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Beutler Formula

I purchased and gathered the following materials:

 

1 lb Sodium Sulfite

1 lb Sodium Carbonate (anhy)

100g Metol

2 one  liter glass bottles (should be dark but I just put thick tinfoil around them)

1 graduated cylinder

200 ml beaker for mixing

24 little Ziploc bags (I measure out all the chemicals at the same time)

 

 

The actual formula is as follows, reprinted from Jack's Photographic and Chemistry Site

 

Separating the solutions for storage extends the shelf life beyond 6 months.  A working solution will last one month.  I've been using this as a one shot solution but I believe you can get 4 rolls of 36 from 500ml of working solution.

 

Stock Solution A

Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Metol 10 g
Sodium Sulfite 50 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

 

Stock Solution B

Chemical

Amount

Units

Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Sodium Carbonate (anhy) 50 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

 

WORKING SOLUTION, 1:1:10

Chemical Amount Amount Units
Water (68°F/20°C) 400 1000 ml
Stock Solution A 40 100 ml
Stock Solution B 40 100 ml
Total Volume 480 1200 ml

Mixing Notes

Place the warm water in the storage container. Add a pinch of sodium
sulfite (this amount of sodium sulfite retards the initial oxidation of
the metol. If more sulfite is added, the metol will not dissolve). Add
the metol and stir well until all of the metol dissolves. Add each
chemical in order making sure each has dissolved completely before
adding the next. Finally add cold water to bring the total volume up to
1000 ml. Be sure to stir the solution after adding the final portion of
water to ensure that it is mixed thoroughly.

The use of an acid stop-bath is NOT recommended. Instead use
a one minute rinse in water. All solutions including wash water should be at 68 F., do not use higher temperatures.

 

D-23 Formula

 

Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Metol 7.5 g
Sodium Sulfite 100 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

Same mixing instructions as Part A of Beutler.   Working solutions can be straight, 1:1 or 1:3.  Higher the dilution the greater the acutance.  I find a straight mixture gives a nice soft feel to the image.  The second bath is useful for boosting the shadow detail as long as the film has enough exposure.

Second Baths for Split D-23

I've used both these as after baths for a full D23 development with negs needing stronger highlights and contrast in dull areas.  Also gives a halo effect to strong highlights.  

Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Borax 2 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml
(After Vestal 's Split D-76)

Chemical

Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Borax 5 g
Sodium Sulfite 50 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

 

There three notable variations on the D-23 formula:

Stoeckler Formula

Chemical Amount Units

Water (120°F/48°C)

750

ml

Metol

5

g

Sodium Sulfite

100

g

Cold Water to make

1000

ml

Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Borax 10 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

Ansel Adams Formula

A Bath Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Metol 7.5 g
Sodium Sulfite 100 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml
B Bath Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Sodium Metaborate 10 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml

Barry Thornton Variation

A Bath Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Metol 6.5 g
Sodium Sulfite 85 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml
Chemical Amount Units
Water (120°F/48°C) 750 ml
Sodium Metaborate 12 g
Cold Water to make 1000 ml