Making FX21

I’ve used up the last of my FX55 developer. It’s pretty straightforward to make, and as it has become my developer of choice I’ll be making more. I’m also coming to the end of my batch of D23, that’s even easier to make, and I use it “replenished” so I just keep using it, and add in 22ml of the replenisher (DK25R) every film I develop. The more it’s used, the better it gets – and I think it’s brilliant with HP5, so that combination has also become a favourite for me. Especially at this time of the year. Once I’ve used up the 500ml of replenisher, meaning that 24 rolls of film have gone through the 1 litre of “soup” – I (almost) start again!

FX21 however has come to my attention courtesy of John Finch at Pictorial Planet – (see the “Blogs I read” page). He rather likes it, reports it’s also a good match with HP5, and shows lovely results with Delta 100 – so I thought I’d try it….

The formula was not released by Geoffrey Crawley while he was alive, it was made commercially as “Paterson Acuspecial” at the time. I think I even used one of the iconic 250ml bottles in my youth! His daughter Carolyn has since allowed it to be published for non-commercial use. First published in “The Film Developing Cookbook” by Bill Troop and Steve Anchell. It’s not a complicated recipe, one simply adds the chemical one at a time and stir them in! Compared to D23’s 2 chemicals however, FX21’s 11 is a step up! As I already had 9 of them, the 10th was a quick easy Amazon jobbie at £3:50 – it seemed worth having a go, so I ordered the last remaining ingredient (more about that later!) and set too….

The Formula

Approx 750ml water at about 50 degrees c. then…

Metol 2.2g

Sodium Sulphite 30g

Hydroquinone 1.1g

Phenidone 0.13g

Sodium Metabisulphite 6.2g

Potassium Carbonate 19.5g

Sodium Hydroxide 5g

Sodium Bicarbonate 3.9g

Sodium Citrate 3.9g

Potassium Iodide 0.1g

Potassium Bromide 0.3g

Then water up to 1 litre.

Some notes

Having measured out the Metol and the Sodium Sulphite, it’s a good idea to pop a “pinch” of the Sodium Sulphite into the water first, from the 30g. It’s a brilliant anti-oxidant and that helps protect the Metol.

Hydroquinone is nasty stuff – treat it with care – I’ve subtitled my bottle “Defensive pee of the Bombardier beetle” – they produce it naturally and when threatened, mix it with Hydrogen Peroxide, cause a exothermic reaction and spray the caustic mix at 100 degrees c – what a fun beetle!!

Measuring out 0.13g of Phenidone is a challenge, it’s often used in tiny amounts. That, and the fact it oxidizes, means that making up a solution in Propylene Glycol, both helps keep it longer and makes measuring out easier. I mix 2gms of Phenidone into 100ml of Glycol, (a 2% solution) so 6.5ml with a syringe is an easy way to 0.13g!

Sodium Hydroxide is perhaps the nastiest stuff in the formula from a handling point of view. I measured out 5 grams and added it to 50ml of water first, then added that to the solution. ALWAYS add the Hydroxide to water, and NEVER the other way around!

The Sodium Iodide was the chemical I had to buy – the expensive one! With postage about £15 for 50g!! Another interesting chemical that, apparently, in tiny doses, should there be a nuclear accident, will help protect one’s Thyroid Gland from radiation!

One thing I did do before I began was to test my cheap and chearful glass beaker. Sure enough the measurement for 1 litre is off, I marked it for the correct position!

That’s it – the mad amateur chemist in me satisfied for another month or so and I have a litre of FX21 (Acuspecial). I’ll report back with my developing results in due course.