if my chems are exhausted??

I mixed one third of the concentrates from the tetenal kit 4 weeks ago and have devd 7 rolls of 35mm film with it.

Got another couple of films to dev but don't know if the soup will still be ok....any help welcome!
 
IIRC (it's been a while!) 15 seconds extra per film if it's iso100, 200/400 counts as 2 films, 1600 counts as 3 films (faster the film, the more it depletes the chemicals...)
 
MindofMel said:
The way i understood it is you mix up your 1L kit and put 4 rolls through it. For every 1-4 rolls you dev through it you extend colour dev by 15 seconds. And it should last for 6 weeks. I think...
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Yes the kit suggests 6 weeks life once the solutions are made.

I'm sure it mentions that part solutions can be made like I have done ( just using one third of the concentrates).....the open bottles of concentrate lasting for approx 12 weeks.

I need to read the leaflet again perhaps.

TheBigYin said:
IIRC (it's been a while!) 15 seconds extra per film if it's iso100, 200/400 counts as 2 films, 1600 counts as 3 films (faster the film, the more it depletes the chemicals...)
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Tbh I don't recall any mention of lengthening times by 15 secs etc though the faster films do deplete the chems more rapidly.

I've just took a gamble and devd the two films...the first set of negs looked to show signs of being a tad thin, nonetheless I continued and wapped the second film through the same chemical batch and got what look to be ok results.

I'll ditch the chems now and make up new solutions for the next batch of films even though I reckon they could be pushed a little further if desperate.

Still very impressed to have got 9 films out of a 300ml soup.

We'll see what the cans have to offer when i get em done during this coming week.
 
steveo_mcg said:
When they taste like your tea?
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Mmm following on from what I've read between the lines of some of your responses on other threads and the continual guilty look on the face of my better half, I keep a good watch on my tea :suspect:.......it's to hope my sense of smell remains in good order as a decent brew of Yorkshire tea does have a resemblance in colour to C-41 developer!:gag: :D
 
Just to add an additional question....

Does the Blix and Stab deteriorate at the same rate as the developer??

Curious as to wether I will have to replace all the chems at the same time or wether like b&w chems, some ( ie fixer) will last forever in comparison to the developer.
 
You will need to replace the Blix, stab tends to last longer.
I have found the kits tend not to be great part mixed and left for any length of time. Even the unmixed but part depleated bottles tend to go off.
I tend to gather enough fim for a monster session of developing, that would be 18-24 sheets of 5x4 and then bin the chems after. It might seem excessive, but its still cheaper than sending 5x4 sheets away for devlopment.

Mart
 
Cheers Mart,

Like anything new, i was impatient to get started with C41 so have found myself sort of "rushing" through films simply to have a play around, not that i haven't enjoyed the experience and indeed there is still life left in the chems to do more, but for next time i will hold back and mount up the exposed films then have a monster session of C41 deving.

By the sounds of it, that is the most economical way.
 
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