Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free: AG Photographic The Imaging Warehouse Process Supplies RH Designs Second-hand Darkroom Supplies |
> Life of Fixer |
*** Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks *** |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Life of Fixer
I know this has been covered before, but I'm still confused. I'm using Ilford Rapid Fixer which clearly says in the small print that the lifespan of the 1+4 working solution is 7 days. Given that I rarely process more than one film per week, I get no more than two uses from each batch I mix, which is not very economical.
Yet I see on this forum that everyone is saying to carry on using the fixer solution until it becomes ineffective. What's the bottom line here, is Ilford being overly cautious? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
My film fixer Ilford Rapid fixer lasts over a year in a 2.5 litre bottle. Films can tolerate quite high silver levels but I test it every so often.
For paper though I keep it 2 - 3 weeks but use 2 bath fixing. Ian |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
For film fixing I use at 1/4 and use it 8 times, as I use both 120 and 35mm I mix 600ml I have kept fixer for several weeks, sometimes months, without problems, for paper I use at 1/9 and use for 2 printing sessions, using 2 bath method for FB paper I will mix fresh 1 litre, use for 2 sessions as bath 1, then 2 sessions as bath 2, but again have kept dilute fixer for a month or 2, sometimes longer, between sessions with no ill effects, For RC paper I would again use fixer for 2 sessions, at 1/9. then discard, I think Ilford are being cautious, as far as fixer concentrate is concerned I buy in 5 litre containers and have had it for 18 months to 2 years and it gas been fine
Richard
__________________
jerseyinblackandwhite.blogspot.com |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Fixer
I have never even considered a life span of a fixing bath. I use the time, tried and tested method of fixing until the emulsion is clear then doubling the time. The paper fixer I use in a NOVA deep tank and replenish at the same rate as I do for my RA4 blix and developer 80sq ins = 10cc. (1 x 10x8 sheet of paper either resin or fibre)
I think Ilford are trying to have us over in that fixer has a long life and they are trying to increase their sales. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
some time ago, I had problems with Adofix, it went bad after a couple of weeks (it became smelly, strange things were swimming around in it, prints had pink stain), working solution and stock solution both were unusable. No problems with the other products I used so far, I use it until its capacity is reached.
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Given the others' views mine are probably redundant in that I agree with them. My experience has been much the same with Ilford Rapid Fixer
For film I put the working fixer in 250ml bottles and use it 4 times which is probably less than I could. I seem to recall that I got about 7 uses of it before Peter Hogan's fixer tester even began to show any precipitate. Mike |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for your replies, so it's unanimous that fixer actually has a good lifespan especially if used just for film. I began to wonder when I'd used nearly a whole bottle of fixer for relatively few films, whilst the developer is still fairly full.
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
as for the capacity, I count films, I fix about 10 films in 500ml 1+4, if I wouldn't change films all the time, I would orientate myself by film clearing time (as described e.g. in the Ilford rapidfix factsheet).
I think manufacturers want to be on the safe side with their statements about shelf-life. Adox (iirc) said something about a shelf life of a some weeks for the working solution and (?) three or maybe six month for the stock solution (once the bottle is opened), this matched my experiences with that product, as I had different experiences with other products before, I wrote to Fotoimpex anyway, they said, that it actually should last longer, and offered to send a new bottle ( if I sent in my gone-bad fixer, which I never did...). |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/...7111531653.pdf |
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free: AG Photographic The Imaging Warehouse Process Supplies RH Designs Second-hand Darkroom Supplies |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Can fixer go off | Dave Hall | Darkroom | 16 | 17th November 2012 08:55 PM |
Most of my life! | John Plowman | Introductions | 14 | 24th December 2010 06:41 PM |
TF2 fixer | Giuseppe | Chemical formulae | 9 | 4th July 2010 10:00 PM |
New lab, life new | rubenmg | Darkroom | 12 | 2nd July 2010 12:00 PM |
Life in the Old Dog Yet | Trevor Crone | Photography in general | 13 | 12th May 2009 04:35 PM |