Actual shelf life of concentrated Agfa Agefix

lorenzoalinari

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Hi everyone,
I wanted to get into BW development as I've only been doing C41, so I'm a bit of a newbie.

I wondered what was the actual shelf life of concentrated Agfa Agefix once opened. They declare a duration of only three months and I was hoping to get a bit more out of it. It is based on ammonium thiosulphate which I seem to understand is good for storage, but Agfa declares it is also acidic. I read somewhere that pH under 6 doesn't do well to shelf life but I didn't understand if this was referred to the concentrate or the working solution (which I guess would have a higher pH since it's diluted in water?).

I was also considering Ilford Rapid Fix, but it has a higher price tag and still I couldn't understand whether the 2 years life of the concentrate is referred to the unopened bottle or also to a half filled one.

I know it's probably a banal question, but be patient with me

Thank you!
 

Nicholas Lindan

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Am. Thiosulfate fixer stays viable for good long while. If it hasn't thrown a yellow precipitate it is probably OK. You can do a snip test with the fixer: put a little bit of undeveloped film in working strength fixer -- if the film turns clear in a minute or two then you are good to go.
 

pentaxuser

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Just an aside but it is interesting how what I presume Fix Ag the original name which makes sense turned into the anglicised Agefix which makes little or no sense to me, except in an amusing way.

I'd love any chemical that could fix my age. I am not greedy so I'll settle for 35 years old Here's trusting that this post isn't the trip wire that sends it into the Soapbox

pentaxuser
 

AgX

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There are dealers who still offer Agfa Agefix, even with a photo of the Agfa bottle, but likely will send the Compard version, called AgFix.

The original Agefix would at least be about 15 years old.
 
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cmacd123

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ADOX (PhotoImpex) offers ADOfix in Germany, Ilford has Illford rapid fix. Foma has their own. (FOMAFIX rapid fixer) there is probably Not any earth shaking difference between any of them. Some may have different Odors, some may have slightly different capacities. depending on where you are in the world some may be cheaper or easier to get.
I see the original poster is in Italy, and so they may find the most accessible product is https://www.bellinifoto.it/en/prodotto/fx100-universal-fixer/ which appears to be almost identical to the others, and is prepared in Italy.
 
OP
OP

lorenzoalinari

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Thank you!
Unfortunately I won't be buying Bellini's fixer as the store where I'm making the order doesn't offer it, though I have their C41 kit.

So I'd assume I can leave the opened undiluted bottle of fixer and have it last several months?
 
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AgX

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After 15 years, a few months more will hardly matter.
 

cmacd123

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It generally will keep a long time. as usual the better you protect it from the Air the better. Just understand that if their is ANY yellow particles, or an bad egg smell, the stuff is Toast. Once that starts, it is self catalytic from what I understand.
 
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