D76 variant (un-named

[Ian Grant]

Buffered Borax Developer

This is a variant of D76 I'd not seen before, it came from the Kodak Research Laboratories and was published in 1934 in Camera, Philadelphia and the BJP 26th Oct 1934 page 638-9 (and the BJP Almanac 1935).

Metol 2 gm
Hydroquinone 5 gm
Sodium Sulphite (anhyd) 100 gm
Borax 2 gm
Boric Acid 14 gm
Water to 1 litre

(The formula was published to make 500ml, figures doubled to make 1 litre for comparative purposes)

Ruyuki Suzuki, Sliver Garin.orb lists a D76x variant which is quite similar, but contains 0.125 gm Potassium Bromide & 15 gm Boric Acid.

Ian

[Keith Tapscott.]

I have seen this published before, but the only name I have seen for this formula is "Buffered Borax".
I like the original D-76 (ID-11) formula, DK-76, Adox M.Q-Borax and an M.Q developer that I recently designed for one-shot use which is diluted 1+4 from stock and uses carbonate + bicarbonate instead of borates.

[Ian Grant]

I have seen this published before, but the only name I have seen for this formula is "Buffered Borax".
I like the original D-76 (ID-11) formula, DK-76, Adox M.Q-Borax and an M.Q developer that I recently designed for one-shot use which is diluted 1+4 from stock and uses carbonate + bicarbonate instead of borates.

It was in the BJP Almanac I lent you in Cornwall

My preference out of all the variants is Adox Borax MQ which I used commercially for a number of years and also used to supply to 2 coomercial studio's.

Crawley adds Carbonate & Metabisulphite in some of his formulae, this forms a Carbonate/Bicarbonate buffer according to Henn.

Ian

[Keith Tapscott.]

It was in the BJP Almanac I lent you in Cornwall

My preference out of all the variants is Adox Borax MQ which I used commercially for a number of years and also used to supply to 2 coomercial studio's.

Crawley adds Carbonate & Metabisulphite in some of his formulae, this forms a Carbonate/Bicarbonate buffer according to Henn.

Ian

Yes, which is why I included it in my M.Q one-shot developer for consistency.
I prefer using developers one-shot. It is similar to D-76/ID-11 diluted 1+1, but with a bit more `bite`.

[Rob Archer]

I have seen this published before, but the only name I have seen for this formula is "Buffered Borax".
I like the original D-76 (ID-11) formula, DK-76, Adox M.Q-Borax and an M.Q developer that I recently designed for one-shot use which is diluted 1+4 from stock and uses carbonate + bicarbonate instead of borates.

I use the carbonate / bicarbonate version as my standard developer. It gives similar tonality to standard ID11/D76 but a bit more sharpness that accentuates grain a little, which I like.

Try it with HP5+ (if you haven't already!)

What would be the 'real life' benefits of the boric acid buffered version?

Rob

[Ian Grant]

The Buffered Borax version will gives better stability, Kodak published a number of variations. The commercial version of D76 is thought to be D76d which uses 8g Borax + 8g Boric acid as the buffer. A higher level of buffering will help maintain the pH particularly in replenished developer and also when used at 1+1 & 1+3.
,.
Ian

[BradS]

Ian, is there any evidence that the Borax-Boric acid buffering in D-76d has an effect on shelf life or maintaining a more stable level of activity with respect to storage duration?

[Ian Grant]

I doubt it Brad but that doesn't mean it might not help.

D76 & D76d were designed for heavy use initially as cine developers. the buffering will make it more stable in any use., but will have little effect on it's shelf life.

Ian

[BradS]

Thanks Ian. I've always kinda wondered about that...but, not enough to actually devise and conduct an experiment.

[Keith Tapscott.]

I use the carbonate / bicarbonate version as my standard developer. It gives similar tonality to standard ID11/D76 but a bit more sharpness that accentuates grain a little, which I like.

Try it with HP5+ (if you haven't already!)

What would be the 'real life' benefits of the boric acid buffered version?

Rob

I`m glad that you`re getting getting good results with it Rob.
I am finding that it works well with all the B&W films I have used so far, from ISO 50 up to the ISO 400 speed group. I haven`t tried it yet with any films faster than ISO 400.
The development times as a guide are those for D-76/ID-11 when they are diluted 1+1, then adjust the times for the desired contrast if necessary. I see that you are getting results that you like with the development times extended around 10% longer than Ilford provide for ID-11 diluted 1+1.
The developer is already buffered and stores well.