Re: D-76 to Lc-1

[FotoDave@aol.com]

<< I am wondering if it is possible to add something to D-76 to make it more
 acidic and thus make it act more like LC-1.  Changing the pH of LC-1
 doesn't change its ability to develop negatives.
  >>

Gord,

D-76 uses borax as the alkaline. To make it less active, one could possibly 
use boric acid. I think with the right proportion, it should work. In fact, 
when I started experimenting for LC-1, I first thought about adding 
bicarbonate to Dektol or adding boric acid to D-76. It would have been the 
same concept but would use prepackaged developer, but then I thought if I was 
going to mix something anyway, I might as well mix the main developer part 
since it might cut down the cost.

But if metol is hard to get in some country, maybe it is worth trying D-76 
with addition of boric acid.

Another thing is the hydroquinone is really inactive in LC-1. I put it in for 
the purpose of "re-energizing" the metol (I forgot what the proper term is 
for that). Later I and other users found that 2:3:5 is a good combination. 
Going through the math, I found the 2:3:5 combination actually gives the 
typical sulfite-bisulfite ratio of a divided-stock formula.

This means that one can actually mix up something very similar to a 
divided-stock D-76 (with more hydroquinone compared to LC-1), and add 
borax-boric acid or sodium metaborate to make D-76, or simply dilute the 
stock with water to make the LC-1 2:3:5.


Dave S