How long does Diafine last?

[rramig]

I made up a gallon of Diafine and aliquoted it into 500ml bottles. I have developed 8x36 exposure rolls of Arista Premium 100 and 400 in it the first 500ml of A and B, and it seems to still be going strong. How long can one use the same aliquot over? Does it ever give up the ghost and begin doing wierd things?

[cjm]

I've heard different stories ranging from a few months to 2+ years. I've had mine for 9 months (50+ rolls) and it's still fine. I'll probably mix a new batch after a year just to be careful.

However, I'm not sure what effect, if any, using smaller amounts of developer (500ml) will have on it's overall life.

[ItsReallyDarren]

I mixed a liter earlier this year around February and with replenishment have gone through 60+ rolls so far. I store them in 1L bottles and have to add a little solution A every 10 rolls or so.

[bmattock]

It lasts a very long time indeed. Years and years is not unheard of. It might change color, but it keeps working.

The main reason it keeps working is because it is a two-part developer that does not engage in superadditivity until b comes in contact with a in the tank, which is after you've poured the part of a that didn't get absorbed back into the decanter.

Diafine is a pip. Should last forever, or until enough gets absorbed by the film that the levels get low in your tank. The cheapest developer for film, period.

[Ronald_H]

My first batch didn't work anymore after a year or so. Stored in plastic, compressible bottles. Souped many dozens of rolls in it. The new batch is a few months old and is fine.

[maddoc]

My first batch works fine since last year October or so and my guess is ~ 80 rolls of 135-36 so far. Good stuff !!

[steamer]

I've got a gallon from 2 years ago, like they say on e-bay it was working fine last time I used it (a month ago). I'm going to put a roll of Tri-X through now, so I'll let you know in a bit.

[steamer]

2-year-old diafine still working, negs look fine.

[philipp.leser]

I replace it after one year or when solution A is half empty, whatever comes first.

Regards,
Philipp

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by Ronald_H

My first batch didn't work anymore after a year or so. Stored in plastic, compressible bottles. Souped many dozens of rolls in it. The new batch is a few months old and is fine.

Something odd happened, then. My current batch is going on three years old, in gallon jugs, no problems. Most people with dead Diafine end up having killed it by mixing a with b when pouring solution back in the bottles.

[Ronald_H]

Originally Posted by bmattock

Something odd happened, then. My current batch is going on three years old, in gallon jugs, no problems. Most people with dead Diafine end up having killed it by mixing a with b when pouring solution back in the bottles.

Yeah I know, But I'm pretty positive I didn't. After a few months not using it I souped a roll of Tri-X in it. Negs came out very thin. Then I deciced to filter the gunk out with a coffee filter. I t was a lot of gunk too But it was completely dead after that.

But I'm not too worried. Current btach is fine, if it stops working I'll buy another.