[LargeFormat] Amidol: a better way to mix it

[Curt Miller]

Clive wrote:

> Curt,
>
> Thanks for sharing that with us. I will probably be starting to
> use Amidol very shortly as there is now some Azo paper winging its way to
the damp
> shores of England. We now have Wal-Mart here in the UK so there
> may even be a similar product on sale locally. Do you find that the mixer
introduces
> air into the chemicals - do you leave it to stand?

I was amazed at how little air the blender mixes into the developer.  It
sort of sucks the solution from the bottom of the mixing vessel (it will
actually create enough suction to pick the whole works up!) and mixes it
without creating enough of a whirlpool to draw air.  The mixed developer
doesn't have that look of air in it, either.  Anyway, three hours and 40
identical prints later, the amidol was still going strong so aeration is not
an issue.  My friend who showed me the technique has been doing it for years
>
> Final question (honest!), do you use Amidol as a general paper developer
or
> is your use for Azo paper?

I haven't used Azo since 1967 when I was in high school (though I promise
myself to do so again soon with some of my 8x10 negatives).  I enlarge most
of my LF work.

Regards,
Curt