Filtering Developer With Paper Coffee Filters

I

Ian-Barber

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When developing roll film, I use XTOL which is replenished. At the moment, I am not filtering the developer as I pour it into the development tank but as the stock solution is over 12 months old now, I am thinking it might be a good idea.

I saw this on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-...312568?hash=item48aa083f78:g:6dkAAOSwm7RZlzgj which I know Martin uses but I was also thinking of paper coffee filters.

Any thoughts on the effectiveness when using paper coffee filters?
 
While I have quite a lot of better filter papers (they are too slow) I use coffee filters for filtering replenished Xtol, I also use with fixer. With all filter papers it's best to re-filter the first bit of dev/fix you filter, this removes any bits from the filter paper, it's normal lab practice as well.

I have one maybe two of those Paterson filters they aren't ideal for chemicals - just tap water, you run the risk of contamination with Dev/Fix etc as they are difficult to clean effectively. They'd also sludge up filtering replenished developer as the filter area is so small, you need a much larger surface area.

If you've left the developer to settle overnight you carefully decant most of the replenished developer into a jug, it shouldn't need filtering, then filter the rest, maybe twice.

Ian
 
Thanks Ian, just saved me some money and now off to Asda to buy some paper coffee papers :D
 
I use Caffenol developer quite often so filter papers are a must as coffee is quite mucky :eek: but I also use them for all other chemicals and Ian's note about re-filtering the first bit of liquid is a must.
 
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I think some makes of coffee filter may be better than others. I've had the ones I use a long time definitely 15+ years, and they don't seem to lasting like they did, maybe they are a bit too old :D

No-one drinks coffee in my house some recommended brands of filters might be useful. I think my current filters were my mothers and she decided she only liked instant coffee.

Ian
 
These are the ones I use, they are quite cheap from the supermarkets and they work quickly and quite efficiently in a funnel for my purpose.

Coffee_Filters.jpg
In my opinion some folks go OTT with lab quality filters which take forever to run 500ml of chemicals through but each to their own and these are more than adequate imho. It's long time since I bought any but if memory serves they were about a £1 for a pack of 40 - although I think I got mine slightly cheaper in a multi-buy offer. :D
 
That's the make I use, thinking about it my filters are probably from the late 1980's, I recently started the second box of 100. It might be better to replace them :D

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
......With all filter papers it's best to re-filter the first bit of dev/fix you filter, this removes any bits from the filter paper, it's normal lab practice as well.....
Click to expand...

Ian-Barber said:
Are you using the same filter when you filter the chemicals twice
Click to expand...

Yes. Any production process that involves paper creates paper dust paricles and some of this is bound to find it's way onto the outer surface of the filter paper. The idea is to use the first filtration to (a) filter the liquid and (b) wash any particles off the outside of the filter paper. Re-filtering this liquid using the same paper then traps any particles washed off/out from the paper in the first run.

It sounds a bit finicky but it only takes seconds and soon becomes second-nature.:)
 
Just finished the filtration process, quite surprised just how much gunge there was left over in the filter paper
 
Ian-Barber said:
Are you using the same filter when you filter the chemicals twice
Click to expand...

Sometimes I've needed to filter twice usually with fixer, so yes two filter papers. Shouldn't be needed with developer.

Ian
 
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