[Rollei] Gainer's Developer again

["Gene Johnson" <genej2 >]

More people are interested in this developer, so with the indulgence of
those who have seen this before:

1.  Make 1 gallon of Borax stock solution by adding 6 tablespoons of 20 Mule
Team Borax to 1 gallon of distilled water.

2. Make 100ml of Phenidone stock solution by adding 1 gm. of phenidone to
100ml of 91% rubbing alcohol or pure methanol.

3.  to make developer, add 1/2 teaspoon ascorbic acid powder and 3/4
teaspoon phenidone stock solution to 500ml of the Borax stock solution.
You're done. Use this one shot only.  Make it up just before you use it.  I
have no idea how long it lasts once mixed.  My guess is a day or two.

The phenidone  and borax stock solutions last more than a year in sealed
containers.  I found a plastic squeeze bottle with a flip-up spout for the
phenidone.  It makes dispensing really easy.  Development time for TMX, TMY,
and Plus-X is about 7 minutes at 68 degrees with 3 inversions every 30 sec.
Development times and characteristics seem to be not too far off from
straight Xtol. I got into this because I was going through liters of TMAX
developer in my 4x5 tank.  I now use it for everything and I'm very happy
with it. Thanks Pat.  Enjoy.

Gene

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