Thornton's 2-bath homebrew

[Katastrofo]

This is an easy developer to make, put forth by the late great Barry Thornton.
This was the final version of the formula before his death, where the amount
of Metol was increased.

1 liter of each

Bath A

Metol..................6.5 grams
Sodium Sulfite.....85 grams
H20 to make one liter

Bath B

Sodium Metaborate..12 grams
H20 to make one liter

I use distilled water and heat it to about 120 degrees to mix the chems. This compensating developer
is cheap to make, the only somewhat costly ingredient is Metol, but you're only using 6.5 grams per
batch. Date the bottles of developer when made and use for 6 months. Can dev up to 15 rolls of 120
or 36exp 35mm.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Cheers for the recipe, I will have to hunt for the ingredients.

[Katastrofo]

There are a number of places I can get the raw chems in the US, same holds
true in GB. This is not the first dev to select if you're pushing film, I've heard
of people extending the time in Bath B, but haven't tried it yet. Good rule of
thumb as to times:

ISO 25 and 50--3+3
ISO 100---4+4
ISO 400---5+5

Recommended films that will give excellent acutance, tight grain, and shadow detail:

Acros
TMAX 100 and 400
Ilford Delta 100 and 400
Efke and Adox films in ISO 25, 50, 100

[iangreenhalgh1]

Once I use up the 5 rolls of FP4, 1 roll of efke 50 and 2 rolls of lucky 100 I will be buying bulk fomapan 100 so I am interested in trying different developers with the foma, especially ones that produce low grain.

Really appreciate this info, keep it coming!

[Katastrofo]

Thornton's is one of the darlings of the medium/large format crowd. I've had spotty results
migrating to 35mm, this is AP 400 (TriX) in 35mm using Thornton's:



same 35mm film pushed to 800 using Diafine:


With 35mm Foma 100, I've used CCM and HC-110, with fair to good results.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Interesting, the Thorntons one has nice grain for a 400 film. I prefer the look of the diafine one though, not sure why, perhaps the contrast and tonality. Both are very nice indeed though.

Thanks for sharing. This Thorntons might be good for me to use with 120 films from my Franka 6x9 and Mess-Ikonta 6x6.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Sadly the only one of the ingredients I can find in the UK is the Sodium Sulfite:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1kg-Sodium-Sulphide-Sulfite-technical-grade-/220857908211?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item336c283bf3

I'd love to hear any other recipes you may have.

[GrahamNR17]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Aah, cheers Graham, I forgot about them, they have the speedibrews stuff, I'll see what they have,

[Katastrofo]

Ah, I see your flail. Funny GB doesn't have all the ingredients readily available in bulk.
Thornton was a Brit, after all.

yes, tabular grain 120 film seems to be the sweet spot, shot at box speed:

another TMAX 400 at box speed, Thorntons, 5+5, 20C

Mamiya C2, old chrome Sekor 3.5/105 lens

I'm going to be buying a lot more Delta and TMAX for the summer. Thornton's like
Diafine, is very forgiving temp-wise. Can be used safely from 20-26C, but have seen
good examples from folk using it at 30C.

[iangreenhalgh1]

That's a fantastic shot and beautiful development.

I still long for a Mamiya TLR after I got to play with a C3 for a day.

My results were not bad for a first try, it's such a beautiful camera to use, the brightness of the screen was a real 'wow' for me and I loved the knob focusing. Attila kindly developed and scanned the film for me as it was before I had the kit to do it myself.

[Katastrofo]

Nice detail including shadow, he did a great job with your neg.

I got all my C2's for around $80 a piece. It's heavier, all metal construction.

[iangreenhalgh1]

The film was Provia 100, being well expired it had a bit of a magenta cast so I turned it to BW with silverefex.

I wish I could find one for 80 bucks!

[Katastrofo]

I bought 4 C2's one went for $68. I just paid my taxes or would
send you one with a chrome 80. It'll have to be next month. The C2
goes for pretty cheap over here.

A pity you can't find the chems separately. Bath A is very close to Kodak
D23, a little weaker:

for one liter:

Metol--------------------7.5 grams
Sodium Sulfite---------100 grams

Old timers with no scales would use 2 tablespoons of Metol and 1 pound of Sodium Sulfite to make
one US gallon. There's a split D23 where they use this for Bath A and use Borax in Bath B. I think
Krogers sells 20 Mule Team borax in pound boxes where I am. D23 is a low contrast dev with good
acutance (this is where the Metol comes in) and would be worthwhile to investigate. Here's a pic from
a guy using a Hasselblad and CZ Planar 80 (can see Kram/Mark shooting this):



D23

Can you get APX 25 over there?

[iangreenhalgh1]

Thanks for the info Bill. I think APX 25 is sold as Rollei Retro 25.

Pan F 50 is definitely available.

I've got my eye on an Agfa Billy Record II with 1/400 top speed and a Solinar lens, should be quite a lot better than my humble Franka Rolfix with 1/125 and a Trinar-Anastigmat.

I would be interested in buying a C2 if you decide to part with one for sure.

[Katastrofo]

You can't go wrong with the Solinar, one sharp Tessar. Found this link,
but no Sodium Metaborate, guess you could sub Borax in a pinch, but
might skew results. Still asking around...

http://www.processuk.net/-POWDER_CHEMICALS/cat740598_659670.aspx

[Katastrofo]

Ian, let me see if can mount a better hood on the one I want
to send. The plates to the hood are sprung and looks like crap.
I made a sleeve to go over it to gather the plates together and
keep out the light. Samples from the chrome 2.8/80 Sekor and
body:





This was from the first test roll where the aperture was stuck on f4. Was
corrected with an application of lighter fluid. When I get it sorted, shipping
cost would be nice, but not dire.

[Katastrofo]

Raw chems are coming to this place, too.

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/black--white-raw-chemicals-208-c.asp

[iangreenhalgh1]

Wonderful Bill, I have never seen that first supplier you linked, they have really good prices compared to some outlets.

I noticed they have this really cheap heavily discounted 70mm film:

http://www.processuk.net/CDU_Type_2_70mm_x_100ft_Duplicating_Film_Outdated_Special_Offer/p740597_4050476.aspx

Do you know if it would be possible to spool that onto some 120 spools/backing papers?

Or maybe I'll buy a few bulk rolls and save them till I can find a 70mm back and a camera to put it on...

The state of the hood doesn't matter to me, as long as the camera works.

Really appreciating your help and advice BTW, many thanks.

[Katastrofo]

Gawd, that's a cheap price for what looks like Fuji slide film, probably
100 ISO. I'd buy a drum and figure it out later.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Sure Bill, I feel the same. If you want one for yourself, I can order an extra one.

[Katastrofo]

Ian, just get one for yourself, for now, but am thinking about it.

Silverprint (per Graham) seems to be the go-to place, has everything:

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=49&sort_dir=0-0-0&sort_column=7-8-0&Start=75

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yes, I have every Mamiya TLR on ebay uk on my watch list, I have allocated funds to get one.

Silverprint is a great place, I will need some developer shortly, gonna try some of the speedibrews.

I have some crazy ideas like C-41 in lith dev...

[Katastrofo]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Oh, I am slow on the uptake sometimes!

Sure, would love it, Pm me with your price when you are ready.