What exactly is replenisher for?

Jessica Custalow , Jan 16, 2007; 11:23 a.m.

When I first started developing, I had books that gave instructions and blah blah blah. They never mentioned replenisher. By means of internet surfing, I came upon the term and figured it was for when my chemicals became exhausted. My question is basically when to use the replenisher and how to use it. Or, is it necessary to use it? Are there options ot not use it? If it were mandatory, I would have read about it by now. Thanks!

Responses

Frank Schifano , Jan 16, 2007; 11:38 a.m.

Develioer replensihers do exactly what the name implies. Replensihed systems are best used in a high volume production environment with strict controls on the chemistry. They are not terribly useful for the home user unless you plan on developing dozens of rolls of film over a few days or so.

Michael Ging , Jan 16, 2007; 11:42 a.m.

You do not need to use it if you are not using your developer straight. If you are, only certain developers like D76 have replenishers, and what it does is adds the chemicals that become exausted when you develop film. I never use replenishers as I mostly use D-76, 1 to 1, and dump the developer when I am done. If you do use replenisher you will need to keep tract of the numbers of rolls you delvelop and the size of the film. Its really for large photo labs that develop a lot of film , if these even exists anymore.

John Shriver , Jan 16, 2007; 07:37 p.m.

Many of the developers that can be replenished are so cheap that there's little point in using them other than "use and throw". Also, there aren't many replenishers left on the market, the HC-110 and Microdol-X ones are both discontinued. To make replenishment practical, you need to be developing enough film that your working solution isn't going to age out first from oxidation. Shelf life is usually the nemesis of the amateur, choosing developers to beat that demon is the best way to economy.

Replenishment also is more suited to large tank processing, as in sheet film, where the amount of developer is very large compared to the amount of film being processed at a time.

Since developing consistency in processing is a key challenge to beginning film developers, the best way to achieve that is by "use and throw". Getting consistent results with replenishment is an extra challenge that is probably not worth the effort for most folks.

Lynn Jones , Jan 19, 2007; 02:33 p.m.

All full strength developers should have replenisher. Not only does a developer lose stength in use, but the by products of development have a sharp restraining action. After just a few rolls per gal, you won't recognize the results.

In developers like D76, Acufine, or UFG after 6 rolls of film, the results are so fouled up that consistancy is totally lost. A replenished developer like D76 and UFG can be replenished in perpituity as long as you filter the colloidal silver out of it occasionally (coffee filters work just fine). With Acufine, I prefer to dump and replace after 25 or 30 rolls per gallon.

Obviously, if you dilute and dump, your only problem will be the age and oxidation of the developer. If you use replenished D76, don't try to use it as a diluted developer, it doesn't work. Use separate mixes for diluted and replenished developers.

Lynn

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