Pictorial Planet

Rodinal

Subscribe to our new newsletter!

• Boil the water and allow to cool for 5 minutes to remove dissolved oxygen
• Add a few crystals of metaBiSulfite, from the total called for, and dissolve
• Add the P-Aminophenol Hydrochloride, fully dissolve
• Add the remainder of the metaBiSulfite

• Make sure that you prepare this solution in a sink with a window open! Use plastic mixing, measuring equipment and plastic stirrer.
• Measure 350ml of very cold water
• Carefully add the Potassium Hydroxide a spoonful at a time making sure each spoonful has been dissolved before adding the next.
• This chemical is extremely caustic and should not make contact with your skin or eyes! Considerable heat is generated while mixing this. Should the solution begin to steam, STOP and leave the room until it has cooled. Place in a cold water bath if required, to help speed the cooling

• When the Potassium Hydroxide has fully dissolved, make up the solution to 500ml and carefully funnel it into a plastic storage bottle

• To solution A, slowly add solution B stirring gently. A precipitate will form
• Continue to add solution B carefully, drop by drop, until almost all the precipitate has gone. There should be just a few wisps of precipitate left
• When you are at this point, stop adding solution B and make up to 1 litre with water.

For more about Rodinal read my book excerpt on this page.