Reusing c-41 chems?

[AshleyC]

Ive surprised myself and managed to take a couple of rolls of film today but only have the chems left to make up one batch for one roll. How much extra would you add onto dev times, if any, if i reused the chems for the 2nd roll? Im also using a cpe-2 tank so when i pour the chems out on each stage there are bound to be traces of the previous chem in the tube, would that affect things much?

 

[Asha]

What chems are you using Ashley?

I wouldn't have thought you would have to add any time on especially if you develop the second roll immediatley after the first.

I've only used Tetenal C-41 kit which states x amount of films can be developed ( i forget how many) but I've always got lots more out of the chems, sometimes double the quoted amount in the instrctions.

I have no experience of the cpe-2 tank but why would traces of the chems be an issue if you're going to refill the tank with the same chems?

 

[AshleyC]

i would be emptying the tank out down a hose back into the bottle so any traces of the previous stage would still be in the hose. I know slide film chems are a bit fussy regarding traces of each stage being present, just wasnt sure about c-41.

Im using the same kit, when i read the instructions i assume the 1-4 rolls meant all at once rather than 1-4 in total.

 

[Asha]

i haven't got the instructions to hand but i think it's along the lines of:

1-4 rolls.......x mins

5-8 rolls x plus a bit longer mins etc

etc
etc

basically if you dev 2 films at x mins, the next time you continue to dev at x mins for two films.

when you get to film 5, you dev at mins plus a bit


if you make the complete 1 liter of solution and only pour say 500ml into your tank to dev a film, you re add it to the original soup to use next time.

Now that i've confused ya, you can go develop with knowledge that's as clear as mud! lol

 

[Asha]

just to add,

when you get to 16 films ( or whatever the maximum is), the time is something like 12 mins dev and 20 mins blix i think .......continue to use those times or even a bit longer for additional films and you'll get several more devs out of your kit.

Be aware that there isn't really a good sign to know when the chems are going to snuff it, so be a tad careful of what "important" films you choose to dev at that stage.....nonetheless you can very much get your moneys worth out of the kit.

 

[Nod]

i would be emptying the tank out down a hose back into the bottle so any traces of the previous stage would still be in the hose. I know slide film chems are a bit fussy regarding traces of each stage being present, just wasnt sure about c-41.

Im using the same kit, when i read the instructions i assume the 1-4 rolls meant all at once rather than 1-4 in total.

I'd rinse the hose with water before reusing rather than risk contaminating the soup(s) a tiny bit of extra dilution will be less harmful than contamination.