[pure-silver] Re: Amidol and oxidization

I was probably working with the formula from Blumann

Water          500mls
Amidol        3.3 gms
Sulfite           22gms
Pot. Bromide .3gms

Blumann recommended only for small lots of prints which was true enough.  I 
tried this back before the internet (or my awareness of it) so all I had to 
work from were my historical texts and didn't really work w/it much after that 
and I have only used it for a speed boost w/PMK since then.  

So the extended life comes from the citric acid in the formula you use?

Eric




________________________________
From: Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee <michaelandpaula@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:50:19 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Amidol and oxidization

Ah, misconceptions about Amidol still abound. Frankly, I am astonished, since 
my writing about this has been out there for 13 years now. With my Amidol 
formula, Amidol will last all day. All day is 8, 10, 12 hours--however long you 
can print at one time. There is no fall-off in the activity of it until there 
is almost none left. Usually, I use it until there is not enough left in the 
tray to cover the prints. It makes no difference if I am using 1 liter, 3 
liters, or 4 liters.

I once knew a fellow at RIT who was considered the best printer at the school. 
He told me that when he used Amidol he first ran about a dozen sheets through 
it so it would get "sludgy."

So, Bogdan, relax about the life of working Amiidol solution.

We have even left it in an open tray overnight, after an almost all-day 
printing session--when there was still some left, and used it the next day. 
When you do this, it will only last for a half-dozen prints at most, and is not 
quite as active as when new. it is perfect when, for example, a grade 3 paper 
is slightly too contrasty. Printing it in the next day's Amidol tones the 
contrast down about 1/4 to 1/3 grade of paper and makes the print perfect. I 
always print one of my popular photographs using this "technique," if one can 
call it a technique.

Also, the Amidol I have was put into the bottles in either 1906 or 1908, I 
forget which. It is very black (obviously "oxidized." If anyone on this list 
has seen my print, or Paula's prints, it will become immediately obvious that 
there is nothing wrong with the "oxidized" Amidol.

Michael A. Smith





> Hi,
> 
> I take it then that it doesn't matter what quantity I use at one time,  1.5L 
> or 3L, 2 hours max.
> 
> Bogdan
> 
> Eric Nelson wrote:
> 
>> As I recall, 2 hours max.  It basically just stops working.  So when you 
>> make your first batch, weigh out enough to make a 2nd batch and keep it 
>> unmixed and ready to go.
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> From: Bogdan Karasek <bkarasek@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 12:01:08 PM
>> Subject: [pure-silver] Amidol and oxidization
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> Again,,  a Thank You to all who responded to my query concerning AZO and 
>> fogging.  Very helpful responses but which lead me to other questions 
>> concerning AMIDOL which was mentioned as THE developer for AZO.  I've order 
>> a quantity of Amidol from my supplier and will be using the formula found on 
>> Michael A. Smith's web site..
>> 
>> I've done some further research into the p[properties of Amidol which I have 
>> never used before.  Looking through the "Darkroom CookBook", Anchell 
>> mentions, as have others on this group,  that Amidol oxidizes easily and 
>> should be mixed just before usage.
>> 
>> The question I have concerning AMIDOL regards the following  from 
>> the"CookBook":  "Oxidizes rapidly and keeps poorly"
>> 
>> Can anybody quantify "rapidly"
>> 
>> My usual darkroom work practice when using Dektol is to mix a 4 liter batch 
>> of 1:2 Dektol and that sits in a large tray for at least 8-10 hours as I 
>> print, after which I dump it when I am finished at the end of the day
>> What about Amidol????  How long will that keep in an open tray before it 
>> oxidizes and I have to dump it.... 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours or what?  Am I 
>> better off mixing a small batch, 1.5L  and changing often,  or will a  3L 
>> batch last longer????
>> 
>> From personal experience working with Amidol, can anybody quantify "oxidizes 
>> rapidly"
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Bogdan
>> -- ________________________________________________________________
>> Bogdan Karasek
>> Montréal, Québec bogdan(at)bogdanphoto.com<http://bogdanphoto.com>
>> Canada www.bogdanphoto.com<http://www.bogdanphoto.com>
>> 
>>                     "I bear witness"
>> ________________________________________________________________
>> 
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>> 
> 
> --
> ________________________________________________________________
>  Bogdan Karasek
>  Montréal, Québec                     bogdan(at)bogdanphoto.com
>  Canada                              www.bogdanphoto.com
> 
>                     "I bear witness"
> ________________________________________________________________
> 
> 
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